Updated: 1/8/2020
Clockwork, Curses and Coal: Steampunk and Gaslamp Fairy Tales
(Punked Up Fairy Tales #2)
Steampunk’s core is a re-imagined 1800s using steam-powered technology so it is all about gears, goggles and gaslamps. And corsets and courtship and exploration (often in the form of colonialism). I want the bustles, parasols, high tea and airships, of course, but I also welcome stories which confront the darker, problematic side of Victorian sensibilities and attitudes. Plus fairy tales.
For example: What if a shoemaker was visited at night by tiny automatons? Where did they come from? What do they want? What if the little mermaid didn’t have to find a to escape the ocean to be with her prince, but instead her social class? What if a woman’s upper class family was embarrassed by her scientific endeavors so they locked her in a tower… or tried to, anyway? Or a clockwork cat discovered a pair of fantastic boots? Or an explorer climbed a giant beanstalk and found a whole new, forgotten world?
Original fairy tales are welcome, as are retellings. If you choose to retell a familiar favourite, make sure your story offers something new and interesting. I’d rather see stories that reflect the long history of fairy tales as social commentary than those which simply tell the same story with a different setting.
Although steampunk tends to be focused in the American ‘wild west’ or Victorian England, this anthology needn’t be. I am open to stories set all over the world, and would love to see ‘Own Voices’ stories. As with the first book in this series, Grimm, Grit and Gasoline, I would love to see a diverse collection when it comes to which fairy tales are represented but also the races, genders and sexualities of the characters within them.
Open for Submissions: February 1, 2020 – March 31, 2020
Story Length: up to 7,500 words
Payment: $0.01/ word
Publisher: World Weaver Press
Details about how to submit will be provided closer to the submission window.
I could totally do this. I need to write a short story, get my head out of my novel for a bit!
I triple dog dare you! 😉
Short stories work wonders for that 🙂 i cant wait either
For swashbuckling cats do you want anthropomorphic stories, or would regular cats do?
Hi Dee,
Both kinds of cats are fine 🙂
Oh, hmmm…I’ve got a story idea I’ve been putting on the back burner for a while. Maybe it’s time to bring it to the forefront.
Hello! I sent in a submission for Sirens at the end of last week, and I’m just wondering if I’m supposed to get an email confirmation that it’s been received. Also, will all submissions get a response?
Hi 🙂
I am not sending out email confirmations that submissions have been received but all submissions will get a response, yes. I also try to update social media (and this blog) with updates about how I’m progressing through the submissions so keep an eye there if you’re worried. Also, you’re always welcome to query me if you think your story has slipped through a crack somewhere but for the record I see yours in my inbox 🙂
thank you!
My husband and I are both spec fic writers and huge horse people! We saw that there’s no multiple submissions, but would it be possible to submit one collaboration and then each submit a solo work?
Yes, I’d be okay with that since it falls *just* outside of being a multiple submission LOL
What a wonderful anthology to produce. I bet many copies will be sold because so many love the topics on either the horse, the Pegasus, or the unicorn. When I saw the call for Equus submissions, I thought wow, finally. However, then I read up to only 7,500 words and the wind in my sails fell away. Because I’ve written a fantasy novella about a dream keeper whose best friend is a blue Pegasus (dream keeper for animals), I wonder if you know of a place to submit such a story? Do you think World Weaver might be a good fit? They begin accepting again in February, right?
Thank you for any and all insight.
Warm Regards,
Christina
As far as I know right now WWP will be re-opening to submissions in 2017, yes, but it’s difficult to say how a good a fit they will be for your story based on what you’ve told me. My advice would be ‘Submit it and see’ 🙂
Thank you for getting back to me on my last comment. This is nice being able to ask questions and then receive a reply.
About the upcoming Equus anthology, will other work be accepted besides fiction? I have an essay about how the horse is actually my mythology. The essay goes into how the horse is my mythology, describes our relationship, and then how the horse has influenced my life.
You’re very welcome 🙂
For this project I will only be accepting fiction but I hope you find a home for your essay elsewhere 🙂
Are you open to submissions from the UK?
Yes, absolutely 🙂
Though we’re paying in Canadian dollars for this one that is because the publisher is Canadian. I’m still open to submissions from all over the world.
Ms Parrish
How strong must the “fire element” be in a story involving a dragon?
Ta-merci for your time.
Gregg Chamberlain
This is kind of impossible to answer without having read the story. The best suggestion I can give you is to send it and find out. Sending earlier is better for these kinds of situations, as well. That way if I say, “I like this but there’s not quite enough fire. Please revise to add more fire and resubmit” you’ll have time to do that.
ta-merci for the information… one last question… for the Fire anthology… what is minimum word count you will consider for a story?
Hi Gregg,
There is no minimum word count for this anthology but I am looking for complete stories not vignettes. If that helps 🙂
Are you interested in flash or microfiction?
Unless there is a minimum word count specifically mentioned in the call for submissions, yes I am 🙂
So the answer for FIRE is yes.
Hi Rhonda!
I had been hoping to write a story for the Fire Anthology. Unfortunately, due to life, I’m fairly certain that isn’t happening (this is based on the extended deadline seen in the Submittable page–if not, boy I feel kind of stupid). In order to have ample time to prepare for the next one, is it okay to ask you what the next theme and submission date will be?
Thank you!
I can’t give too much away until we’re ready for an official announcement (which isn’t yet) but if you read this interview with Sarena Ulibarri –> http://fantasy-faction.com/2017/small-press-big-stories-world-weaver-press and then take a look at my Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/RhondaParrish) from August 14th that should give you a pretty good idea. Beyond that I’d just say make sure you’re subscribed to my mailing list because I try to officially announce things there first 🙂
Thank you! I’ll check out those links!
Also, just wondering, had the submission period for this anthology already passed, or do we have until the end of the month to get them in? I’m a little confused because the Submittable site says Aug. 31st, but this page says otherwise.
Again, thank you 🙂
Good catch!
We extended the deadline to the end of the month but apparently I didn’t update this page with that information. I will do that now. Thank you for the head’s up.
Good day. I saw this on Onspecmag’s Facebook page and was intrigued. I am a fledgling writer, retired military member with some time on his hands, and have written several Dr. Who novels for my daughter as gifts. Just wondering about publication, if and it is a big IF my story is accepted, who publishes the book and what rights are associated with it. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question and I look forward to sending my submission in the future.
Christopher Butt
Grimm, Grit and Gasoline will be published by World Weaver Press (http://www.worldweaverpress.com) and the contract will be for exclusive rights to the story for the first year, followed by non-exclusive rights for the lifetime of the anthology.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Hi Rhonda, this is Rhonda 🙂 Inching toward an idea for your gargoyle theme, but afraid I’m missing something – these are the gargoyles of Notre Dame fame? stone wingy things coming to life at night? Would it be all right if there’s no particular “earthy” theme in that?
Hi, Rhonda 🙂
I think gargoyles are inherently earthy so there is probably no need to add additional earthiness if it doesn’t work with the story.
I hope to see your name in my submissions 🙂
Thanks for making this so user friendly. I have added them all to the calendar.
In regards to the fairy tale anthology, would you be open to a fairy tale mashup? Or are you looking for one fairy tale exclusively per story? Thanks!
Hola,
I’d be open to a mashup, sure. Hit me with it! 🙂
All these anthologies sound right up my alley! I will be getting out the merlot for my muse!
Good luck putting her/him/it/them to work for you 🙂
Might you be interested in a poem about golems for the Earth anthology or is it only fiction?
Hi John,
I wouldn’t say absolutely no poetry on this one, but it would be a pretty tough sell. Might be worth a shot though, as you never know…
Hello. About the cat anthology: only seas fit the theme, or boats sailing lakes or rivers (Read: the Nile)?
Thanks.
Ooh good question. I think I’ll be aiming for an ocean-y focus, but I don’t see any reason why lakes or rivers need to be excluded 🙂
Hi Rhonda,
A quick query re the cats anthology. Are you open to s-f stories or is it exclusively adventure/Pirates of the Caribbean type setting?
Hi Piotr,
I am 100% open to sf stories 🙂
Question on the cat anthology: are you only looking for humorous/fun stories, or can they be more serious/dramatic (but not dark)/noblebright? Thanks!
Hi JL,
I’m absolutely open to serious/dramatic stories — stories don’t need to be lighthearted to be fun… if that makes any sense?
Thank you!
I never got a note that “The Dragon Queens of Albion,” was received (sent on June 12) and I did get one for the cat anthology. Hope it wsn’t lost.
Hi Roxanne,
I’m not sure why you didn’t get a note for “The Dragon Queens of Albion” but it is safely sitting in my queue. I might even get to it today *fingers crossed*
Thanks, Rhonda, for replying so quickly. Take your time. I just needed to know you received it. I love both your anthologies. My cat, Jockomo agrees.
I never got a note that “The Dragon Queens of Albion,” was received (sent on June 12) and I did get one for the cat anthology. Hope it wasn’t lost.
Hello there, Rhonda.
I’m just wondering, for the anthology “Hear Me Roar”, do you want it to be specifically dragons or could it also be other mythical fire creatures?
I’m so sorry if I’m bothering you so much with questions and whatnot.
Hi Amber,
For Hear Me Roar I am only interested in dragons, not other mythical fire creatures. I mean, other creatures can be in the story as well, but there should also be a dragon.
For air anthology, can the representation be metaphysical, more emotion based? I had written one short story, not published, that has a heroine going against a dragon. It focused on her reactions and ideals. The dragons role was to enhance those agencies.
The dragon does not need to be a physical creature 🙂
Air anthology, is there a maximum and/or minimum length for the poems? I’ve written a poem telling a story or express a trait before for classes . And those tended to be long.
Hola!
There are no minimum or maximum lengths for poetry submissions, though my personal tastes tend to run toward shorter (49 lines or fewer) than longer.
Thanks!
For submissions, is there a specific format you want them in (double-space, single-spaced, etc)? Would you like a separate title page, or having the title of the piece and the author’s name before the writing okay?
Hi Abigail,
Something resembling standard manuscript formatting would be ideal 🙂
https://www.shunn.net/format/story.html is a good resource for that.
Okay. Sounds good!
Okay. Sounds good! Thank you.
Can we submit poetry to the Air anthology? PLMK-thanks.
Hi Lorraine,
You may submit poetry to the Air anthology, yes. As the listing says the pay rate for poems is $20 CDN and a paperback copy of the anthology 🙂
I submitted a poem for the air anthology. I tried to get as close as I could to the manuscript format as I could. It was kind of difficult since I wrote a poem instead of a story. Wasn’t sure how to go about it. Wasn’t sure what to put for the cover letter. Just wrote what I did last time I submitted to one of your anthologies. the title and length of my poem with a short bio.
Hola,
That sounds great, thank you 🙂
Can we submit more than one poem–like 3 poems grouped together as one submission? PLMK-thanks.
Lorraine
Yes, that would be fine.
Can we submit more than one poem to the Air anthology?
Like 3 poems in one group?
Can we also submit poems about birds or bird-gods?
PLMK-thanks.
Lorraine
When it comes to putting our postal address in the format, does that indicate, that the copy of the anthology (in my case for poems) will come by mail, IF one of all of my poems get chosen? And if so, should my manuscript of poems follow the guidelines of the link that had been provided in the comments below me? Or does that only count for short stories? (https://www.shunn.net/format/story.html)
Thank you for answering in advance.
Boris Simonovski
Contributors will each receive a paperback copy of the anthology via snail mail, yes.
As for how to format poems, it’s not necessary to stick with Shunn formatting for that 🙂
When it comes to putting our postal address in the format, does that indicate, that the copy of the anthology (in my case for poems) will come by mail, IF one of all of my poems get chosen? And if so, should my manuscript of poems follow the guidelines of the link that had been provided in the comments below me? Or does that only count for short stories? (https://www.shunn.net/format/story.html)
Alright, thank you very much for your quick response, I was very delighted by the fast reply. Anyways, I am wondering what has inspired your upcoming anthology to be comprised of the air mythological creatures?
Would it be good, if I only followed the first step of putting my address in the top right corner, along with the length of the combined poems? And then I would continue on the first page with my poems?
Thanks in advance.
Boris Simonovski
For Clockwork, Curses and Coal: Steampunk and Gaslamp Fairy Tales are you looking for Gaslamp fantasy as well?
Yes, absolutely 🙂