Submissions Guidelines


As of 11/29/07 - All submissions received before 8/25/07 have been responded to. We are catching up and will post more updates as we go.

From The Asylum is currently looking for:

  • Flash Fiction (1,000 words or less)
  • Short fiction (1,001 words to 10,000 words)
  • Poetry (no length requirements)

Flash fiction and short fiction should be some form of speculative fiction - science fiction, fantasy, horror, or just plain strange.  Humor is a definite plus.  Make sure it is speculative, not just a run-of-the-mill we find aliens in deep space piece.  Do not send war stories or romance stories.  Those stories have their place, but it is not on this website.  Poetry should be interesting.  Free verse is preferred, but we judge more on creativity and enjoyment than anything else.  No love poetry.  No "dark" poetry about how wonderful it is to be a vampire.  Read what we have bought in the past.  We reject more poetry than anything else at this point because it does not fit our needs.

CURRENT NEED:
Right now, we're looking for quality short fiction, flash fiction and poetry. 

  Send us your best fiction and your strange poetry!

You can submit your work by email (paste your documents into an email - no attachments, please) or by snail mail.  If you do your submission by snail mail, please be sure to include a SASE if you'd like your work returned. 

  • Please make sure that your Subject line states “Submission” at some point (we don’t care where, as long as it’s in the line).
  • We accept simultaneous submissions, as long as it is noted in the submission that it is a sim submission.
  • We accept multiple submissions, but we suggest that you don’t send too many at once.
  • Some additional guidelines that we didn't think were necessary (but after getting seriously creeped out, they had to get added):
    • NO necrophilia. NONE.
    • NO bestiality. NONE. (This includes anyone in animal form having sex with anyone NOT in animal form.)
    • NO "snuff" stories. Really, really NONE.
    • We're not an erotic e-zine; if you want to write a story in which the main purpose is sex, find another market. We have nothing against sex scenes; it's just that when a story is composed of interlocking sex scenes with a plot tacked on in the last three paragraphs, we probably don't want it.
  • General Additional Guidelines that have nothing to do with us getting creeped out.
    • No photos of yourself, please.
    • We currently do not need any artwork. We will post when we are looking. We are working exclusively with one artist right now.
    • Cover letters are not necessary. All we need is your name, phone number (in case there is a problem with your email), and email address. Please provide a short bio that can be used if we choose to publish your story. If you do wish to write a cover letter, please feel free, but it is not a requirement.
    • If you're sending a hard copy manuscript to the PO Box, please remember to send a SASE and let us know if the manuscript is disposable or not.
    • Nothing good comes folded in three.

Generally, we take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to respond to submissions, but occasionally we do take longer. You will receive an email confirmation if your submission is received, and it will tell you our current response time. If you don’t receive a confirmation within 48 hours of submission, assume it got lost somewhere (whether filtered to SPAM or whatnot).

 

Please send your work to:
From The Asylum Books and Press
PO Box 1519
Dickinson, TX 77539-1519

Starting with works accepted for the August 2006 issue, our payment for work has changed.  Payment will be $10 for flash fiction, $10 for poetry, and $25 for short fiction.  In addition, each author will receive 1copy of the yearly paperback anthology that contains their work.  (The Year 3 paperback will be out in October 2006 and will include all works that appeared on the website from July 2005 through June 2006.)
 
 
This site constantly under construction.  Please check back often.
© 2001, From the Asylum Books and Press.  No written materials on these pages may be reproduced without permission.
Images used on these pages may be from: Ernest von Rosen and www.amgmedia.com
Questions?  Comments?  Please contact us.
This page last updated on: 08/02/2005