Call for submissions:
42-Word Stories Anthology
An anthology of 42 categories of 42 selected works of 42-word microfiction stories,
and 42 art pieces, one per chapter.
That's potentially 1,764 authors in one book.
That's potentially 1,764 authors in one book.
All
submissions must contain a beginning, middle, and end. AFTER SUBMITTING, CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDERS FOR EMAILS FROM THE EDITOR.
Deadline:
Until categories are filled.
Release
date: TBA
The story: 42 words exactly, which does not include the title.
The title should be roughly 42 characters including spaces and punctuation (between 40 and 44 characters is acceptable). DO NOT make the title 42 words. It happened once and we all laughed, but this is serious.
The title should be roughly 42 characters including spaces and punctuation (between 40 and 44 characters is acceptable). DO NOT make the title 42 words. It happened once and we all laughed, but this is serious.
No simultaneous submissions.
Submission guidelines:
Email
subject: 42SUB_Category_AUTHOR INITIALS
Example:
42SUB_SF_DNA
YOUR TITLE HERE (ROUGHLY "between 40 and 44" 42 Characters INCLUDING spaces)
by YOUR WRITER NAME HERE
YOUR STORY HERE
Specifics of your story that goes into the body of the email:
YOUR TITLE HERE (ROUGHLY "between 40 and 44" 42 Characters INCLUDING spaces)
by YOUR WRITER NAME HERE
YOUR STORY HERE
YOUR 42-WORD 3RD-PERSON BIO HERE
[Something not required, but will really help us compile the anthology faster is if you format your story the same way as the example shown below: capitalizing your 42-character title, lowering casing "by" before your name, clicking enter twice at the end of the story and writing the word "Bio" on the third line, and only capitalizing the b in Bio. It is much appreciated when submissions look this way, but again, not required].
Example of your email:
Dear BAM,
Example of your email:
Dear BAM,
The name's Person Name Writer, email: person@name.com. Below is my Science Fiction, “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in 42-Words" and bio. One or two more sentences optional.
No
attachments.
NO
ENTRY FEE
See the example at the bottom to help you format.
No multiple submissions (kind of). The goal is to publish 1,764 different writers. If you must send more than one story, use a pen name for each piece. The same bio is okay with your new pseudonym included in the bio. We will accept a maximum of 4 stories from one person. Note: An onslaught of submissions from one person can be overwhelming, so keep this in mind before sending us four at a time. Lastly, please submit to different categories if you go this multi-submission route.
No plagiarism. You are responsible for your work and legally liable if you disregard this warning. You agree that you will take full responsibility for any plagiarism on your part by submitting your work as original.
See the example at the bottom to help you format.
No multiple submissions (kind of). The goal is to publish 1,764 different writers. If you must send more than one story, use a pen name for each piece. The same bio is okay with your new pseudonym included in the bio. We will accept a maximum of 4 stories from one person. Note: An onslaught of submissions from one person can be overwhelming, so keep this in mind before sending us four at a time. Lastly, please submit to different categories if you go this multi-submission route.
No plagiarism. You are responsible for your work and legally liable if you disregard this warning. You agree that you will take full responsibility for any plagiarism on your part by submitting your work as original.
Payment: Aside from name recognition, ONLY winners of the Story of Excellence in their genre will receive the award and $.42 which can optionally go into a charity pot. At this time, the project cannot afford to pay everyone.
Most of the money earned from book sales will pay for anthology expenses such as editing, art, beta reads, and advertising.
The anthology will be posted on Amazon.com and other platforms.
The anthology will be posted on Amazon.com and other platforms.
Rule:
Check your work. It’s easy to have a grammar-loving friend read the piece as a
second pair of eyes. VERY IMPORTANT: Format make sure your subject line was written properly.
Response
time: About six months from the submission date, maybe longer.
RIGHTS
and FACTS:
You grant the 42 Stories Anthology and staff first
serial rights to your original work. Rights revert back to you the author one year after publication. If your work is that of plagiarism, you agree to take full responsibility legally and otherwise for work you have claimed is originally yours.
Send:
Nothing
that's been published anywhere.
No Erotica.
No Animal Abuse.
VERY IMPORTANT: Format the subject line correctly.
No simultaneous submissions.
No simultaneous submissions.
Now send us your best work. If you're not sure of the category, it's okay.
VERY IMPORTANT:
Format the subject line correctly. This is how we know where to put your story.
NO TWO STORIES CAN HAVE THE SAME NAME. Use a pen name for each story. A max of four stories per person will be accepted. It's better to submit to different categories.
Categories with few submissions are subject to alterations.
By submitting a story, you agree that we can reformat and make punctuation changes without your prior consent. If the story is formatted a specific way that you prefer, let us know in your cover letter. However, we will contact you if we want to change any of the words.
Do not withdraw and re-submit your submission if you make a mistake. Rather resend the changes in your email or if you submitted through Submittable, message us what you need changed.
42 categories:
Categories with few submissions are subject to alterations.
By submitting a story, you agree that we can reformat and make punctuation changes without your prior consent. If the story is formatted a specific way that you prefer, let us know in your cover letter. However, we will contact you if we want to change any of the words.
Do not withdraw and re-submit your submission if you make a mistake. Rather resend the changes in your email or if you submitted through Submittable, message us what you need changed.
42 categories:
1. Alternate Reality
We've received many stories about alternate presidents. Please be creative. This category was inspired by the show "Sliders."
2. Apocalyptic
We've received many stories about alternate presidents. Please be creative. This category was inspired by the show "Sliders."
2. Apocalyptic
3. Clown
4. Craft of Writing
…NO UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED
5. Culture
...you've probably got a great story idea about homeless people in America. We've received a lot of like pieces already. This is a culture category as in for the world, not just for America. Please think bigger. This category was inspired by the fact that the staff of 42 Stories Anthology are spread out around the world. Stories that fall under identity/LGBT fit this category too.
6. Crime Fiction
7. Dystopia & Utopia
…share your Black Mirror
story in 42 words
8. Escape
...lived through a car
crash;
hunted and survived;
escaping
a really good sales pitch
9. Fairy Tale
10. Fantasy
11. Fight
...arenas,
gladiators, blood in the sand;
fighting cancer;
fighting the system;
fighting
against spousal abuse
12. Historical Fiction
…based
on non-fiction is okay
13. Horror
14. Humor
15. Impairment
...including all handicaps;
drug issues and depression;
non-fic based;
any form applies
16. Indigenous
...Sherman
Alexie's dynamic writing
style
inspired this chapter. However, any aboriginal story from anywhere in the world is welcomed.
17. Macabre & Morbid
18. Monster
18. Monster
19. Mystery
20. Mythopoeia
…myth
21. Noir
22. Oddball-Filled
No more submissions for this category
23. Outer space
24. Paranormal
25. Parent Story
...non-fic
in fiction form's okay;
good or bad
parent's
okay
26. Poetic Prose
...music
related is okay
...be creative with the format
...be creative with the format
27. Romance
…is your romance about two cats in love?
Cute
Your protagonist is in love with a ghost?
That goes here
Normal romance
is okay too
28. Satire
29. Science Fiction
...aliens,
robots, you name it goes here
30. Siblings
...evil
twin, wonderful brother, misunderstood sinister sister
31. Sports
...non-fiction based is okay
32. Steampunk
...example:
Fullmetal Alchemist
33. Sword &
Sorcery
...sword
story without the sorcery is okay and vice versa
34. Thriller & Suspense
35. Tragedy-Filled
No more submissions for this category
No more submissions for this category
36. Trapped
...there's
a spider outside on my windshield and I can't leave the car;
trapped in a
nightmare;
job;
actual nightmare;
under a rock
37. Travel story
...non-fiction based is okay
38. Vampire
38. Vampire
39. War
40. Werewolves
41. Western
...write about a gunslinger, bank robber, a cowboy
that hates guns;
take a shot
42. Zombie
Example submission:
Email subject line: 42Subs_CLOWN_EAJ
Hello. My name is Eval Jaeger. Perhaps you've never heard of me? Email: eaj@eaj.com. This story would fit into your clown or monster categories. Thank you.
MY FIRST AND LAST ENCOUNTER WITH A MONSTER
by Eval Allan Jaeger
I was seven years old when the clown attacked.
Right in my face, zany. Scary white hands.
Aggressive smile. “Hi, little boy," he exclaimed. "Do you like balloo—ugh.”
Bozo never saw my fist coming.
Blood slid down from his squeaky red nose.
Bio
Eval Allan Jaeger was a blogger who went by Devilsthrill back in the Myspace days. He had the number one read blog then vanished from the Internet until the Project 42 Stories Anthology launched. He looks like Don Quixote and is fictitious.
All entries will be automatically subscribed to BAM Writes' email updates. It's easy to unsubscribe. But this will keep you informed of the project's
progress.
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