bending spoons is a quarterly, submission-based literary 'zine dedicated to works of sci-fi/fantasy/horror/dark fantasy and other speculative works that defy genres. We only accept fiction; there are several other avenues online and in print for poetry if that is your forte'.

We have fairly lenient standards as to what qualifies for each of these sub-genres and are more than happy to welcome works that cross genres. Ours IS to question why. Why the universe is the way it is and why it isn't another way. Tell us why.

Each quarter we will post a theme for the following issue. Stories that follow this theme will be given special consideration, but stories that do not will also be considered.

No special consideration will be given to authors that have been published previously; if you would like to include previous publications in your bio, please do but a query letter or resume is not only unnecessary but will go completely unattended.

General Fiction: 500-5000 words.

Serial Fiction installments: 3000-7000 words. Please include two installments in the initial submission along with a synopsis of the remaining installments - what is it about, how many parts will it be published in, etc.

Flash Fiction: 250-700 words. Basically, anything that can be read during a commercial break on television or radio but still tells a complete story.

Bio: This is optional and can be about anything or in any format you want. 200 words maximum. Please include your bio with your original submission. Not doing so may result in your bio not being included with your piece.

Please embed your submissions in the body of an email. Attachments will not be opened. Single space within paragraphs, double space between (see how this page is set up?). Printer-friendly versions of your story may be provided at our discretion based on word count. Including an estimated word count is helpful, mainly so if your story has an awkwardly abrupt ending we know if it was intentional or if half of the text went to the place where the socks go. We don't need to know that it's 6542 words; 6500 is close enough. Please use the following subject line so that should you find your way to the spam folder we can rescue you - "Fiction Submission: Title" (This also makes it easier to sort the inbox by subject and find all the "F's" in one pile...lazy, maybe, but hey, no one is paying us to do this).

You should receive a response email within 24 to let you know that your submission has been received. If you don't, please try sending it again. If we select your piece for publication, you will also receive another email shortly following the 5th of the first month in the quarter with a direct link to your piece. Not getting such email does not necessarily mean you didn't get selected. We try our hardest get everything out on time but with only three people, it doesn't always work out the way we'd like so please feel free to check the site or email us after the 5th of January, April, July and October to check the status of your submission. Really, we don't mind. But please, wait until after the 5th of those months. Please don't email two weeks after sending in your submission asking if we'd made a decision yet.

Submissions are due by the 20th the month before publication (December, March, June, September). Anything received after the 20th will not be considered until the following quarter.

Please email all submissions to submissions@bending-spoons.com