Recommended Professional Markets for Speculative Fiction: Part 1

Here's a quick run-down on the pro, speculative fiction, short-story markets I recommend for story submittal.  By "professional," I mean SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) qualifying markets.

1. Clarkesworld Magazine - Pro's: quick turnaround of submissions, electronic submisssions, high prestige, award-winning semi-pro magazine, high pay rate (10 cents a word).  Con's: extremely low acceptance rate, electronic-only publication, 8,000 word max story length.

2. Lightspeed Magazine - Pro's: extremely quick turnaround of submissions, electronic submissions, high prestige.  Con's: extremely low acceptance rate, electronic-only publication, 7,500 word max story length.

3. Asimov's Science Fiction - Pro's: high prestige, electronic submissions, print and electronic publication, good exposure.  Con's: low acceptance rate, slower turnaround times for submissions (around 40 days).

4. Analog Science Fiction and Fact - Pro's: high prestige, electronic submissions, print and electronic publication, excellent exposure, fairly quick turnaround of submissions.  Con's: low acceptance rate, science fiction only.

5. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction - Pro's: good prestige, print and electronic publication, good exposure, fairly quick turnaround of submissions. Con's: postal submissions only, low acceptance rate.

I would generally classify these five markets as the primary professional markets.  All things being equal, I would recommend submitting your story to these markets first - assuming that your writing is at a professional level, and that your story meets the specific requirements for each market.

Check out the submission guidelines for each of these markets for details on formatting and information on what type of stories they buy.  Also, it is always a good idea to review a recent copy of any market you want to submit to, in order to get a feel for what they actually publish.

First Story Acceptance: "The Gun," to be Published in the Battlespace Anthology

I recieved my first story acceptance today for the Battlespace Anthology, an anthology of military-themed science fiction which will be published by the creators and producers of The Science Fiction Show podcast.  The story is a flash-fiction piece entitled "The Gun," which is a piece set in the far future that describes a powerful weapon mankind utilizes to defend itself, and why the weapon was created.

The anthology is scheduled to be released Memorial Day Weekend 2012, and will be available in both print and electronic versions.  All the proceeds from this project will be donated to the Warrior Cry Music Project, an organization which provides musical instruments and instruction to wounded veterans of the armed forces.