Submissions
Submission windows
Exoplanet currently has three submission windows per year. Here are our upcoming windows:
- Sep 1 - Sep 15, 2026 (Issues 1 and 2)
- Jan 1 - Jan 15, 2027 (Issues 3 and 4)
- May 1 - May 15, 2027 (Issues 5 and 6)
Due to our need to keep a tight schedule with respect to reviewing submissions and producing the digital magazine, stories submitted outside of these windows will not be considered. Please plan accordingly.
What we publish
We publish speculative fiction (prose and poetry) that takes risks. We are interested in science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, weird fiction, and hybrid work that explores not only what is possible in a story, but also what is possible for a story to be.
We have a strong preference for formal innovation, but it is not a requirement. A brilliant conventional narrative will always be considered. However, we are especially excited by stories in which structure, presentation, perspective, or format is an essential part of the reading experience.
We accept speculative stories up to 5,000 words. These may include but are not limited to the following:
- Letters or emails
- Online chat transcripts
- News articles
- Diaries or journals
- Interviews
- Reverse chronology
- Rashomon Effect (same event from different perspectives)
As mentioned above, we will also consider traditional narrative fiction with compelling characters, strong prose, and imaginative speculative ideas. A story does not need to be formally experimental to be accepted. In fact, we’re looking for variety when assembling each issue.
What we love
We especially enjoy stories that...
- surprise us structurally
- combine genres
- use unusual narrative voices
- make the form essential to the story
- linger emotionally
What doesn't fit
The following are probably not for us:
- fan fiction
- stories relying solely on shock value
- stories where the experimental format overwhelms the narrative
Content guidelines
Sex, violence, and profanity are acceptable if they’re integral to the story. Please use your best judgment, but don’t self-reject because you assume we’ll find it excessive.
AI policy
We do not accept stories written by or with AI. That's it. That's the policy.
Reprints
We also accept reprints. If your story has already been published elsewhere, please note that in your submission. This is not limited to magazines and includes blogs, Patreon, Medium, etc. Before publication, you’ll need to affirm that all exclusivity periods have lapsed.
Payments and rights
Exoplanet pays a semi-pro rate of one cent ($0.01 USD) per word for prose (with a $5 minimum) and a $10 flat rate for poetry. We aim to gradually increase our rates to eight cents ($0.08 USD) per word for prose and a $50 flat rate for poetry, but achieving that goal will depend on Patreon support and magazine sales.
Once accepted, we request first electronic rights for original, unpublished prose and poetry with exclusive rights for three months from the publication of the issue in which your story appears.
Submission process
Though we don’t insist, we prefer to receive submissions as Word documents (DOCX or DOC files) in Shunn manuscript format if possible depending on the story type. We also accept RTF, ODT, and PDF files. Submissions will not be penalized based on formatting or file type. As long as we can open the file and read your story, we’ll be good to go.
Multiple submissions in the same window are allowed, but please wait for a response before sending another story.
Simultaneous submissions are acceptable and you don’t even need to tell us. Please withdraw your story right away if it’s accepted elsewhere.
Serialized submissions are welcome, but please query before sending the first installment.
We aim to respond to submissions within four weeks.