Taking Submissions: Baffling Magazine June 2026 Window

Baffling Magazine is opening for speculative flash fiction submissions from June 1–15, 2026, with a special interest in queer, trans, aro/ace, weird, and slipstream storytelling. The magazine pays professional rates of 8¢ per word for original fiction under 1,200 words.

About This Submission Call

Baffling Magazine publishes speculative flash fiction with a strong interest in queer, trans, aro/ace, and genre-bending voices. For the June 2026 window, editors are accepting both “gossip”-themed stories and unthemed submissions. The magazine welcomes strange, undefinable, interstitial, and slipstream fiction across horror, fantasy, and science fiction, particularly stories that push against conventional genre boundaries.

Submission Guidelines

Baffling Magazine currently publishes two to three flash stories a month on our Patreon. Subsequently, each quarter of published work is shared for free online on our website. We may publish additional work each month as our Patreon grows and will share those guidelines as we get closer to each milestone.

✷

The compensation level for original stories accepted to Baffling Magazine is $0.08/word. Stories will be published first on our Patreon, then made available in our quarterly issues, and finally in an annual print anthology.

We’ll be open next in June, from the 1st to the 15th, reading on the theme of “gossip” as well as unthemed submissions. Our submission form will be here. We close at midnight EST on the 15th.

Note on timeliness: We are a slow market. Simsub is acceptable and encouraged.

We are looking for:

• Wordcount: Under 1,200 words. We would especially love to see more stories under 500 words.

• What we want to see: We are looking for speculative stories that explore science fiction, fantasy, and horror with a queer bent. We want queer stories and we want trans stories and we want aro/ace stories. We want indefinable stories. We welcome weird, slipstream, and interstitial writing.

• What we don’t want to see: We’re not interested in unexamined bigotry or ***ual violence; pieces that include such should be nuanced or looking at the post-event experience of the survivors.

Guidelines:

• Please submit your story in .doc or .docx file, formatted in something approaching modern Standard Manuscript Format. Please use italics for italics etc. One of the editors has a slight aversion to Courier and a fondness for Georgia.

• Please include a cover/query letter with the title, length, and a brief bio. You may include links to your website/social media, and previous publications if any. Please don’t stress about this cover letter, if we have additional questions about your submission, we’ll ask them.

• Simultaneous submissions are encouraged, please withdraw immediately if you take another offer.

• Stories should be previously unpublished. “Published” in this case includes stories posted on your Patreon.

• Please no multiple submissions. If you receive a rejection within the submission window, you may submit another story, though it’s not common for us to reply that quickly.

• Translations always welcome with permission from author. Payment to be split between author and translator, or according to your agreement.

• Authors from all countries are welcome to submit.

Submissions are open to all. Neon Hemlock Press is particularly interested in queer stories and authors. Authors from all underrepresented backgrounds and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to submit. Please don’t self-reject.

You should receive a confirmation of your submission via email. We’re not an especially fast market, but you may query us at [email protected] 120 days after the close of the submission period if you haven’t heard from us. We will never be upset if you withdraw your story.

More Submission Opportunities

Looking for more speculative fiction submission opportunities?
Browse more speculative fiction submission calls.

Submission FAQ

When is the submission deadline?

Submissions are open from June 1 through June 15, 2026, closing at midnight EST on June 15.

What genres are accepted?

Baffling Magazine accepts speculative fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and interstitial fiction with a queer focus or perspective.

What is the word count limit?

Stories must be under 1,200 words, with editors especially interested in stories under 500 words.

How much does the publication pay?

Accepted original stories are paid at a professional rate of $0.08 USD per word.

Are reprints allowed?

No. Stories must be previously unpublished, including not previously posted to Patreon or similar platforms.

Via: Baffling Magazine.