Fiction

Clarkesworld Magazine

Clarkesworld is open for original science fiction and fantasy of 1,000–22,000 words. Official rate is 14 US cents a word via PayPal, cheque or wire. Stories from all over the world and translations are welcome. AI-assisted work is banned. Simultaneous submissions are not allowed.

🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-08 Researched by BRYME Editorial Desk.

The docket

The nine things that decide whether a pitch is worth sending. Every answer below is either taken from the publication’s own guideline or computed by BRYME from the 304-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.

Payment: 14¢ per word
Length: 1,000–22,000 words, no exceptions
Who can submit: Open internationallyThe guideline states no geographic restriction.
Reading period: Not yet assessedBRYME has not recorded a reading period for this market from its guideline page. That is our gap rather than the publication's silence: it does not mean the window is open, and it does not mean there is none. Read the guideline linked on this page before you send.
Response time: Average typically under two days; query after two weeks
Simultaneous submissions: Not statedThe guideline does not address simultaneous submissions. BRYME records that as silence rather than assuming a yes: if you are sending the same piece to several publications, say so in your cover letter and withdraw it everywhere the moment it is taken.
AI policy: AI-assisted work is prohibitedThe guideline forbids AI-generated or AI-assisted writing.
Rights: StatedFirst world electronic rights (text and audio), first print rights, and non-exclusive anthology rights for the annual Clarkesworld anthology. English-language unless stated otherwise.
Experience: Not statedThe guideline sets no experience requirement. BRYME records that as silence, not as a welcome — a first-time writer is not excluded, but nor are they invited.

What this record does not tell you

This publication leaves 3 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.

Reading period — no window recorded yet, so check the guideline before you pitch rather than assuming it is open.
Simultaneous submissions — the guideline leaves this open, so declare it in your cover letter rather than assuming.
Experience — look at what kind of writer this publication normally publishes before you pitch; its guideline does not say.

Record last human-checked 2026-08-19. Sources listed at the foot of this page. This record holds no figure BRYME could compare, so no ranking appears above it. Where a rate is quoted per word, it is never ranked against a flat fee.

Quick facts

Payment: 14¢ per word
Word count: 1,000–22,000 words, no exceptions
Submission: Official online submissions tracker — do not email stories
International writers: Yes
Status: 🟢 Currently accepting
Last verified: 2026-08

🟡 Research only. BRYME has researched this opportunity but has not yet submitted to it. Nothing here should be read as a claim of acceptance, publication or payment.

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Fiction. Official guideline: Clarkesworld Magazine guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

Well-written science fiction or fantasy. Dark SF/F is allowed. Horror as a genre is not.
Standard manuscript format, .RTF or .DOCX, via the online tracker only.
A cover letter that follows Neil Clarke’s published cover-letter guidance.

Subjects they avoid

Email or postal submissions. Simultaneous submissions. Re-submitting a rejected story.
Another story within seven days of a rejection.
Work translated, written, developed or assisted by AI writing tools. Official: that can get you banned.
A long official list of hard sells includes zombies, sexy vampires, talking cats or swords, and pun-dependent humour. Read the page.

Key requirements

Online tracker only
1,000–22,000 words
No simultaneous submissions
No AI

Who can submit

Official: stories from all over the world. Translations welcome even if previously published in another language. English-language rights.

Rights

First world electronic rights (text and audio), first print rights, and non-exclusive anthology rights for the annual Clarkesworld anthology. English-language unless stated otherwise.

AI policy

Prohibited

How to write for them

Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.

BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.

How to pitch

Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.

Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
Say why it fits this publication.
Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
Close professionally and thank them for their time.
Send through the official channel only.

Open Last verified 2026-08-19 Official submission page

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Official online submissions tracker — do not email stories

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
Submission: Official online submissions tracker — do not email stories

What the guideline asks you to prepare

Read https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/.
Submit at https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions_tracker/.
Keep your tracking number.

Safety note. Never pay to submit your work. A legitimate publication does not ask writers to pay a fee or provide identity documents to be considered. If you are asked to, do not proceed.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Average typically under two days; query after two weeks

If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.

OFFICIAL

Read the official guideline

Open the publication's own page and confirm everything on this record before you pitch.

Open → GUIDE

How to write a pitch

A step-by-step structure for a pitch that a busy editor can act on.

Open the guide →

Check, question or correct this record

BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-08.

What do these statuses mean? Every badge on this page explained — open, closed, researched, tested, paid. Report an outdated listing Guideline changed, link dead, or submissions closed? Tell the desk and it gets rechecked. How BRYME verifies The editorial standard behind this record: sources, dates, corrections and limits.