Clarkesworld Magazine

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.

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

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.

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.