Fiction
Pseudopod
Pseudopod, the Escape Artists horror podcast, pays the professional rate of 8 cents a word for original fiction, $100 flat for short story reprints and $20 flat for flash fiction reprints under 1,500 words. It does not accept any AI or LLM-generated work, including the cover letter. Submissions go through its Moksha portal during open general submission periods, which usually consider one original and one reprint per author.
🟢 Rolling submissions Verified 2026-09
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 288-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- 8¢/word original; $100 short story reprint; $20 flash reprintOf the other 4 records quoting in USD on this desk that state a figure, 3 state less, 1 state more.
- Length
- Flash reprints defined as under 1,500 words; no maximum stated for originals
- Who can submit
- Not statedNo stated country restriction. The guidelines place no limits on genre definitions or on content, and describe no taboos about what may appear in a story.
- Reading period
- Submissions are only accepted during an open general submission periodcheck the schedule at pseudopod.org before sending.
- Response time
- Query if no automated confirmation within 24 hours; after 60 days, query
- Simultaneous submissions
- You may submit elsewhere at the same timeSimultaneous submissions are acceptable WITH DISCLOSURE. — https://pseudopod.org/submissions/ (read 2026-09-30)
- AI policy
- AI-assisted work is prohibitedThe guideline forbids AI-generated or AI-assisted writing.
- Rights
- Not statedBRYME records that 149 of the 288 publications on this desk state their terms. This one does not. Ask what rights you are assigning, for how long and for what territory, before you sign anything.
- Experience
- Not yet assessedBRYME has read this publication's guideline but has not yet put the experience question to it, so this row is untouched rather than unanswered — it is our gap, not theirs. Treat it exactly as you would an unstated policy.
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.
- Who can submit — the guideline leaves this open, so ask before you spend an evening on the pitch rather than assuming a yes.
- Rights — you may be asked to assign more than you expect. Get the terms in writing.
- Experience — BRYME has not assessed this one yet, so do not read the blank as either a welcome or a bar. Look at who the publication normally publishes before you pitch.
Record last human-checked 2026-09-30. Sources listed at the foot of this page. Figures are compared only against other records quoting in USD on this desk quoted the same way, so a per-word rate is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- 8¢/word original; $100 short story reprint; $20 flash reprint
- Word count
- Flash reprints defined as under 1,500 words; no maximum stated for originals
- Submission
- Moksha portal — during an open general submission period
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Rolling submissions
- Last verified
- 2026-09
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: Pseudopod guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Short horror fiction, original or reprint, that would work narrated aloud by a performer.
- Any kind of content. Pseudopod states it does not split hairs about genre definitions and observes no taboos about what can appear in stories.
- One original and one reprint per author during a general submission period.
- A different original or reprint if you already have a submission under consideration through a separate portal — each call is treated separately.
Subjects they avoid
- AI or LLM-generated work of any kind. Basic spelling and grammar checking tools are acceptable, but Pseudopod recommends steering clear of all generative AI at every stage of the writing process.
- AI or LLM tools used to write the cover letter — explicitly asked against.
- Submitting the same story to multiple Escape Artists podcasts at once (Escape Pod, PodCastle, Cast of Wonders, CatsCast and PseudoPod). Wait for a decision on one before sending it to another.
Key requirements
- Check the schedule first — submissions are only accepted when Pseudopod is open.
- Submit through the Moksha portal; you will get an automated email confirmation.
- Query if the confirmation has not arrived within 24 hours, and again after 60 days if you have heard nothing.
- Simultaneous submissions are acceptable with disclosure — say that you are submitting elsewhere.
- Do not use AI for the story or for the cover letter.
Who can submit
No stated country restriction. The guidelines place no limits on genre definitions or on content, and describe no taboos about what may appear in a story.
Rights
Not stated on the official submissions page.
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.
Reads year-round; no submission window to wait for.
How to submit
Moksha portal — during an open general submission period
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Moksha portal — during an open general submission period
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Check https://pseudopod.org/submissions/ and the schedule before writing anything — the portal is only open during general submission periods.
- Write for the ear; this is an audio market.
- Reprints are paid, so a strong back catalogue is worth money here.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Query if no automated confirmation within 24 hours; after 60 days, query
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.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-09.