Strange Horizons

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: Strange Horizons guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• Good speculative fiction, including work from or about diverse and under-represented perspectives, written without exoticising.
• When open: Moksha only. Previously unpublished in English.

Subjects they avoid

• Do not submit while the page says closed.
• Simultaneous or multiple submissions. Reprints previously published in English. Resubmissions.
• Stories translated or written using LLMs/AI.
• Translations by someone other than the original author — those go to sister magazine Samovar.

Key requirements

• Wait for the fall 2026 reopen
• Moksha
• Speculative
• No AI

Who can submit

Official: submissions from anywhere in the world. British spellings are fine.

Rights

First-printing world exclusive English-language rights including audio for six months. After that you may republish. Archive removal allowed after one year.

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.

Opens in windows. Currently between reading periods.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Moksha when they reopen — 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: Moksha when they reopen — do not email stories
• Submission email: fiction@strangehorizons.com

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Do not submit now.
• Watch https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Not stated for the closed period

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.