Submissions
Nebula Magazine
Submission Acceptance Guidelines
Nebula Magazine is looking for stories that are well-written, engaging, and demonstrate a strong understanding of the science fiction genre. We want imaginative storytelling with intellectual depth, compelling characters, and careful attention to craft.
Submissions are expected to be polished and ready for publication. Authors submitting stories not meeting guidelines will receive and opportunity to edit and resubmit. All efforts will be made to cultivate writers.
Nebula Magazine will evaluate each submission according to the following criteria:
1. Prompt Matching
Your story should match the stated writing prompt. We look for fresh, original ideas that stand out from typical genre tropes. We like stories that explore new concepts, have creative world-building, or present innovative takes on classic themes.
2. Engagement and Emotional Impact
Your story should emotionally engage the reader through an effective narrative arc. Pacing should be appropriate, with good rhythm between action and quieter moments. Develop strong likeable characters and challenge them with adversity.
3. Plot and Structure
A good submission should have a clear, logical plot that is well-constructed and makes sense within the world of the story. We will check for clarity, focus, and the progression of events. We look for a strong opening that grabs attention and a satisfying, thought-provoking ending that wraps up the plot or leaves a lingering impact.
4. Writing Quality
Your story should be submitted in final form. The writing should be smooth, with a balance of description and dialogue. Typos and awkward phrasing can detract from the story’s overall quality. We will reject stories lacking clarity, proper grammar, and writing fluency.
5. Voice and Tone
We will assess whether the story has a strong and consistent narrative voice and whether the tone fits the genre, subject matter, and target audience. Whether it’s a serious exploration of societal issues or a light-hearted adventure, the voice should be appropriate.
6. Clarity and Focus
Your submissions should be easy to follow and have a clear direction. A meandering, overly complex, or unfocused plot can be a turn-off. Submissions should balance depth with accessibility.
7. Effective Dialogue
Dialogue should serve a purpose, whether it's revealing character traits, advancing the plot, or exploring the world. We look for natural, realistic exchanges that don’t feel forced or overly expository.
8. Word Count
The length of the story must fall within the publication’s acceptable word count range. Submissions that exceed the specified word count by 10% is allowed.
9. Copyright
Nebula Magazine will only accept new, original, and previously unpublished material created by the submitting author. No reprints. If accepted, Nebula Magazine will publish your story on its on-line forum. Authors will not receive compensation for publication. Authors retain all rights.
10. Formatting
Proper Formatting: Submissions should be formatted according to the magazine’s submission guidelines:
- .rtf format – rich text format or Google Docs
- 12 point times new roman font
- No tabs or other paragraph indents
- Insert space between each paragraph using hard return
- Author info in upper left or right corner (name, email, word count)
- Title and author attribution (By Author Name) centered above body of text
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