Writer's Prompt, January - February 2026

A Very Alien story explores non-human intelligence, life, or existence. Please try to envision entities that are fundamentally non-human and not merely unfamiliar in appearance. Endeavor to present biology, thoughts, cultures, perceptions, and values that are decidedly extraterrestrial.

This prompt can explore anything: first contact, coexistence, misunderstanding, irreconcilable difference, etc. Common tropes include radically non-anthropomorphic life, alien psychologies, communication barriers, humans projecting meaning where none exists, or the realization that humanity is not central, special, or even relevant. Explore these tropes or create something entirely new. The choice is yours!

Good science fiction has always challenged human-centric thinking, and some of the most influential “very alien” works include Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, Stanisław Lem’s Solaris, Octavia E. Butler’s Xenogenesis series, Peter Watts’ Blindsight, and the short fiction of James Tiptree Jr. and Ted Chiang. These authors use the truly alien to interrogate identity, consciousness, communication, and the limits of human understanding.

Anton Kukal
Submissions Editor
Writer Prompts

Review our Submission Guidelines here:

https://nebulascifymagazine.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html

 The Stories:

The Dance - Ron Wm. Hurlbut
Battleground - Andrew Barber
The Traveller - Anthony John
The Knotted Light - Dr. Sanjay Basu
The Lattice that Dreamed in Neutrinos - Dr. Sanjay Basu
Nebulous Echoes - Jeff Cochran
Feliz Navidad on Mars - Hector Cuello
A Day at the Ambassador's Office - David Gray
John Glenn is Skating Around the Rings of Saturn - John A. Frochio
The Springs - Ian Reeve
Cat, Gnome and Dragon - John Waterman
Obstruction - Josy Bongiovanni 
The Very Alien Shaggotts - Anton Kukal

Alone - H.D. Weikle

The Invasion of Mars - AI Simmons

The Colour of Nothing - Timothy Collyer 

Good Game - Gerry Sammon