Submissions Guidelines for
Niteblade Fantasy and Horror Magazine

Short Version:
Simultaneous submissions: Yes
Reprints: Yes
Attached as .doc or .rtf files - NOT in the body of email unless they are poetry
NOT indented

I highly suggest reading the long version because I am rejecting stories unread if they fail to follow the guidelines. I don't have time to do otherwise.

Rights:
Niteblade Fantasy and Horror Magazine will require the non-exclusive right to use your story or poem in our free online edition, pdf editions and the right to archive your work on our website indefinately.

Art:
Marge Simon does all the cover and interior art for Niteblade, however, we wanted a way to be able to show off the work of talented artists whose work could fall under the umbrellas of 'fantasy' or 'horror'. To that end, Richard H. Fay joined the staff of Niteblade. He will be making blog posts at the Niteblade blog intended to promote new and emerging artists. If you would like to be featured, drop him an email at art@niteblade.com.

Payment:
Short Stories: $5 + a .pdf copy of the issue the work appears in
Poems: $3 + a .pdf copy of the issue the work appears in
Payment will be made by your choice of paypal, epassporte or a donation to be divided between Duotrope's Digest and Ralan's Webstravaganza.

For all submissions please email your story or poem as an .rtf or .doc attachment to the appropriate address.
Poetry --> poetry@niteblade.com (up to five poems at a time)
Fiction --> fiction@niteblade.com (one story at a time)
Art --> art@niteblade.com (one sample and a link to your portfolio)

I'm getting a significant amount of spam at these addresses so make sure you have the word 'Niteblade' 'Submission' or 'Query' in the subject somewhere. Any one will do, you don't need to use all three :)

**I am not accepting fiction submissions during the months of May and November.**

When submitting prose please single space your work, insert a blank line between paragraphs and do not indent them. If I open your submission and the story is indented I will reject it unread. I can't be bothered to read the submissions of people who can't be bothered to read these guidelines. For the record, I don't care what font you use, as long as I can read it.

Please include a cover letter (in the body of the email). Submissions sent without one will be rejected unread. Include in that cover letter your legal name and the name you want your story published under if it's different.

Keep in mind that Niteblade is a web-based market, so longer stories are a harder sell than shorter ones.

I am happy to accept simultaneous submissions and reprints -- assuming you have the right to submit that story elsewhere. If your story is a reprint please note it in your email and let me know where and when it has been published before.

No multiple submissions please. Only one story and up to 5 poems per author will be considered at a time. If you've got more that you'd love to submit, wait until I've accepted or passed on your first submission before sending the next one.

Do not tell me what your story is about or include a synopsis in your cover letter. Let the story sell itself.

Include a short bio written in the third person if you'd like one included with your work if published. This is optional.

Nonfiction
Each issue of Niteblade will feature book reviews. If you would like to have your novel reviewed, please drop me a line at rhonda@niteblade.com .

What I like...
The best way to see what I like is to check out the current issue -- all it will cost you is time. That being said, you may still find the following pointers helpful.

To me, horror stories don't need to involve murders, monsters or villians (though they very well might), all they need to do is scare me, send a chill down my spine or make me shiver. The best stories, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, whatever, are the ones that linger, that play around the edges of my memory long after I've put them down and walked away.

Fantasy stories can be damsels and dragons, sci-fi, surreal -- anything 'fantastic'. I don't want to paint anyone into a corner so my definitions are going to err on the side of broadness. Not sure? Send it in -- you never know. For me, swords and sorcery will often beat out rayguns and robots, but there are exceptions to every rule and plenty of spots for both in each issue of Niteblade.

Regarding poetry, I despise poems that are 'technically perfect' but don't have anything to say and forced rhymes make me cringe. Other than that? The sky is the limit (yes, I know it's a cliche, you don't need to tell me in your submission email. Sheesh.)

Hints...
My name is Rhonda Parrish. I am not a 'sir' and I get cranky when you address me as such.

The magazine's name is Niteblade. Not Nightblade, not Niteblayde, not even Knightblade. It's Niteblade. I get cranky when you spell it wrong.

I get cranky when I have to read stories in the body of an email (poems are okay).

If your submission includes a synopsis I'll know you haven't read these guidelines and I'll be cranky.

It's best if I'm not cranky before I even start reading your submission.

Just sayin'.

Please consider tracking your submission and reporting your response at Duotrope's Digest or Ralan's Webstravaganza:
~*~ Ralan's Webstravaganza