SUBMISSIONS

NOVELETTE SUBMISSION WINDOW:
JUNE 16-20th 2025

7K- 18k WORD COUNT
No Theme
See Fiction Submission Guidelines Below

MAIN ISSUE SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR
(Will be a Themed Issue!)

FICTION

Cold Signal accepts flash fiction and longer work alike, 500-7000 words.

The bread and butter of Cold Signal’s fiction is Weird fiction, sci-fi, horror and fantasy. Think schizophrenic, kaleidoscopic, mythic, psychedelic, sincere, emotional, subdermal, human. Appetites for beauty and horror run wide so long as it rings true.

POETRY

Cold Signal accepts poetry, up to 7000 words. You’re welcome to send 1-5 poems. 3 poems max will be accepted.

Poetry is a pretty open-ended art form to begin with. Surprise us! Just connect to the theme (if the issue is themed.) Accompanied images are permitted. There are limits to the specificity of formatting poems for online publication. Will certainly try, so don’t be encouraged, just being honest.

CREATIVE NON-FICTION/ARTICLES

Works of CNF, literary criticism or interesting articles up to 7000 words. If you can write compelling nonfiction that feels connected to the central theme (if applicable) and gives readers something unique, hell yeah.

RETURNING WRITERS

If you’ve been previously included in Cold Signal, please wait at least one issue after your inclusion to submit again. One major goal with CS is to showcase new and upcoming writers and cast a wide and diverse net, but I have warm feelings for everyone who has been part of the magazine so far & I already have a proven tendency to enjoy your work, so you’re very welcome to submit again.

Note: This rule does not apply to the novelette series. If you have been published in a recent issue, you are welcome to submit again to novelette open calls.

HUMANITY

Human created work only, please. There’s no room for moral ambiguity or opportunity for meaningful experimentation in the realm of LLMs and generated images at this stage. It’s a drain on the planet and on working artists and writers. Thank you for understanding.

Also, humanity is shown in empathy for others, especially oppressed people and minorities. CS believes in the equality and liberation of all people against oppression, discrimination, and state violence.
May Palestine soon be free.

SENDING YOUR SUBMISSION

All submissions should currently be sent to coldsignalmagazine@gmail.com. Please use this format for your email headings: [CATEGORY, YOUR NAME, WORD COUNT]
If possible, include a working bio in your submission.

Simultaneous submissions are encouraged.

I’ll never be offended if you pull a submission prior to acceptance. While I cannot pay submitters at this time, I still hope Cold Signal can be a supportive and interesting venue to showcase your work, and I work hard to make that a reality.

Thank you!

-John