Submission Guidelines

What we are looking for:

Stories:

We're looking for stories that are set in a world with an alternative historical progress. We're wide open. As time goes on, we may narrow our focus. We do like satire and humor. We also like serious pieces. We really enjoy obscure Points of Departure where the story hinges on what a minor Balkan nobleman did during the middle ages (for an example). Of course, it has to make sense and be understandable. Time travel and the accompanying paradoxes are welcome.

Stories should be written in English ('cause we're not as linguistically gifted as we should be). They should be between 0-3000 words. (We're looking forward to a whole rash of 0 word submissions. Or the genius who can produce the perfect 2 words story.)

Articles:

We're looking for short articles (500-1500 words) about anything relevant. Little known historical turning points. Little known historical figures who were far more influential than people generally know. Alternative economics, religions, cultures, militaries, etc.

What we are not looking for:

• Stories in shared universes that are not owned exclusively by you. Like Star Wars, Star Trek, Turtledove's work, or my brothers novel.
• Stories that are not actually stories, but instead mere fragments that have failed to coalesce.
• Fantasy. No elves, dragons, or mythical kingdoms. Unless the Elves are a tribe of neolithic hunters who develop civilization 30,000 years ago and genetically engineer dragons out of geckos. But how many stories like that do we need?
• Stories about monsters killing things. The end.
• Pornographic or erotic.
• Articles about writing.

How to Submit:

Email submissions only at patheditor@yahoo.com

Make the subject of your email "Sub: (Your Title Here)". I would prefer if you pasted your submission into the body of the email. I'll also accept attachments in Word and WordPerfect.

What we buy and how much we pay for it:

We purchase the exclusive right to publish your story for one year from initial publication. We do accept reprints but only if you own all rights and give us a history of previous publications.

We pay $5 a story and $5 an article. We pay very little because we are poor. Perhaps someday we will have more money to disperse. We also pay through paypal.com so it helps if you have an account. As an American Yokel, I am unfamiliar with the dynamics of international exchange rates and so forth. If we do accept a story from someone not residing in the United States, we will work something out. Perhaps a signed photo of the editor with his dog.

Copyright 2003.