Black Market Fiction publishes serial novels, short stories, and feature articles that challenge readers and refuse to compromise. If your work fits our vision, we want to see it.
What We Publish
Serial and Short Fiction: Any genre featuring protagonists who operate outside the system and face hard choices.
Feature Articles: Cultural commentary, investigative essays, and story analysis that digs deeper than surface-level content. We want pieces that challenge conventional thinking about storytelling, publishing, and culture.
What We're Looking For
Fiction Requirements
- Length: 5,000-30,000 words total, structured in episodes of 1,500-2,500 words
- Pacing: Fast-paced with strong momentum between episodes
- Characters: Protagonists who refuse to compromise, who choose the harder path over compliance
- Themes: Moral complexity, difficult choices, operating outside institutions
- Tone: Stories that evoke emotion and anticipation, that respect reader intelligence
What We Accept
We're genre-agnostic. Your story doesn't need a happy ending. It doesn't need to follow conventional structure. What it needs is compelling characters, real stakes, and a refusal to sanitize difficult truths.
What We Don't Accept
We will not publish work that:
- Romanticizes or advocates for communism or socialism
- Portrays the United States or Western civilization as inherently evil or deserving of destruction
- Features gratuitous violence without narrative purpose
- Exploits trauma for shock value
- Lectures readers rather than trusts them to draw conclusions
Quality Standards
Black Market Fiction exists to showcase talented independent authors. We're looking for distinctive voices and skilled storytelling.
We want work that sounds like you. Your voice should be unmistakable—whether that's spare and brutal or lush and atmospheric. Generic doesn't cut it here.
We're AI-agnostic in our process, but the final work must demonstrate human craft. If your submission reads like it was generated rather than written—flat affect, predictable phrasing, lack of distinctive voice—it won't make the cut. We can tell the difference, and so can our readers.
Feature Article Requirements
- Length: 1,500-3,000 words
- Approach: Substantive analysis backed by research and clear thinking
- Topics: The state of modern publishing, what makes compelling fiction, cultural trends shaping storytelling (in print, film, or other media), critical analysis of media and literature
- Tone: Sharp but not cynical, intellectually rigorous but accessible
What Makes a Strong Pitch
Tell us what you're arguing and why it matters. Skip the throat-clearing. We want to know: What's your thesis? What evidence supports it? Why should our readers care?
Formatting Requirements
Manuscripts
- Standard manuscript format (12-point Times New Roman or similar, double-spaced. Google Docs or .docx)
- Include word count in header
- For serials: Submit first 7,500 words (3-5 episodes) plus a synopsis of the complete story
- For short stories: Submit the entire work plus a tag line and blurb.
- For features: Submit complete article
Cover Letter
As for the email body, keep it brief. Include:
- Your name and contact information
- Title and word count
- One-paragraph description of your piece
- Relevant publishing credits (if any)
Rights and Payment
We are not paying for submissions at this time, and thus do not require exclusive rights for digital publication.
Exclusivity and paid contributions may be discussed with each contributor for print publication. Payment details will be discussed upon acceptance.
Submission Process
Send to staff@blackmarketfiction.com
Include "FICTION SUBMISSION" or "FEATURE SUBMISSION" in the subject line, followed by your piece's title.
Response Time: 2-5 weeks
We review every submission. If we're interested, we'll be in touch. If you don't hear from us within 5 weeks, feel free to submit elsewhere.
What Happens Next
If we love your work, we'll reach out to discuss publication timeline, any editorial revisions, and payment terms, if applicable. Our editorial process is collaborative—we want your voice to come through clearly.
Questions?
Email staff@blackmarketfiction.com with "SUBMISSION QUESTION" in the subject line.
We're looking for writers who have something to say and the skill to say it well. If that's you, we want to read your work.