We’re Currently Accepting Submissions!
Next Deadline: March 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET
Short Stories, Essays and the Music issue
*updated 12/31/24
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT!
short stories. essays. melanin. Whether you’re an established writer or are just starting out, we want to hear from you!
At midnight & indigo, we celebrate the voices of Black women across the diaspora, through short stories and narrative essays that resonate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re a seasoned storyteller or taking your first steps into writing, we’re here for you—and we want to feature you.
We are now accepting submissions for our digital platform and tri-annual literary journals. This is your opportunity to join a vibrant community of writers and see your work alongside some of the most exciting voices in Black literature today. To date, we have published collective works by 270+ emerging and established Black women storytellers across the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, Asia, and Australia.
What we’re looking for:
- Original Stories: Fictional or personal, serious or lighthearted, raw or polished—we want your truth
- Character-Driven Narratives: Stories that make readers think, feel, and reflect long after the last word
- All Genres Welcome: From literary fiction to speculative worlds, heartfelt memoirs to daring essays, we embrace it all
Your voice matters. Your story matters. Let’s share it with the world.
Open Calls for Submissions:
Upcoming Deadlines
Short Stories – deadline 3/30
Are you a Black woman writer passionate about crafting beautifully written, character-driven short stories? We’re looking for previously unpublished short stories that capture the essence of the human experience. Need context? Check out our short story section and previous issues.
Literary fiction delves deep into the human condition, exploring themes of identity, relationships, and the intricate nuances of everyday life. These stories should resonate emotionally, offering readers a window into the world’s complexities and the richness of personal experiences. We want to celebrate the artistry and depth of Black literary fiction through your work.
- Word count: 1,500-7,000 words
- CLICK HERE for guidelines and to submit
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Black Speculative fiction – deadline 3/30
Do you dream of worlds beyond the ordinary? Stories that defy the laws of nature, bend time, or take readers to the edge of their imagination? If so, we want to hear from you.
We’re looking for original, unpublished, character-driven speculative short fiction that transports readers to the unknown. Whether your story delves into the eerie, explores dystopian futures, unveils supernatural wonders, or unfolds in fantastical realms, we’re here for it.
Speculative fiction is a broad genre encompassing elements that transcend the boundaries of our everyday reality. Whether it’s the eerie unknown, futuristic or dystopian landscapes, supernatural phenomena, or fantastical realms, these stories have the power to captivate and provoke thought.
- Word count: 2,000-7,000 words
- CLICK HERE for guidelines and to submit
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Personal Essays – deadline 3/30
Are you a Black woman writer with a story to tell that’s bursting with emotion, grit, and soul? We’re looking for previously unpublished, personal and evocative first-person essays that forge an immediate connection with readers. Need context? Check out our essay section.
Personal essays offer a window into the soul, capturing the raw, unfiltered essence of individual experiences. They provide a powerful platform for Black women to share their truths, challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. We want to celebrate and showcase writing that resonates on a deep level.
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Word count: min. 1,200 words
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CLICK HERE for guidelines and to submit
General Guidelines
- All genres and writing styles are welcome. It may be helpful to view our current short stories, essays, and literary journals to get a general sense of what we publish, but don’t be afraid to push the needle! We do not accept work created by AI. Any submissions not entirely created by a human author will be automatically rejected
- Format: All stories must be submitted via Submittable — we will not accept stories via email. You may submit up to three stories at any time. Our average response time is 120 days
- Word length: Short stories: 1,500-7,000 words. Narrative essays: min. 1,200 words
- Submission does not guarantee that your work will be published
- Compensation: We pay for all accepted pieces. $0.07 per word for Short Stories and $150 for personal essays. Payment upon publication.
Rights
Each author retains the sole, individual copyright on her contribution. We only ask for first North American serial rights on any story we publish. This means that the story should not have appeared anywhere else, either in print or online. (This includes publication on an author’s own website).
We accept first world eBook, print, and audiobook rights, and non-exclusive anthology rights for our published anthologies. We also accept non-exclusive online rights to publish and archive your story on our website(s) or on our podcast. You will be asked to agree to our contract as part of the submission process.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT!
