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Flame Tree Fiction

Learning to Be Human Short Stories | Call for Submissions

Posted by Leah Ratcliffe

We're delighted to let you know this new call for submissions is open! Please read through the submission details carefully as we’ve changed some of our guidelines and it could result in your submission not being acknowledged if you do not follow them.

** SUBMISSIONS WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED **

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Learning to Be Human Short Stories
Science Fiction, Folklore and Myth

Machine learning, AI and large language models tell us that the future is with us now. This thrilling collection of science fiction stories gathers the fears and opportunities prompted by responsive chatbots to reveal the struggles of the Machine Age, affecting both humanity and artificial intelligence. With stories from open submissions and classic tales we examine the interplay between automation, humankind, and what it is to be human. The stories encourage us to think of human and machine development in the same terms: what is it like to emerge from childhood as an adult? What was it like to be at the mercy of elemental forces in ancient times? Are we truly in control of our climate now? Are machines the future, or a dangerous distraction? Are thinking machines inevitable? There's so much to explore in this fascinating new book, due for publication January 2024.

Submissions to: learninghuman@flametreepublishing.com

Terms:

  • Multiple submissions are fine but must be in separate emails.
  • Simultaneous submissions are fine but you must have the right to license your story in an anthology.
  • For accepted stories we pay Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) rates of 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints.
  • We will aim to read each story and confirm its status within 4 months of the submission deadline.
  • Payment for the chosen stories will be made within 30 days of the final advertised publication date (see our website flametreepublishing.com for details), although some may be paid earlier than that.
  • Submission does not imply the right to publication. Each story will be read and assessed by the selection panel.
  • Let us know in your submission email whether your story would be a reprint or is currently unpublished.

 

Important Notice about Submissions and Guidelines

We're always looking for better ways of working so we've tweaked our submission process to allow us to read more stories, and spend more time assessing the balance of our books.

  • Submissions must use the dedicated email address.
  • The subject line of the email must be the story title.
  • The file with the story must be attached to the email (.docx, .doc or .rtf format).
  • The name of the file must match the name in the subject line.
  • If submitting more than one story, please submit one story per email.
Other useful tips for a more successful submission:
  • The file name of the submission must be the story name only.
  • Please just use spaces between words in the title (not _ or - ).
  • If the story name starts with A or The, please use it at the beginning of the file name.
  • If you'd like to add some details about the story, confirm if it's new or a reprint, or add a short bio of yourself, please add to the body of the email not as an attachment.
  • Story length is most likely to be successful at 2000-4000 words, but we will still read stories slightly outside this range.
  • If submitting a story that has recently been submitted to us for consideration to another anthology, please state this in the submission email.
  • Deadline for submissions is 2nd July 2023Learning to be Human cover


The
Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in the Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, highly collectable and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.


Thank you, and good luck!

Topics: Gothic Fantasy, Short Stories, myths and legends, short fiction, Call For Submissions, anthologies

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