Neon Relics is seeking original short fiction rooted in the spirit, landscape, culture, and emotional atmosphere of the Southwest. We are especially exited by stories that feel lived-in, grounded, strange, haunting, human, and unmistakably regional.
We welcome emerging and established writers alike.
What we’re looking for:
-Short fiction
-Regional noir
-Speculative fiction
-Magical fiction
-Horror
-Science fiction
-Folk tales
-Character driven genre fiction
Stories may be realistic or fantastical, but they should carry a strong sense of place, atmosphere, and emotional truth.
Things we love:
-The desert
-Working-class voices
-Overlooked communities
-Roadside Americana
-Monsoon season
-Strange local tales
-Legends
-Intergenerational stories
We're less concerned with genre than with quality, originality, and voice
The Nitty-Gritty
Accepted Length
2000-7000 words
1200 flash fiction
Submission Requirements
-One story per submission
-Standard manuscript form
-Docx or PDF
-12pt font
-Double spaced
-Page #’s included
-Include story title, author’s name, and a brief 3rd person biography (50-100 words)
Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but if your work is accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
We prefer previously unpublished stories, but select reprints may be considered if rights are available. Please specify status in your manuscript.
If accepted, we request First Anthology Rights and/or First Northern American Serial Rights. Non-exclusive anthology rights afterwards.
Rights revert to the author after publication, but stories may be included in reprint issues.
Authors reserve the copyright to their work.
Payment
One contributor copy
$50-$100 honorarium
The No-Go’s and Other Things
We Do Not Accept:
AI-generated work
Hate speech
Plagiarism
Excessive gore without narrative design
Exploitative portrayals of real communities
Fan fiction
We Encourage:
-Local/regional writers
-First-time authors
-Underrepresented voices
-The odd, strange, and singular
Submit all works to contact@neonrelicspublishing.com
