Contributors' Guidelines
It is strongly recommended that you study the magazine before submitting. Being familiar with what we publish will obviously greatly improve your chances of acceptance.
Non-Fiction
We are not currently open to unsolicited submissions of non-fiction, although suggestions of what we should be covering are always welcome. The best place to make such suggestions is the forum.
Artwork
All of Black Static's original art is supplied by David Gentry. But our sister magazine Interzone is always looking for illustrators.
Short Stories
We are always open to submissions of new horror and dark fantasy short stories of up to about 10,000 words in length. Please follow these simple guidelines:
- Send your manuscript mailed flat or folded no more than once, in standard manuscript format — typed (not handwritten!), double spaced, good margins all round, printed in black ink on one side of white paper, numbered pages, a key word from story title and author's name on each page — with a covering letter and adequate means of reply (ie a stamped, self-addressed envelope or a working email address if outside the UK).
- Please include a covering letter but don't worry too much about it, just introduce yourself and list any relevant credits, things like that. If you've never been published before tell us that too — we've published many debut stories over the years.
- Use a paper clip to hold pages together, not staples or any kind of binder. There is no need to put your manuscript in a folder. An ordinary paper envelope is sufficient, don't use bulky padded envelopes.
- Don't send a submission by recorded delivery.
- Make sure you enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for return of your manuscript, or send a disposable manuscript (clearly marked as such) with a small SAE for reply. Overseas submissions should always be disposable and accompanied by an email address for reply. Any submission that arrives without means of reply won't be read, just recycled.
- Never send simultaneous submissions, multiple submissions or reprints.
- All submissions must be sent in hard copy only.
Don't be offended by a form rejection. It simply means that we're really busy, with lots of stories to read. But even a form rejection means what it says: send the rejected story somewhere else and try us with something new…and keep on trying! Don’t submit a rejected story to another of our magazines though, as we will already have considered that option.
Where to Send Your Stories
Black Static
TTA Press
5 Martins Lane
Witcham
Ely
Cambs CB6 2LB
UK
The editor's name is Andy Cox.
