**Thank you for your interest in submitting your story to Altitude Press. Please read the following guidelines carefully, and follow the directions found at the end. Accepted stories are typically those that closely adhere to the submission criteria, which exist to ensure the most successful and thematically-cohesive finished product.**

• Theme: Gen X (Gen X characters and/or themes and/or culture should figure prominently within the story in ways that distinctly identify them as Gen X and/or that have an easily identifiable Gen X “vibe”). We’re especially interested in unique, unexpected takes on the Gen X experience from original points of view.
• Deadline: July 15, 2025. Submissions are considered on a rolling basis, meaning that acceptance/rejection decisions are made as submissions come in. Authors can generally expect an initial response to their submission within 1-2 weeks.
• Anthology Release Date: Late 2025-Early 2026
• Genres and categories accepted:
  Literary, Romance, Sci-Fi & Spec Fic, Mystery, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, Historical Fiction, Humor/Satire, Paranormal, Magical Realism, and others.
  No horror (spooky is okay), gratuitous violence, erotica, of use of “F-bombs,” please. No essays, CNF, poetry, or anything that isn’t fiction.
  No AI-generated or AI-assisted stories. All submissions should be original, human-created stories that have never been published or performed/read elsewhere (including, but not limited to, social media, a personal blog or website, live or recorded event, etc.).
• Reader Demographic: YA to adult (approximately ages 14-100)
• Word count: Between 1,500-2,000 words
• Payment for accepted submissions: $25 USD (via PayPal).

 

Additional Notes:

• We are most interested in stories that encompass a complete, compelling narrative arc including an interesting/unexpected hook and/or twist and/or reversal and/or “aha!” moment for the reader. Original, eye-catching phrasing is always a plus as well.
• A standard, short fiction publishing agreement will be sent to each author upon acceptance.
• RIGHTS: The publishing agreement grants to Altitude Press Exclusive First World Electronic and Print Rights for three (3) months following date of publication; Non-Exclusive Internet Archival Rights for an indefinite time, in order to include published works, and excerpts of published works, in our online archives; and Non-Exclusive World Anthology Rights to reprint, in electronic and hardcopy forms, any original works, and excerpts of original works, first published here.
• While accepted stories will be those that are extremely well-written and polished, authors should expect a collaborative editing process to occur post-acceptance between author and editor(s).
• Please note that we typically receive many submissions, and not all stories submitted will be accepted. Acceptance is based on quality of the writing (in the subjective opinions of editorial staff), how well the story fits the vision for this specific anthology, and author adherence to submission guidelines below.

 

Submission Guidelines (Please read and follow these directions very carefully):

• Please send your thoroughly beta read, edited, and polished flash fiction submission of 1,500-2,000 words plus a short bio (a 3 to 6-sentence paragraph written in third person) in the text box of an email (no attachments, please) to: altitudepress@protonmail.com
• Please include answers to the following questions with your submission:
  1. Do you confirm that AI has not been used in the creation of this story?
  2. Do you confirm that the story has not been published or performed/read in any other manner (including via blog, video, live reading, etc.) prior to submitting it for consideration in our anthology?
  3. Understanding that stories which have not been revised, edited, and polished will generally not be accepted, please briefly describe the revision and editing techniques you’ve used to make this story as strong as it can be prior to submitting it for this anthology (i.e. multiple drafts, beta readers, reading the story aloud, using read-aloud software to “hear” and fix any issues, etc.) (Note: We ask for this information to help us determine how “awake”/conscious each author is regarding their process and their story and how likely it is that the post-acceptance editing process will result in the most successful finished product possible.)
  4. Are you willing to work with editor(s) for, potentially, multiple rounds of edits (typically two to three rounds) before the story is fully polished and “anthology ready?”
  5. Are you able and willing to use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature to receive and send edits?
• Include “Gen X Flash Fiction” in the subject line to help us filter out spam.
• For examples of the styles of fiction that most interest us, see our 2024 anthology To the Dogs: 31 Very Short Stories About Man’s Best Friend.
• Questions? Reach out to us at the above email address.
• Submission guidelines are subject to change without notice.

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~The Team at Altitude Press