Mertails

A project of Transcendent Fiction Publishing

Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (June 2026). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

Mertails is an anthology about merfolk - traditional mermaids or something a little more exotic. Stories can be of any genre, so long as the primary characters are merfolk of some aspect. The stories can be urban fantasy, high fantasy, or for those bold enough, the editor would love to see some sci-fi takes.
The main character should be merfolk. Stories where the secondary character is merfolk may be considered if it is a story of discovery romance, or similar themes of exploration from an outsider’s perspective.
The story should be primarily focused on the merfolk way of life, and any adaptations they may need to thrive in the world - especially if they spend time out of the water. It is the editor’s very strong preference that the merfolk do not have a human form. Stories where the merfolk can shift to a form with legs will need to be exceptional to be considered.

Country of Publication & Year Established

Australia

Established in 2026

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: One-time publication
Print Publication Print Publication: One-time publication

AI Policy

Human-created work only; no AI use allowed

Fiction Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults.

Genres:

Open to all/most Genres, including:
Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres
Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres

Lengths:

Short Story: 2,000 - 7,500 words.
Novelette: 7,500 - 10,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Folklore/Mythology: See guidelines.
Other: See guidelines.

Payment:

Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) Token payment. Details: AUD $0.1/word.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.
Multiple entries: Unknown.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

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Mertails Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

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Accuracy

We have received 6 reports from 6 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

58 min | 79.7 mean avg | 74.5 median | 108 max days (20.0 std dev)

Pending

1 response is pending (102 days waiting).

Other Information

Most recent response reported was received on 25 Aug 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 21 Jun 2026.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:59 UTC (less than a minute ago).
View report of recent responses from this project

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Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 30 Jun 2026