Hope is Not Passive Anthology Quills and Cosmos Press Gold Star Program Gold Star

Description

Hope Is Not Passive is a science fiction and fantasy anthology exploring hope as something chosen, protected, and enacted—even in hostile worlds.

We are seeking stories where hope is not passive or inevitable, but a deliberate act: sustained through care, persistence, and moral courage.

What We’re Looking For

We are especially interested in stories that explore:

• Survival as a deliberate, ongoing choice
• Preservation of culture, memory, magic, language, or identity
• Found families and chosen communities
• Futures shaped by ordinary people, not only epic heroes
• Hope that must be actively maintained, not passively held

We are drawn to stories where individuals or communities act in the face of systems or circumstances that seem immovable—through care, solidarity, and persistence.

What We’re Not Looking For

• Romance-forward narratives (subplots are fine)
• Passive hope or external “rescue” solutions
• Grimdark nihilism without a spark of possibility
• Stories where violence is the primary or only form of resistance
• Work created with generative AI

Submission Guidelines

• Genres: Science Fiction and/or Fantasy
• Word count: up to 6,000 words
• Audience: Adult or Upper YA
• Original, unpublished work only
• No previously self-published or publicly posted work (including blogs or Wattpad)
• One submission per author
• Simultaneous submissions allowed (notify if accepted elsewhere)
• Submissions must be made via Duosuma
• Anonymous submissions are not accepted

We strongly encourage women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and marginalized voices to submit.

Timeline

• Open: March 9, 2026
• NEW CLOSE DATE: April 30, 2026
• Responses: Week of May 18, 2026

Compensation

This is a benefit anthology.

Contributors will receive:

• A contributor copy of the anthology
• Promotion across Quills and Cosmos Press platforms

100% of net profits (after costs of production) will be donated to organizations providing legal aid and support to immigrant families navigating detention, deportation, and asylum processes in the United States.

Full transparency details are available on our website.

Link to Full Guidelines

Hope Is Not Passive | Quills And Cosmos