Opportunity Window

LENGTH:

2,000 to 6,000 words for original (unpublished) stories.

Reprints of any length up to 10,000 words.

PAYMENT:

Original stories will be paid a flat rate of $200USD.

Reprints will be paid a flat rate of $25USD.

Authors will each receive (1) copy of the ebook.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS?

Yes, up to 2 per author. You may submit one original and one reprint, or two reprints, or two originals. Your choice. No more than 2 stories total per author, please. I will only accept one story per author.

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS?

Yes. Please inform me as soon as possible if your work is accepted elsewhere. (I aim to respond to all submissions within one month.)

NO AI-generated work will be considered. This includes but is not limited to the use of LLMs to generate all or portions of the story, and the use of tools for brainstorming ideas or generating outlines; use of tools with AI-gen functionality for editing/polishing should be disclosed (and spellcheck built into most software is not an issue). Basically, please just use your brain; I trust that to be more than sufficient to write awesome stuff. Believe in yourself!

Here is the full statement on generative AI and its non-use in the anthology.

Stories must be written in English. Human translations are great! If the story was published in another language and is being translated into English for the first time, it counts as an original.

Stories MUST feature a time loop of some description as a central component (i.e. characters can't simply talk about time loops once and then the plot is entirely focused on something else). You do not need to explain the time loop, but it must be present and affect the characters and the story.

What defines a time loop?
"The time loop or temporal loop is a plot device in fiction whereby characters re-experience a span of time which is repeated, sometimes more than once, with some hope of breaking out of the cycle of repetition."

Science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres are welcome. Humor is great!

No fanfiction (that means stories set in other IP worlds, i.e. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Stargate, etc) and no erotica.

READING PERIOD:

October 15th-22nd, 2026.Responses will go out after the submission period ends. Response times may be up to 30 days.

Estimated publication: April 2027

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Cover letters should be simple at to the point—please don't summarize your story.You can address them to "Dear Merc" or "Dear editor" or skip the greeting entirely. It's all good.

(Don't address me as "ms/miss/mz," however.)

You are welcome to include a short bio if you want, but it's not required.If you are an unpublished author, feel free to note that too! (Credits are fine if you wanna list them, but they will not influence the decision in any way.)

I appreciate the inclusion of your pronouns but it is not required.

Please do not submit headshots or other images; we will not be including any author pics or avatars in the anthology.

RIGHTS:

For original fiction, I'm seeking exclusive first world-wide English language print rights for three months upon publication (in order to publish the anthology digitally and in print); non-exclusive print and electronic rights to keep the story in the anthology after that, while the book is in print (ebook and paperback/hardcover); all other rights belong solely to the author.

For reprints, I seek non-exclusive English language digital and print rights (in order to include your story in the anthology while it is in print).

Author always retains full copyright of their own story. Each author will be credited in the byline and listed as the copyright holder of their own story in the anthology's backmatter and copyright page.You can view a sample contract here

All other rights remain with the author (such as audio/video/translation/merch/etc). I just need your permission to publish the work in OPPORTUNITY WINDOW.

NOTE:YOUR WORK WILL NEVER BE FED INTO AN AI "DETECTOR" OF ANY KIND.I do not use (nor trust) "AI detectors" and I will never use them to "check" any stories submitted through the slush. I'm perfectly capable of making my own judgements and decisions on a piece.When you submit your work to OPPORTUNITY WINDOW, you are placing your trust in me, the editor, to treat your intellectual property with the care and respect it deserves, and I honor that. I will not utilize any AI detection tools on your work for any reason.Thank you for letting me read your stories!

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