Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine About Penumbric is an online magazine dedicated to riding that ever-changing edge of new and original fiction and art and sound and everything into tomorrow. To us, this edge is best exemplified by two things: speculative works that look at our world (or other worlds) in new ways, whether that be peering into the future, a look sideways at an alternative or fantastic past or present, or a hard stare into the face of horror or madness (does that sound like old eps of The Twilight Zone? Well, if that's the comparison, I'm fine with that) a diversity of viewpoints, representing not only multiple cultures but subcultures, exploring issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and orientation. Country of Publication United States Publication Media & Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationPublished 6 x per yearPrint Publication Print PublicationPublished 1 x per year 181 members set this magazine as a Favorite. Collapse section Fiction Open I would love to see submissions representing not only multiple cultures but subcultures, exploring issues of race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, and many things I haven't thought of. Does this mean you have to represent everybody and everything in 1000 words? Of course not. But be aware that we are creating a magazine that overall reaches and represents the true diversity of the world we live in. In terms of genre, I am looking for work that constitutes the ever-moving edge of its kind, as a place between light and dark, consciousness and un, today and tomorrow; work exhibiting the strange, the bizarre, that which is not of the world we know, but more of a twilight realm or even altogether alien place. Not necessarily science fiction, not necessarily fantasy, not necessarily horror, and not necessarily not these things. In short, ideally edgy. Maybe even idealistically edgy.Dates:Open to fiction submissions through 15 September 2025* (approx. 91 days from now).4Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres. Horror Open to all/most Subgenres. Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres.Lengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words. Novelette: 7,500 - 10,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Occasionally pays royalties Pay ranges from Token payment to Professional payment. Occasionally pays royalties. Details: USD $10, plus royalties.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Open Dates:Open to poetry submissions through 15 September 2025* (approx. 91 days from now).1Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres. Horror Open to all/most Subgenres. Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres.Lengths: Poem: No line limits known; Up to 5 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) Occasionally pays royalties Semi-pro payment. Occasionally pays royalties. Details: USD $10, plus royalties.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Media: Audio. Text. Collapse section Visual Art Open Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Artwork: Up to 10 pieces. Graphic Narrative: No page limits known.Art Media: Open to all/most Art Media, including... Illustration. Cartoon/Comic strip.Art Styles:Open to all/most Art Styles.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (US$10-49 per piece) Occasionally pays royalties Semi-pro payment. Occasionally pays royalties. Details: USD $10, plus royalties.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Media: Image. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Bluesky @penumbricmag.bsky.socialX (Twitter) @PenumbricMag For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine Submission Statistics Free Preview! 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. Accuracy: We have received 128 reports from 95 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported: 1 min | 25.0 mean avg | 30.0 median | 36 max days (105.9 std dev) Responses 95.32 % Acceptances: 10.16 % of submissions accepted (26.1 avg. days per acceptance) | 11.58 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 85.16 % (24.8 avg. days per rejection) | 26.6 % personal, 53.2 % form, 20.2 % unspecified | 0.8 % rewrite requests | 0.8 % shortlisted Non-Responses 4.69 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals: 4.69 % (16.5 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 8 responses are pending (1 min | 0.9 mean avg | 1.0 median | 1 max days waiting | 458.6 std dev) from 8 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The editors will try to make a decision within 28 days. (68.0 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 28 days.) Submissions are acknowledged within 2 days on average. Most recent response reported was received on 27 Mar 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 15 Mar 2025. Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only." Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe 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. DatesLast Updated: 14 Jun 2025Last Audited: 19 May 2025 Date Added: 13 Jul 2020We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.