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Next Deadline: Short Stories & Creative Non-fiction – July 10th at 11:59pm ET

Next Deadline: Black Speculative Fiction – July 10th at 11:59pm ET

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At midnight & indigo, we celebrate the voices of Black women across the diaspora, through short stories and creative nonfiction that resonate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact.

Whether you’re sharing your writing for the first time or have been building your body of work for years, we invite you to submit to our digital platform and literary journals.

Since 2018, we have published over 400 Black women writers across the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, Asia, and Australia, including some of the most exciting voices in literature today: Kalynn Bayron, Tara Betts, Addie E. Citchens, Wandeka Gayle, Mary McLaughlin Slechta, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Ravynn K. Stringfield, Janelle M. Williams, and others.

If you have been carrying a story, this is your invitation to share it.

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What We’re Looking For

Original Stories

Fictional or personal, serious or lighthearted, raw or polished—we want your previously unpublished work

Character-Driven Narratives

Stories that make readers think, feel, and reflect long after the last word

All Genres Welcome 

From literary fiction to speculative worlds, heartfelt memoirs to daring essays, we embrace it all

Open Calls for Submissions

Short Stories — Deadline 7/10

Are you a Black woman writer passionate about crafting beautifully written, character-driven short stories? We’re looking for previously unpublished short stories that capture the essence of the human experience. Need context? Check out our short story section and previous issues.

Literary fiction delves deep into the human condition, exploring themes of identity, relationships, and the intricate nuances of everyday life. These stories should resonate emotionally, offering readers a window into the world’s complexities and the richness of personal experiences. We want to celebrate the artistry and depth of Black literary fiction through your work.

Word count: 1,500-7,000 words

View Guidelines & Submit

Black Speculative Fiction –  Deadline 7/10

Do you dream of worlds beyond the ordinary? Stories that defy the laws of nature, bend time, or take readers to the edge of their imagination? If so, we want to hear from you.

We’re looking for original, unpublished, character-driven speculative short fiction that transports readers to the unknown. Whether your story delves into the eerie, explores dystopian futures, unveils supernatural wonders, or unfolds in fantastical realms, we’re here for it.

Speculative fiction is a broad genre encompassing elements that transcend the boundaries of our everyday reality. These stories have the power to captivate and provoke thought.

Check out our Speculative section and past issues to see how m&i writers have contributed to the genre and then make it your own.

Word count: 2,000-7,000 words

View Guidelines & Submit

Creative nonfiction – deadline 7/10

Are you a Black woman writer with a story to tell that’s bursting with emotion, grit, and soul? We’re looking for previously unpublished, personal and evocative first-person pieces that forge an immediate connection with readers. Need context? Check out our essay section and past issues.

These works offer a window into the soul, capturing the raw, unfiltered essence of individual experiences. They provide a powerful platform for Black women to share their truths, challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. We want to celebrate and showcase writing that resonates on a deep level.

Word count: min. 1,200 words

View Guidelines & Submit

General Guidelines

  • Want to know who’s reading your work? Meet our Black women-led Editorial team.
  • All genres and writing styles are welcome. It may be helpful to view our current short stories, essays, and literary journals to get a general sense of what we publish, but don’t be afraid to push the needle! We do not accept work created by AI. Any submissions not entirely created by a human author will be automatically rejected
  • Format: All stories must be submitted via Submittable. We will not accept stories via email. You may submit up to three stories at any time. Our average response time is 90 days
  • Word length:  Short stories: 1,500-7,000 words. Narrative essays: min. 1,200 words
  • Submission does not guarantee that your work will be published
  • Compensation: We pay for all published pieces. $0.07 per word for short stories and $150 for personal essays. Payment upon publication.

Publishing Rights

Each author retains the sole, individual copyright on her contribution. We only ask for first North American serial rights on any story we publish. This means that the story should not have appeared anywhere else, either in print or online. (This includes publication on an author’s own website).

We accept first world eBook, print, and audiobook rights, and non-exclusive anthology rights for our published anthologies. We also accept non-exclusive online rights to publish and archive your story on our website(s) or on our podcast. You will be asked to agree to our contract as part of the submission process. We pay for every piece we publish.

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