Immediate Direction publications

MIDNIGHT STREET
JOURNEYS INTO DARKNESS
IMAGINATIVE FICTION
Horror, SF, Dark Fantasy & Slipstream

CONTRIBUTORS’ GUIDELINES:
November 2004

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU STUDY AT LEAST A SAMPLE ISSUE OF 'MIDNIGHT STREET' BEFORE SUBMITTING.

MIDNIGHT STREET is a tri-annual magazine of short stories, covering the horror, science fiction, dark fantasy and slipstream genres.

Maximum 6000 words, but longer will be considered if it’s better than brilliant!

HORROR: I’m looking for stories that are intelligent as well as scary; that leave an impression with the reader that lingers. I have no problem with blood and guts or strong language as long as it is justified within the context of the story. I do not want overt slasherfests.

Within this category I include anything supernatural, including ghost stories. I prefer these to be understated and subtle.

If you send stories covering well-worn themes (ie: vampires, creatures from black lagoons etc) they will need to include ideas that put an original spin on old ideas.

SCIENCE FICTION: The emphasis must be upon the softer elements (for example: How do people cope with an alien environment). Go inward rather than outwards. I do NOT want techno-babble. The harder elements should only be there as a backdrop to the main plot.

DARK FANTASY: I do NOT want high fantasy, sword & sorcery, elves, dwarves, hobbits or heroes that go on quests. I DO want stories that retain some link, however tenuous, with the darker, mysterious side of this world.

SLIPSTREAM: I want stories that paint pictures of reality, but twist those pictures into bizarre tableaux. Think along the lines of how peoples’ views of reality and the events that constitute that reality can be very different.

Above all, I want stories that entertain, that are imaginative, that provide suspense, that surprise and disturb, that remain in the reader’s mind long afterwards.

PET HATES: Overlong stories that sag in the middle.
Badly written, badly constructed, clumsy stories. Spelling, punctuation etc is important to me, and I will reject work because of this.
Weakly plotted stories that become monotonous to read.

PET LIKES: Stories that I remember because they leave an impression.

Stories that suspend disbelief no matter how wild their premise.

NON – FICTION: Though primarily a fiction magazine, I will consider articles on any aspect of the genres covered. I’m also looking for articles about writers. Interviews with writers, in any format will also be considered. MIDNIGHT STREET does not carry reviews at present.

POETRY: Currently closed to poetry submissions.

ARTWORK: I’m looking for imaginative black & white or greyscale illustrations for interior and colour for cover. Nothing too sordid or perverted. Send samples (good quality photocopies). Do NOT send originals. You can send as JPEG attachments to my E-MAIL address.

Manuscripts should be typed and double-spaced, on one side of A4 size paper, with a margin on each side of the page. The title of the story and author should be entered at the top right corner of each page. Pages should be numbered, and the approximate word count shown.

A covering sheet should be included, giving name of story, author, address for correspondence and the publication rights that are being offered.

Please also include a brief covering letter, giving publication history of the story and author’s publication credits (where appropriate).

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