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Escape from Krow: A Novel Excerpt
Robyn DabneyChapter One The first person I tried to kill with a shadow was my sister. I had removed my only pair of stockings and left them to dry by the fire while I relieved myself. Remil had taken the socks, unraveled them into two useless piles of thread, and then laughed when she’d seen my […]
Hollow Whispers of the Wind, Chapter One
Florence ChienOne An island. Such is my existence within the stale breath of my house, my house against the undying neon of the Bund, and the Bund beneath the fires that scorch the sky. Mine is an island of solitude and silence. Not even the stifling August heat can begin to thaw the ice that entombs […]
Problem Is
Christopher O'HalloranI’m in love with Melissa Lee. Problem is, so is my brother. Problem is, he got the looks. The charisma. The height. He’s older, so maybe I’ll catch up in the next couple of years, but by then, it’ll be too late. Problem is, he’ll win her hand. Problem is how that hand transforms from […]
Sci-Fi + Fantasy
In the Light, In the Night, In the Dark
Joe BaumannThe sound of the front door opening and closing yanks them both from sleep and they are out of the bed, pulling on the sweatpants and jeans pooled on the floor, faster than their bodies can wake. They are the kind of men who don’t keep up with tasks of simple cleanliness, even now, in […]
The Doomsday Book of Labyrinths
LM ZaerrIf Crispin wanted to buy a labyrinth (and he didn’t), Flat Rainbows was the shop he’d choose. Rainbows should be flat, easy to measure with calipers, each straight strand the same length as all the others. It would be a pleasure to assess the taxes here. He expected a polished floor, a goateed shopkeeper, well-maintained […]
Horror + Thriller
The Violin: Chapter 1
Patrick Shanley1 “It sounds like cats dying.” She said it in the glum tone of a child only just now being introduced to the disappointments life had in store. Mark Provaunce felt a twinge in his chest at the sound of it, thinking for the third time that morning of how his little girl was not […]
Day-Clean to First Dark
Jonathan KincadeDirt crawled under Zuzi’s fingernail as she traced another letter into the shack floor, her secret game. When the door swung open, she hastily smoothed away the evidence. It could put her and Mama in danger. She couldn’t say why, but she certainly felt it. A mass, tangled as her hair, stuck in her throat. […]
The Grant/Marty Events
Alex WoodroeFirst exposure There’s a convertible in the scrap yard covered in “PSYCHOLOGY RULEZ” and “Radio Nil Midnight Sessions” stickers. The owner must have been a fan of Grant’s show. We settle across the leather backseat with a squeak as the tape starts its loop over again. The top is down, and the stars and heat […]
Historical Fiction
Three Tickets to Telluride
Nikki Lynn Blakely~Dolly~ It was December 10, 1903, when I boarded the Rio-Grande Western Railroad with Horace’s letter tucked neatly into the inside pocket of my petticoat, and his Christmas gift, a heart-shaped ruby brooch, fastened securely at my breast. My dearest Eliza, the letter read, I have wonderful news! All my efforts have not been for […]
Young Adult
The First Step in Our Evolution
Marisca PichetteJenji held her fan delicately, her nails reflecting the sun. With short, stiff motions she directed the feather forward. It levitated once, twice, jumping the sticks I’d laid out as obstacles. My fan was folded, pinched tight in my sweating hands as I watched her feather pull ahead of mine. The dry breeze blew her […]
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Share your writing with us! We want stories from the three genre categories: sci-fi/ fantasy; horror/thriller; historical fiction; young adult.
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Escape from Krow: A Novel Excerpt
Robyn DabneyChapter One The first person I tried to kill with a shadow was my sister. I had removed my only pair of stockings and left them to dry by the fire while I relieved myself. Remil had taken the socks, unraveled them into two useless piles of thread, and then laughed when she’d seen my […]
Hollow Whispers of the Wind, Chapter One
Florence ChienOne An island. Such is my existence within the stale breath of my house, my house against the undying neon of the Bund, and the Bund beneath the fires that scorch the sky. Mine is an island of solitude and silence. Not even the stifling August heat can begin to thaw the ice that entombs […]
A Seamstress Joins a Bodice to a Skirt
Amelia M. BurtonThe best part of sewing a garment is pressing the finished seams. The glide of the iron over parallel stitches, two lines a quarter inch apart. The coy slip of the edge rolling under itself. The joining obscured. My hand follows the iron, satin clammy with heat, then reverses back over the seam, skin licking […]
#83: Kimberly Frank Is a Skank
Sharon Inkpen“#83: Kimberly Frank Is a Skank” by Sharon Inkpen is the winner of the Through the Looking Glass Challenge hosted by Voyage YA by Uncharted. Page 1 It’s 1989. You are thirteen-year-old Colleen Paxton. Puberty is hell. High school is hell. Your life is hell. The lunch bell just rang. You’re supposed to be in […]
What The Living Carry
Andy BoyleTheir men and boys were gone before they’d crossed into Nebraska. Teddy was the last to go. Mary never thought he would make it as long as he did due to his temper and his drinking. But he did. Then one night, he went out to take a piss while they were camped inside a […]
Chapter 1: Ahalya: A Novel Excerpt from Untouchable
Jordan LeggAhalya ran her fingers through the folds of the veil before taking it from her handmaid’s arm. Its deep red fabric was fine and thin between her fingers, and she whirled it around her body in a fluttering scarlet typhoon before draping it over her head. The slender, dark-haired princess looked over her shoulder at […]
Overture: A Novel Excerpt from Mordent
Sara McKinneyWe met in college, which is to say, Ohio. A small liberal arts school you’ve probably heard of and regard with either approval or suspicion, depending on your politics. Me, enrolled in the music conservatory, and her, art history, although really, her heart was set on baking. It was a coffee shop sort of thing, […]
Latest Contests
Get the guidelines on our current contests, where we offer writers premier opportunities for publication and payment. All winners selected by noted guest judges.
Interviews
Myna Chang
David Goodman is a novelist and short story writer based in East Lothian, Scotland. His debut novel, A Reluctant Spy, will be released by Headline Books on September 12. I recently heard David speak about his work and was blown away by his surefooted approach to writing and his generosity in sharing craft insights. Huge […]
Uncharted
Cayce Osborne’s debut mystery/thriller, I Know What You Did, has been called “A whip-smart and thoroughly engaging psychological thriller, with a highly memorable protagonist and a brilliantly original narrative concept.” I’ve had the pleasure of reading early drafts of several of Cayce’s manuscripts, and I’ve loved every one. Her writing is inviting and easy to […]
Kate Maruyama
Kate Maruyama's novel Harrowgate was published by 47North, and her novella Family Solstice, named Best Fiction Book of 2021 by Rue Morgue Magazine was published by Omnium Gatherum. Her short work has appeared in Asimov's Magazine, Analog Science Fiction & Fact, Entropy, Duende, Cultural Weekly, and in numerous anthologies including December Tales, Halloween Carnival Three, and Gathering: A Women Who Submit Anthology. She is a member of the SFWA and HWA where she serves on the Diverse Works Inclusion Committe and she sits on the Board of Women Who Submit. She writes, teaches, cooks, and eats in Los Angeles.
See Their WorkChristina Kann
Christina Kann is a lifelong writer and reader, podcaster, traveler, gardener, hiker, cat mom, and generally okay human being. She is also the co-founder and communications director of Wildling Press. She lives and thrives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, their two cats, and their several foster kittens.
See Their WorkAlejandro Gutierrez
Alejandro is a writer and storyteller from the Seattle area. He self-published his first book, The Rat Tunnels of Isfahan, in 2017. Then, in 2021, he won second place in Vocal Media’s Summer Fiction Series challenge for his story ‘Grandmother’s Hands.’ Alejandro also received an Honorable Mention from Writer’s Digest for his story, In a Cucumber. In 2022, Alejandro won First Place in the Dillydoun International Fiction Prize for his story, ‘In the Shadow.’ He is currently working on his second novel.
See Their WorkLinda H. Codega
Linda H. Codega (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary Southerner living in Yankeeland. They write about pop culture for io9, and their writing appears on Polygon, Observer, Tor.com, and Dicebreaker, among others. They are a Hugo-nominated first reader for Strange Horizons. Find them on Twitter @lincodega.
See Their WorkPatrick Hurley
Patrick Hurley is a 2017 graduate of the Taos Toolbox Writer's Workshop and a member of SFWA, Codex, and the Dreamcrashers. Patrick has also had fiction published in Factor Four, Galaxy's Edge, New Myths, and Abyss & Apex. Find out more about his work at www.patrickhurleywrites.com.
See Their WorkFrancis Bass
"Francis Bass is a writer living in Philadelphia. His writing has appeared in Reckoning, Electric Literature, and others, and he has self-published many other works. You can find him online at francisbass.com
See Their WorkAnja Hendrikse Liu
Anja Hendrikse Liu (she/they) is a creator and devourer of fantasy and sci-fi who wishes she had time and words for all of her dreams. Her short fiction has been published by Fusion Fragment, Air and Nothingness Press, and others. Anja is a recovering but unrepentant English major and loves experiencing the world via baked goods and mythology. Find her on Instagram @to.anja or at anjahl.com/author
See Their WorkNina Simon
Nina Simon writes crime stories about strong women. Her first novel, MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT, will be published by William Morrow in September 2023. Originally from Los Angeles, Nina now lives off the grid in the Santa Cruz mountains. You can find her online at ninaksimon.com or @ninaksimon on Twitter and Instagram.
See Their WorkLatest News
AI Challenge Winner
The winner is “More Than Electric Sheep” by Paul Martz! Congrats to all of the writers that made this shortlist!
Young Adults Write YA Contest
This contest is now closed. Thank you for your submissions! Young Adult literature is a cutting-edge and captivating genre, beloved by authors who choose to write for teens. YA authors build mesmerizing worlds that fascinate young, curious minds. In turn, YA is devoured by its target audience—young people who crave excitement, adventure, love, and acceptance. […]
Uncharted Magazine Short Story Award: The Aftermath | Judged by A. C. Wise Shortlist
For this contest, we’ve got 15 stories we loved! We’ve handed over the hard decisions to find the winners to our judge, A. C. Wise! Congratulations to everyone with a title on this list!
Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize Judged by Sequoia Nagamatsu Winners
Congrats to the three co-winners and the writers of all 14 novel excerpts! We can’t wait to see what happens with these novels in progress! Co-winners: – Ch. 9/Seven-Out by Veronica Reinhart Despite being given an excerpt nine chapters into a manuscript, I was immediately pulled into space…and not just space but a ramshackle hodgepodge of […]
Uncharted Magazine Short Story Award: The Aftermath | Judged by A. C. Wise Longlist
For this contest, we’ve got 27 stories we loved! Now, we’re making the hard decisions to get to a shortlist of 15 stories to send to our judge, A. C. Wise! Congratulations to everyone with a title on this list!
Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize Judged by Sequoia Nagamatsu Shortlist
Congrats to the writers of these 14 novel excerpts! We’re so honored when submitters trust us with their writing, especially excepts from their novels in progress. Now, we wait for Sequoia to choose his winners!
Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize | Judged by Sequoia Nagamatsu Longlist
Congrats to the writers of these 34 novel excerpts! We’re so honored when submitters trust us with their writing, especially excepts from their novels in progress. We’re working on narrowing this down to a shortlist of 15 to send to Sequoia!
Magic in the Mundane: Weaving Everyday Witchcraft into Your Story
Have you ever found yourself eager to dabble in a bit of magic into your narratives? Welcome to the world of witch lit, where the extraordinary hides within the ordinary. Witch lit is a subgenre of fiction that intricately weaves elements of witchcraft into everyday life, creating stories where the mundane and the magical coexist. […]
2023 Voyage Anthology 2 Results (Novel Excerpt and CNF)
And…the results are in for the second part of our anthology contest! Only this time we’re saying thank you to all the writers who submitted their novel excerpts and creative nonfiction for consideration in our second anthology! We were blown away by all the talented writers whose work we had the pleasure of reading. Every […]