Pitch: Submissions on Speculative Mysteries, Articles

The theme for our 2025 Frivolous Comma themed anthology is 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨: 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. We’re looking for mysteries that only work in the unique setting / concept that makes the story speculative.

Here are some guidelines:

• Use speculative fiction to give an atmosphere to the mystery.
• Draw us in.
• The mystery in these stories should be tied to that speculative world. In other words, the mystery could only work because of the unique setting / concept that makes this speculative.
• Be careful not to have too many characters since this is a short story- Avoid classic mystery tropes, unless you’re working to upend or reframe them.
• We’re not looking for “gotcha” mysteries.
• Cosy and not-cosy mysteries are good.
• At the end of the year we plan to collect the stories into both an ebook and a printed book collection. We’re looking for stories up to 4000 words paying $0.10/word, paid within 45 days of publication.
• Frivolous Comma will not consider any AI-written, developed or assisted submission of any kind for publication, now or ever.
• Please allow for 6 weeks before querying.

(Note: Frivolous Comma is also accepting non-fiction, for which they pay $125 per article between 1000 and 2500 words.)

Submissions: Speculative Mysteries, Nonfiction

Website: https://www.frivolouscomma.com/