The Big Book of Quantum Fiction
SUMBISSIONS OPEN JUNE 1, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
What is quantum fiction? What makes it tick?
Envision a world where the past, present and future co-exist. Where anything we perceive can be argued to have existence, as a part of ourselves.
Plot, dialogue, character development and story line become twisted in unexplained ways, hinting of parallel realities. Dreams and imagination become real.
We are looking for work which may be within one or more standard genres, but containing one or more “quantum” elements. These quantum elements should not be literal — people don’t run about with “quantum rayguns” blasting each other, or fall into a particle accelerator, or shrink into a tiny universe like Ant-man.
Rather, consider a regular story with a few strange, unexplained “differences.” Perhaps with cause and effect subtly twisted in ways which profoundly affect things. For example: A killer somehow takes advantage of his knowledge of quantum uncertainty to surprise his victims, killing them before he arrives at the crime scene, therefore providing the perfect alibi. But then he makes one small mistake — perhaps projecting himself to the wrong address — and manages to accidently kill himself.
The possibilities are endless. The only limit is your imagination, and the degree to which you can suspend readers’ disbelief. The effects can be subtle and barely detectable, or so pronounced that the entire story reads like Lewis Carroll on a monster dose of LSD.
STORIES
All stories must be written in English.
All stories must have a “quantum fiction” element. What “quantum fiction” is depends entirely on the author’s imagination. However, there are some guidelines below. Also, the author must be able to convince the editor that it is quantum fiction. (Then, together we must convince the reader.)
Bottom line: If it shows imagination, if it makes a good story, and the editor agrees, then anything goes. (See GUIDELINES below for more details.)
Word count must be from 100 to 10,000 words.
The works submitted must be the sole work of the author. Co-authored works will not be considered.
Reprints are OK, but the copyrights of the piece must rest with the author. The author must state where the piece was previously published.
Simultaneous submissions are not accepted. This will result in disqualification.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but no more than three works per author.
Work generated in whole or in part by an artificial intelligent tool (such as ChatGTP) are not accepted. This does not include works which were edited by an A.I. assistant such as Grammarly, which is OK.
POETRY
All poetry must be written in English.
All poetry must have a “quantum poetry” element, as explained above.
Poetry requiring special formatting, such as letters and paragraphs flowing up and down across the page are problematic. If the pet has their heart set on this, consider scanning the poem (8 1/2 x 11 inch format) and submit as artwork. Each scanned page would count as one submission.
Word count must be from 100 to 2000 words.
The works submitted must be the sole work of the author. Co-authored works will not be considered.
Reprints are OK, but the copyrights of the piece must rest with the author. The author must state where the piece was previously published.
Simultaneous submissions are not accepted. This will result in disqualification.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but no more than three works per author.
Work generated in whole or in part by an artificial intelligent tool (such as ChatGTP) are not accepted. This does not include works which were edited by an A.I. assistant such as Grammarly, which is OK.
ESSAYS, SCIENTIFIC PAPERS, OTHER NON-FICTION
These will not be accepted.
EDITORIAL CARTOONS
We LOVED Gahan Wilson. If anyone out there considers themselves his successor, show us your work.
Any and all cartoons are welcome, especially if they have a “quantum fiction” theme. (Whatever that means.)
The caption (if any) should be sent in the same submission as the illustration. (The illustration should be uncaptioned.) Cartoons with thought/speech balloons are OK as long as the text is legible in the scan.
This counts as one submission and will be judged together.
See “Artwork” for more details.
SUMBIMTTING PROSE (PEOTRY AND STORIES)
Send an email with NO ATTACHMENTS to shewtracy@gmail.com. (Emails with ANY ATTACHMENTS will be disqualified and deleted.)
The subject of the email should be specially formatted: First the word SUBMISSION, then your full pen name as “FIRST LAST”, title in quotes, and approximate word count, separated by underscores. For example:
SUBMISSION_GARY CRAY_”Why Birds Fly Upside Down Rabbit’s Nest”_1500 words.
The email should have four sections:
1. A brief bio of 100 words or less. This will accompany your story in the anthology.
2. After the very end of the bio, your legal name, pen name, Paypal account, shipping address, and phone number.
3. Your explanation of the quantum fiction element(s) in the story. This should be 500 words or less. This section may contain any other information you need to explain about your story. (This section may be omitted for artwork submissions.)
4. The entire text of the story.
If your story is too long to fit into the email, then send us what you can (at least the first 2000 words). State that it is a partial submission. We’ll judge you on what you submit, and if we like it we’ll ask for the rest.
Formatting: Stick to one font and size. We recommend 11 point Times New Roman. But we don’t sweat format besides this.
Submissions with attachments will be deleted without being read.
If artwork is intended to accompany your story or poem, please state this in Section 3 and give the title of the artwork. This will count as two submissions and will be judged separately.
Multiple submissions (up to three) should be sent via separate emails.
Submissions via regular mail are not accepted and will not be responded to.
Notification of acceptance or rejection will typically be within 4 weeks of receipt. We will respond to all submissions we receive, using the return email address (not your Paypal account).
If you have any questions, email shewtracy@gmail.com.
ARTWORK
Artwork is especially important to quantum fiction. It allows us to express different things to each viewer, which is fundamental to quantum perception.
We especially would like to see works in the following styles: Surrealism, Neo-surrealism, Photo-surrealism, Expressionism, Cubism, and Dada.
Our print size is 8 1/2 by 11 inches. With print margins, this leaves about 7 1/2 by 10. Bear this in mind when choosing your art.
Art must be uncaptioned (except for Editorial Cartoons, see above). We prefer black & white line drawings, sketches, charcoal drawings, pastel, or photographs. Electronically-created works (in tools such as Adobe) are welcome if they do not contain samples from other copyright-protected works.
Collage (not containing copyright-protected samples), found objects, junk art, and sculpture are welcome. To submit, take a professional quality black-and-white photograph and submit as a photograph.
Performance works, invisible works, psychic works, imaginary works and so on, although fascinating, will not be considered.
Music will not be considered.
Graffiti art, political art, and photographs with nudity or simulated/real violence cannot be considered. Other considerations under GUIDELINES also apply.
Photographs of copyright-protected subjects (such as public figures or brands such as Disney) cannot be considered.
The works submitted must be the sole work of the artist. Collaborative works are not acceptable.
Reprints are OK, but the copyrights of the piece must rest with the artist. The artist must state where the piece was previously published.
If the work is not owned by an artist but by another individual or a museum, it will be considered only if the artist first obtains permission from that party to have the work reproduced in our book. Otherwise, the artist must be the owner of the work at the time of submission. After submission the work may be sold.
Simultaneous submissions are not accepted. This will result in disqualification.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but no more than three works per artist
Work generated in whole or in part by an artificial intelligent tool are not accepted.
SUMBIMTTING ARTWORK
Send an email with NO ATTACHMENTS to shewtracy@gmail.com. (Emails with ANY ATTACHMENTS will be disqualified and deleted.)
The subject of the email should be specially formatted: First the word SUBMISSION, then your full artist name as “FIRST LAST”, title in quotes, media, and date, separated by underscores. For example:
SUBMISSION_VINCENT VAN GOGH_”The Starry Night”_Oil on canvas_1889
The email should have four sections:
1. A brief bio of 100 words or less. This will accompany your story in the anthology.
2. After the very end of the bio, your legal name, artist name, Paypal account, shipping address, and phone number
3. (For cartoons with captions) The caption, 50 words or less. Omit this section if there is no caption.
4. A scan (black & white, 600 dpi) of the artwork
Submissions with attachments will be deleted without being viewed.
If artwork is intended to accompany a story or poem, please state this in Section 3 and give the title of the story or poem. This will count as two submissions and will be judged separately.
Multiple submissions (up to three) should be sent via separate emails.
Submissions via regular mail are not accepted and will not be responded to.
Notification of acceptance or rejection will typically be within 4 weeks of receipt. We will respond to all submissions we receive, using the return email address (not your Paypal account).
If you have any questions, email shewtracy@gmail.com.
PAYMENT
Payment is $24 USD via Paypal, and 1 free author’s copy per accepted submission shipped separately to your address.
If author has no Paypal account, alternative arrangements can be made (a check). We pay domestic and international Paypal fees, so the amount you receive may be a few cents over $24. Please keep the change.
Disclaimer: If the author gives us the wrong Paypal account or otherwise fails to receive the funds, this is NOT the responsibility of the us to replace. Take the matter up with Paypal or whoever you had us send the money to, not us. We only guarantee sending funds to the account you provide, not receipt.
PUBLICATION
Publication will be via Amazon (KDP) on or about March 16, 2026. The print and Kindle editions will remain available indefinitely.
The format will be 8 1/2 by 11 inches, slick cover. Black & white interior on white paper.
Additional Author Copies - The availability of these is not guaranteed. If you need author copies at cost for book signings, etc., send requests to shewtracy@gmail.com.
GUIDELINES
It is expected that the works submitted will be “hybrid quantum fiction,” meaning they rest within one or more other genres and contain one or more “quantum fiction” elements. What a “quantum element” might be is up to the author’s imagination. (The wilder the better.) However, it is up to the editor’s discretion whether the story indeed contains a fiction element related to quantum principles. Basically, you must convince me using your skill as a story-teller. Then we’ll work together to convince the readers.
Genres we prefer: Horror, science fiction, urban fantasy, literary fiction, experimental fiction, all kinds of poetry, surrealism.
Genres we prefer not: Escapist or epic fantasy, magical realism, romance, supernatural romance, children’s stories or mid-grade/young adult.
That being said, there are some “Do’s,” some “Don’t"s” and some “Automatic disqualifications,” as listed below.
AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATIONS
Any of these will net you a quick rejection.
Erotica. Graphic sex.
Overt political statements.
Any depiction of rape. (A character who is a rape survivor is OK, but we wouldn’t want a graphic flashback.)
Likewise, graphic, sadistic violence.
Prose with slurs against individuals or groups; hate speech.
Child molestation. Nudity or sex with children.
Incest
Other things we consider disgusting that we do not wish to list on a public blog.
If the point of your story is to depict these things, it is not about “quantum fiction,” and we request you submit it elsewhere.
Other things which will net you a quick rejection:
Content clearly generated by A.I.
Poorly edited work, to the extent where it is unreadable. We don’t expect your entry to be 100% typo-free, but we expect publishable quality.
Purple prose.
Work written by two or more authors.
Work to which you do not own copyright.
Submissions with attachments. (We will not respond.)
DON’TS
These are considered “risky” and will be scrutized on a case-by-case basis. Some of these are pet peeves of our staff that become acceptable only if the rest of the story is excellent.
Talking animals.
Sentient dolls, especially with an urge to kill.
Life after death stories which describe the afterlife.
“Evil corporations” bent on destroying the Earth or taking it over.
“Tyrannical Governments” bent on destroying the Earth or taking it over.
:Mad Scientists” bent on destroying the Earth or taking it over.
Virtual Reality Devices, including having people stuck in a gaming device or a computer. When things start getting weird, we don’t want the reveal that it is all VR.
Likewise dreams, imagination. We don’t want the story to get all weird just to have the character wake up and find it was all a dream. (Apologies to Lewis Carroll.)
Likewise magical realism: We don’t want the reality twists to happen because of a magical item or spell. (Apologies to C.S. Lewis.)
Stories containing song lyrics to a real, copyrighted song.
Portrayals or references to actual public figures, especially contemporary. (The exception to this might be historical fiction of people in the public domain: We’d love to see a retelling of the last week of life of Edgar Allen Poe, from a QF perspective.)
Fan fiction.
Literal “Quantum” stories, like people falling into a particle accelerator and going to “Quantum Space.” (Like Ant-Man)
Likewise, another “literal” story involves meeting one’s self from a parallel universe.
Likewise, another “literal” story is time travel as described by H.G. Wells.
Humor which is not funny. Especially the “3 B’s”: “boogers,” “barfs,” and “bathroom.”
“High Fantasy” capitalization. As for example: “The Hero held aloft his Mighty Sword as he rode forth to the Citadel in the Glen” Standard English capitalization which does not invent proper nouns is preferred.
DO’S
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these should guide you towards a successful submission.
Edit your story to make it as polished as you can.
Sexual encounters: We prefer non-graphic sex, only when it is necessary to the story.
Violence: Likewise. Non-graphic, and only when it is necessary to the story.
Strong language: This is tolerable in small doses at best. Use sparingly, only when needed.
Nudity: Brief non-graphic nudity in stories is OK. We prefer no nudity in artwork and will tolerate none in photography.
Drug abuse is OK if it is necessary to the story. We will not publish descriptions or accounts of LSD trips as “quantum fiction.”
If your story uses jargon from quantum physics, USE IT CORRECTLY. (We don’t want to see a hair conditioner called “Quantum De-entanglement.” Although that is a funny idea.)
The best stories are those which contain no quantum jargon at all; no knowledge of mathematics or physics, just like the Cubist artists of the 1920s trying to envision and cope with Relativity with no idea of what E=MC2 meant.
EDITORIAL
It is possible that a work may be accepted on the condition that the author make some editorial changes. These are all suggestions, and any changes will be made at the discretion of the author. (The editor may be wrong.) If the author refuses, or makes other changes, the sole discretion of whether the piece is accepted remains with the editor.
If there are any questions, email shewtracy@gmail.com.