About the Open Call

Folkloric is interested in short stories and artwork that have a definite and striking speculative element. We want works that have something otherworldly, magical, weird, or unexplained but that do not fall into the traditional tropes of sci-fi, fantasy, or horror. We are looking for work that is about something people are dealing with right now, such as current events, aspects of modern society, or the human condition. We are keen to see work from diverse or traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, anti-capitalist themes, and subverted expectations. We are not interested in work made by or with AI, graphic violence and sex, or unchallenged bigotry.

What is Offered

Contributors are paid 3 months after the launch of the first edition. For the first edition, payment was a £10 flat rate; the target for the second edition is £20. The magazine obtains exclusive publishing rights (digital, print, and audio) for 6 months from the date of publishing.

Requirements

Short stories: Double-spaced, 12-pt font, Word or PDF document, max 2500 words. Artwork: PDF, JPEG, or PNG file, max 10 MB. No AI-generated work. No traditional folklore retellings.

How to Apply

Submissions are open from March 1st to March 14th, 2026. A Google Form will be available on the submissions page during this window.