In support of NaNoWriMo, we publish the best short stories submitted by writers around the world. Over the last seven years, we’ve published nearly 200 exceptional tales by up-and-coming authors.
Submissions are currently closed, but we’ve left up last year’s info here in case you’re curious.
Last year we published the seventh annual edition of the Los Angeles NaNo Anthology—a collection of stories edited by NaNoWriMo participants. Though our editing team is based in Los Angeles, we accepted stories from writers around the world.
Our 2020 anthology was Songs in the Key of Sunset. Its theme was endings and transformations, and the prompt was for the story to include a musical element in some way. If you want to see what we’ve accepted in the past, check out our 2019 anthology: Journeys to Uncharted Lands.
Story submission guidelines:
· Short stories must fit the theme of endings and transformations. The story must include a musical element in some way. (This does not have to be a key plot point.)
· Maximum length: 4000 words. Shorter is sometimes better—make each word count!
· We’re looking for compelling characters who struggle to achieve their goals. All genres are fine, so long as the stories are fictional.
· Your story should be a stand-alone work, not a chapter from a NaNo novel etc.
· One entry per author. No previously published stories or simultaneous submissions.
· Proofread your story and have a friend read it before you submit. Grammar check using the Chicago Manual of Style or Grammar Girl.
· Please avoid excessive violence, profanity, etc.
· If you’re submitting as a younger writer (17 and under), please tell us your age in your email. If you don’t, you will be judged against the adults.
· We’ll confirm receipt of each submission and give you our decision by two weeks after the contest deadline.
· We don’t accept re-submissions for edits. If we select your story, our editors will work with you to polish it.
Formatting instructions:
· Please do NOT put your name or contact info in the manuscript itself—only put that information in the body of your email.
· Your story must have a title. Please put it on the first page of your manuscript and in the body of your email. Please also use your title as your file name.
· Send only a .doc, .docx, .rtf, or plain-text attachment. Don’t copy and paste the text directly into the email. No PDFs.
· Use 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, with no extra spaces between paragraphs. Please don’t use headers or footers.
· Don’t make a title page or use unusual title fonts. Center your title on the top line and then go!
The deadline was Sunday, March 22, 2020. (We love early submissions as we have more time to read them!)
Submit to: LANaNoAnthology@gmail.com and put “2020 anthology submission” in the subject line.
We look forward to your submissions!
Best wishes, The Los Angeles NaNo Anthology editing team
For the latest anthology updates, visit us on Twitter @LANaNoAnthology.
Elisabeth Ashlin 