What We Want: Calling all alternate history enthusiasts! We’re looking for compelling short stories that twist the timeline and refuse to let go. We’re talking Jamestown surviving as a thriving Swedish colony, Robert E. Lee accepting command of the Union Army in 1861, the Readjuster Party dominating Virginia politics for decades, or even Dr. J leading the Squires to 5 consecutive NBA Championships. We’re looking for a wide range of “what if” scenarios with variable tones—dramatic, humorous, dark, hopeful, military, political, character-driven, or speculative.
Submission Window: 8/1/26 – 10/31/26
Genre: Alternate history (pure or blended with elements of science fiction, mystery, thriller, literary fiction, or light speculative fiction)
Violence & Language: Noting that would be out of place in a PG-13 movie.
Original Stories Only: No reprints
Format: Shunn Standard or Modern Manuscript Format. If you’re not familiar refer to this website: https://www.shunn.net/format/
Use three asterisks to indicate a scene break. Italics for italics. Curly (not straight) apostrophes and quotation marks. DOC or DOCX file format. DON’T USE THE TAB KEY.
We’re are conducting blind submissions. Follow the Shunn Format, but remove your name.
I’m confused: Shunn Format requires the author’s name (and contact info) on the front page, a byline, and in the header. How can I include this if the submission should be blind?
Answer: Follow the Shunn Format except for identifiable information. Remove your name and contact info from the first page. No byline. No name in the header.
Eligibility: While stories must have a Virginia element, writers from anywhere in the world are welcome.
You must be 18 years of age by January 1st, 2027 or have the permission of a parent or guardian to submit.
Simultaneous Submissions: Nope
Multiple Submissions: You may submit multiple stories. Only one story per author will be chosen for the anthology.
Generative AI: No
Payment:
One half cent per word.
eCopy of the book
Right to buy unlimited author print copies at 40% of retail price.
Rights:
We are buying exclusive worldwide English language rights (print and electronic) for one year after publication day. And the non-exclusive worldwide English language rights (print and electronic) in perpetuity.
Acceptances:
We will not be sending out acceptances (or rejections) until after the submission period closes on October 31st.
Projected Publication Date: May 2027
Caveats:
I hope, but am not optimistic that there will be enough solid stories submitted that we can have a Charlottesville/Shenandoah Fantastic sized (20-24 stories, 70,000-90,000 words) anthology.
The backup plan would be a digest-sized publication of 6-10 stories.
If that smaller edition proves too optimistic, I will offer accepted authors a chance to be part of a general Alt-History anthology. (Not specifically Virginia-focused.)
Addendum – Stories Set During the Civil War / “Late Unpleasantness”:
While we welcome submissions set during the Civil War era, we want to gently remind writers that this period represents only about 1% of Virginia’s long and incredibly rich history. We will likely accept no more than two stories set during the Civil War (possibly three if truly outstanding).
Please put on your thinking caps, we’d love to see inventive, surprising, and compelling tales from other periods in the Commonwealth’s history.
Questions? Email us at James [at] WhitakerLyon.com