jackhardway.com

The Best North American
Mystery/Crime Magazines
on the Internet

        A good way to let readers know what to expect at a particular magazine is to let them know what the magazine's editors are telling writers to send them. Toward this end, I've extracted parts of each magazine's submission guidelines. If the author wants to be published, what the magazine wants is what the magazine—and ultimately you, the reader—gets.

Mouth Full of Bullets
PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Print and Online
WHAT IT TELLS ITS WRITERS:
      "Fiction we seek: Mystery/suspense of all types (police procedural, private eye, amateur sleuth, cozies, hardboiled, etc.). Basically, if it involves a crime and it's within our guidelines, we'd love to consider it.
      "We want stories that feature believable characters who speak naturally, realistic situations that bleed conflict, and surprise endings that stay with us long after we reach the final period.
      "What we won't print: Graphic sex, gratuitous violence or vulgarity; anything that seeks to promote hate or discrimination."
COMMENT: Reprints and feature columns are in the online version of the current issue: original stories of the current issue are in the print version only. However, each issue is wholly archived at the website once the next issue goes live; that means you can read all back issues (5 so far) in their entirety at the website.

Mysterical-E
PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Online
WHAT IT TELLS ITS WRITERS:
      "The newly defined mystery story is our priority. All kinds—softboiled, hardboiled, not boiled at all; the traditional P.I. as well as unorthodox finders, amateur sleuths, police detectives, new age detective, magical Private Investigators, you name it; and we also seek tales with a supernatural or speculative fiction touch.
      "We're wide open—there's room in Mystery for cross genre material—speculative fiction, horror, fantasy. Who says a werewolf can't be a P.I.? Or, perhaps you can do something completely different.
      "Since its founding, Mysteical-E has been interested in mystery and the 'mysterious' in general—so your stories, articles, and ideas in this vein are welcome."

Demolition PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Online
WHAT IT TELLS ITS WRITERS:
      "Demolitions are violent, earth-shattering events that dramatically alter the landscape. They are also controlled, precise, and beautiful in their execution.
      "We are looking for literary demolitions. Send us your violent, earth-shattering stories that alter the landscapes of your characters.
      "We want this magazine to be the battleground where literary fiction and pulp fiction fight to the death. Scare yourself, then scare somebody else.
      "Then send it to us."

ThugLit PERIODICITY: Bi-Monthly
FORMAT:    Online
WHAT IT TELLS ITS WRITERS:
      "Okay gang. Follow the rules, or we show up and kick your asses.
      "No previously published materials. Please don't send us more than one story per given month. The editorial staff's time is volunteer and limited. If we get 2000 stories a month, we're fucked....
      "pleasepleaseplease no more goddamn serial killer stories. Even if you’ve done what you think is a great one, ITS BEEN DONE!!!! Hitmen are coming in a close second....
      "This is a genre-specific mystery and noir website. If you don't know what that means, then don't send me your damned story. No Sci-Fi, Horror or Romance. Erotica (by way of sex) is okay, but PLEASE have violence, crime, murder, mayhem and chaos. Or a monkey. We like monkeys. They throw poop.
      "Fan fiction will never be chosen AND [will be] openly mocked on the website. You have been warned."

Spinetingler PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Online
WHAT IT TELLS ITS WRITERS:
      "We publish compelling stories that capture the reader with intriguing characters and quality writing.
      "Spinetingler publishes stories that could be categorized as mystery, thriller, suspense, supernatural, ghost story, love, fantasy or science fiction.
      "Spinetingler Magazine will not publish stories that may be seen as promoting discrimination against other persons based on gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or race. Violence and profanity are not prohibited but should be used with discretion. "

Thrilling Detective PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Online
WHAT IT TELLS ITS WRITERS:
      Unless you're a writer looking to submit, never mind what it tells its writers. The guidelines don't spell it out very well for a reader to know to expect, so I'll spell it out for you.
      The rep of TD is, author relations-wise, one of a high-maintenance bunch of anal-retentive nitpickers who seem to revel in editing and revisions and other things that drive writers crazy. The result is some of the very best crime fiction you're likely to find anywhere on or off the Internet. Unreservedly recommended.

Hard Luck Stories PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Online
      Hard Luck Stories has carried some of the best short crime fiction on the web during its 5-year run, but the next issue, due out this summer, will be the last. There appear to be no plans to turn the magazine over to a new operator, and intentions, as far as keeping archived back issues available for a while, are unknown, at least to me. In the meantime, get over here and sample some of the great stuff Hard Luck has offered up over the years.

Back Alley PERIODICITY: Quarterly
FORMAT:    Online
      "We do not want to see any story involving a cat, talking or otherwise, unless the cat is dead by the end of the story. We love cats, have a bunch of them ourselves. They have no place in hardboiled stories, especially if they talk, think, reason, or engage in any other behavior than eating, sleeping, and licking their butts. Don't submit cat mysteries. We will reject them and then post ugly comments about your mama.
      "If there is an 'Inspector' in your story, there had also better damned well be some rats, roaches or other vermin. We will consider making an exception for building inspectors, but only if they are brutally victimized. If you have ever built a house, you know why.
      "If Aunt Lucy is solving the crime, she had better also have some prison tats, drink like Foster Brooks, and spray the bad guys with an Uzi. The only tea I want to read about in these stories is Mexican pot."