Call for Submissions: In the Periphery no one can hear you scream


Personal Essays and Creative non-Fiction about Science-Fiction in the Peripheries

Throughout 2024 Mangal Media will seek narratives that ignite the imagination from beyond the established centres of science fiction. We invite writers whose lived experiences are deeply rooted in the periphery. Voices who push the boundaries of the genre from the margins.

Dive into the uncharted territories of your own reality. We welcome both creative nonfiction and personal essays that:

  • Spotlights technological oddities, cultural shifts and scientific advancements that are shaping the future.

  • Investigates traditions of sci-fi that exist in the periphery in the light of their historical context.

  • Reveals the author’s personal discovery of science-fiction and evaluates their relationship with the genre since.

  • Discusses the representation of gender and ethnic identity both within the genre and the surrounding fandom.

  • Explores the inner sci-fi landscapes of personal experiences, anxieties, and dreams through diverse, non-Western perspectives.


We seek work from:

  • Writers who are deeply embedded in the peripheries.

  • Creators who interweave personal stories with genre elements and themes specific to their unique cultural or geographical context.

  • Authors who challenge existing norms and expectations of science fiction with fresh voices and perspectives.


Submission Guidelines:

  • We are planning to publish at least one article per month throughout 2024. Submissions will be open throughout the year.

  • We will be reviewing the pieces as they arrive and close submissions after accepting 10 to 12 essays.

  • Word count: 3000-5000 words (flexible depending on format)

  • Submit an abstract of around 250 words along with a short introduction detailing your interest in the subject by filling out the form below. If you have any previously published samples of writing please include URLs.

  • Compensation: We offer an honorarium of USD 100 to each selected piece for publication in the special edition of Mangal Media.


Spread the word! Share this call for papers with your network of writers and sci-fi enthusiasts from the peripheries. We eagerly await your stories from the uncharted frontiers of imagination. Let's rewrite the narratives and illuminate the sci-fi that thrives beyond the core. 

#SciFiInThePeriphery #MangalMedia