Positions available at Strange Horizons
Note that Strange Horizons is staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers, and that while staff members sometimes contribute nonfiction to the magazine, they do not receive payment for it.
Fiction Editor
Strange Horizons is looking for fiction editors! These are editor positions, not first-reader positions; the new editors will be part of the team that decides what fiction Strange Horizons publishes, among other responsibilities.
We're looking for people who love short fiction, who are passionate about speculative literature, and who believe that there are a wide range of voices in our field that deserve to be heard. Prior editorial experience is nice, but not a requirement.
Like all of our staff positions at SH, these are volunteer positions with no salary attached. Also, staff members cannot submit fiction, poetry, or art to Strange Horizons. Staff members may submit nonfiction, but are not paid for it. If you currently have material under consideration with us, you may still apply; if you end up joining the staff, you can withdraw any submissions at that time.
If you're interested in applying, the first step is to write us an application letter. This letter is a chance for us to get to know you—tell us about yourself, why you'd like to join the team at Strange Horizons, and what you love about science fiction and fantasy stories. How would you describe your personality and your work habits? What kind of time can you make available for this job? What do you like to read? (We're most interested in what kind of short speculative fiction you like to read, but if you're interested in this position, we're guessing that you're someone who just enjoys reading—tell us what you like! Who are your favorite authors, and what are the books that changed your life or the short stories you couldn't stop thinking about?) Of the stories we've published here at Strange Horizons, which are some of your favorites? Is there anything else we should know about you that might help us decide that you're the editor we're looking for? (Just to be clear, we don't need a ten-page magnum opus; tell us about yourself, but aim to be relatively brief.)
If we think you sound like a potentially good match, there will be further rounds of screening and interviewing.
Send your application letter to fiction@strangehorizons.com, with the following subject line:
CANDIDATE: Your Name
(except with your name in place of "Your Name", obviously.)
Editorial Responsibilities
- Reading and commenting on 15-30 incoming submissions per week.
- Participating in regular editorial meetings by phone or Skype.
- Working as part of a team to make decisions about which stories to publish.
- Communicating in a friendly and professional manner with authors during the publication process.
- Sending rejection notes for stories that we don't publish.
- Helping to supervise a team of first readers.
Job Requirements
- Proficiency with written English.
- Regular and reliable Internet access. (All story submissions are electronic.)
- Comfort with reading stories online and communicating with co-editors and authors via email.
- Ability to work and make decisions collaboratively.