Rochester Rewritten

There is only one admirable form of the imagination: the imagination that is so intense that it creates a new reality, that it makes things happen.

−Sean O’Faolain, Irish short story author (1900 - 1991)

The City of Rochester exists in a dynamic symbiosis with its surrounding area, New York State, and the world. What began as a single mill on the banks of the Genesee River in 1808 blossomed into a boomtown with the advent of the Erie Canal. Water, power, industry, and creativity turned the town along the Genesee into a powerhouse that incorporated as the City of Rochester in 1834. Now the Greater Metropolitan Rochester Area boasts a population of over 700,000 people.

We take our surroundings and our history for granted, as well understood and familiar. But what if things were different? What if a fundamental physical principle worked differently? What if magic worked, or supernatural creatures walked among us? What if an event in Rochester's history had not occurred or had a different outcome? What if an unknown or abandoned technology had been developed? These and other events would produce "Alternative Rochesters" with changes that could stagger our perceptions of our community, culture, and technology. Perhaps these events would even change the essence of what it means to be human. Show us how Rochester would be different; how it could be different.

The Rochester Speculative Literature Association, Inc. (R-SPEC), invites authors to submit works for a new themed anthology, tentatively titled Rochester Rewritten, to be published by R-SPEC Press.

Submission Guidelines

Deadline: Submissions must be received by 15 December 2010 31 March 2011.

Genre: The theme of the anthology is "Alternative Rochesters," which includes textual works depicting Rochester in the past, present, and/or future in which some facet of reality is different from that which we currently enjoy. Speculative works of any kind will be accepted for consideration, including, but not limited to, alternate history, fantasy, magical realism, horror, science fiction, dramatic works, poetry, and non-fiction.

Size: Works must be no more than 10,000 words in length. Since we can include only a limited number of longer works, we encourage submissions in the 500-5000 word range. Drama should be no more than 10 minutes. Poetry should be no longer than 99 lines.

Format: Works may be submitted via our web submission engine as RTF files. Please double space and use a standard 12-point font. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and approximate word count in the upper left hand corner of your submission. Please do not number the pages or insert a header.

Eligibility: Submissions are open to all so long as the work submitted depicts Rochester, New York, or the Greater Rochester Area. We welcome both new and experienced writers.

Selection Process: Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of readers who will not be provided with information regarding the identity of the authors of the submissions. The reviews will be used in the selection of the works to be included in the anthology. Selection should be completed by 15 February 2011 31 May 2011.

Rights Granted to R-SPEC: 1st World Publication Rights in the English Language and non-exclusive electronic and podcasting rights.

Payment: Creators of works selected for inclusion in the anthology will receive two copies of the anthology and a one year membership in R-SPEC.

How to Submit: Use our web submission engine to enter your contact information and submit an RTF version of your work. See the FAQs for guidance on RTF creation if you are unsure how to do it or what RTF is.

Response Time: Submissions via the web submission engine will be acknowledged within 24 hours of submission. Responses will be emailed by 31 December 2010 15 April 2011. If you have not heard from us by then, or if you have further questions, feel free to contact us at RewrittenEditor@r-spec.org. Decision letters will be sent soon after 15 February 2011 31 May 2011 via e-mail and/or U.S. mail.

About R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association, Inc. (R-SPEC), is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group of writers, readers, and thinkers in the Greater Rochester, NY, area that exists to celebrate, create, and educate others about speculative literature. R-SPEC meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Pittsford Barnes & Noble.

Speculative literature uses narrative means to probe the world around us, the ideas within us, and the direction in which society is heading. It is creation, analysis, warning, and prophecy all in one. And R-SPEC is the door.