On Spec The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic See other projects related to this listing. Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (October 2025). We provide the following information as an archive. About Our little quarterly journal, On Spec adheres to a strong mandate that has served us well over the years. We discover and showcase quality works by predominantly Canadian writers and artists, in the genre we call “Fantastic” literature. We foster the growth of emerging writers in this genre, by offering support and direction through constructive criticism, education, mentoring, and manuscript development. We try to publish as many new writers as possible, alongside works by established writers, and we also endeavour to support these writings with innovative cover art for every mind-bending and emotion-provoking issue! Country of Publication & Year Established Canada Established in 1989 Publication Medium & Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationPublished 4 x per year Collapse section Fiction Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Magic Realism, Supernatural Horror Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Magic Realism, Supernatural Science Fiction Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Unknown number of pieces. Short Story: 1,000 - 6,000 words; Unknown number of pieces.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Provides free copy/copies Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Provides free copy/copies. Details: CAD $100 for stories under 2,000 words; $0.05/word for longer works.Submissions:Method: Online form. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Magic Realism, Supernatural Horror Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Magic Realism, Supernatural Science Fiction Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Poem: 4 - 100 lines; Unknown number of pieces.Poetry Forms:Blank verse, Free verse, Prose poetry.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Provides free copy/copies Professional payment. Provides free copy/copies. Details: CAD $100.Submissions:Method: Online form. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Visual Art Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Artwork: Art Media: Open to all/most Art Media.Art Styles:Open to all/most Art Styles.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Unknown payment Provides free copy/copies Unknown payment. Provides free copy/copies.Submissions:Method: Online form. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Image. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to publication's website Report: Correction/Update Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Subscribe On Spec Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: All Categories Fiction Poetry Visual Art Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 3 reports from 3 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 29 min | 111.7 mean avg | 64.0 median | 242 max days (114.2 std dev) Other Information Most recent response reported was received on 30 Jun 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 31 May 2026. Date compiled: 12 Sep 2026 07:06 UTC (less than a minute ago). Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsAll Things Doom Contest CLOSED Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 22 May 2026 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. 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