We offer limited editorial interference. That means we will not try to influence how your story is written, but it also means we expect a polished draft. The pulps could be lurid at times, but gratuitous profanity or sex needs to be limited. Think the equivalent of a PG-13 or TV-14 rating when you write your stories.
We are interested in continuing characters. One of the most exciting part of the pulps for many was the ongoing adventures of their favorite characters: Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Avenger, or the Green Lama. We will publish new stories every couple of weeks. This allows us to easily feature recurring characters in multiple stories. We have no restrictions on how often a recurring figure should appear on Pulp Empire. It is by no means necessary, but if you wish to use a recurring figure in your stories, we strongly encourage it.
Any time period is acceptable for your characters to live in. We are not restrictive to a 1920’s to 1950’s setting.
Several different classic pulp fiction characters now exist in the public domain. We will consider stories featuring these characters for publication as well. However some characters may already be fixed to one author. However, many public domain characters may be available for common usage for several different writers. Further guidelines will be forthcoming based on some of these characters will be forthcoming at a later date. Please query us before offering any submissions featuring classic pulp characters.
Serials are not encouraged but are acceptable. We ask that serials range to no more than six chapters as any longer will crowd out others in the anthology format. All serials must be completed in advance of publication.
Pulp Empire will consider reprinted work, but any reprint material must be clearly marked as such ahead of time.
By submitting to Pulp Empire you certify that your work is wholly written by the given author.
Pulp Empire buys First Electronic and First North American print rights. You retain all copyright and reprint rights. Stories will remain online for approximately three months while print versions will remain in print for perpetuity.
Pulp Empire will pay authors a percentage of print profits based per story on the number of contributors/stories in a given issue, usually in a range between 4% and 10%. Back issue sales will continue to be paid at the same percentage as initially established in perpetuity, through its life in a print format. Payments will be distributed on a quarterly basis. We prefer the use of PayPal for monies distribution.
Pulp Empire considers all stories from all writers, regardless of experience or resume. We ask that you submit all stories as an RTF attachment to submissions(at)pulpempire.com.