OMG! The Book of Awesome Stuff

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April 15th, 2008: OMG! is currently CLOSED to all submissions while we play catch-up and get things back on track. Please do not send any submissions at this time. Thanks, and keep being awesome!

OMG!: The Book of Awesome Stuff is currently NOT accepting submissions! Please do NOT send anything at this time. That being said, here are the guidelines for your consideration...

The Basics:

Simultaneous submissions are ACCEPTED, but not encouraged. Notify us immediately if your submission is accepted elsewhere.

Previously-published work is NOT ACCEPTED. OMG! will only consider material with that new-car smell.

What to Submit:

FICTION

Cowboys, pirates, dinosaurs, outer space, gambling, substance abuse, historical, regional, absurd, shark attacks, punk rock, kung-fu, electric guitars, epic battles, social commentary, magic, bikini girls with machine guns. The best submissions will probably combine two or more of the above themes.

We're not much for subtlety, nor do we like things to be obvious to the point of boredom and stupidity. Be funny, but don't try to be funny. Surprise us, but don't send a story that's nothing but a setup for a surprise ending. Don't be afraid to offend, but don't send gratuitously pornographic material. And—as much as I hate to say it—zombie stories are overdone and will not be welcome in OMG! (Robots and vampires are still fair game.)

All fiction submissions should be between 500 and 7500 words. Absolutely NO novel excerpts.

NONFICTION

We are looking for five loosely-categorized types of nonfiction for inclusion in OMG!: The Book of Awesome Stuff.

1. Propaganda and/or manifesto. Do you know what's wrong with the world? Do you know how to fix it? Write your views up as a news/essay hybrid piece and we'll consider it. Are you in a militia group? A socialist party member? Trying to raise awareness about the apocalypse in 2012? We want to hear from you. Extremism and subversion of all types are encouraged. “Creative” logic is good, but fabricated facts and figures are not; this is nonfiction, so work within the bounds of some reality. The only unwelcome views are racism and bland mainstream “Democrat versus Republican” stuff.

2. How-to. Awesome ninja moves, medieval weapon construction, homemade vehicles, survival, sticking it to the man, delicious recipes, magic tricks. All how-to submissions should be quick, easy, and unique. Any “how to make...” submissions should use cheap, accessible parts. Think of The Anarchist's Cookbook with more fun and less violence. Nothing too technical (i.e., computer hacking techniques.) No crystal meth recipes (unless they're really good.)

3. Science that isn't boring. UFOs, artificial intelligence, quantum physics, apocalypse theories, scientific justification of ancient religious beliefs, human existence, hollow earth theory. Combine interesting science with philosophy/opinion and write it in an accessible way that will excite, inspire, or terrify the average reader. Controversial/fringe topics are obviously encouraged.

4. Travel writing. Adventurous first-person accounts of your travels, especially to Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Southern US, the Southwestern US, and polar climates. Too “edgy” or downright weird for major markets? Send it to us instead. (Please, no rambling accounts of how you and your frat brothers got “so wasted” in Cancun last April.)

5. Interviews with awesome people. Self-explanatory.

Illustrations and diagrams are encouraged for how-to and scientific articles! Submissions should be between 1,000 and 7,500 words.

PLAYS

Submissions of one-act play scripts will be considered regardless of production history. The number of plays included in OMG! will be very limited.

Send us something that reads like a cross between Samuel Beckett and Aqua Teen Hunger Force and you just might find your play included in OMG!

One-act plays only; maximum length of 30 pages.

COMICS

See fiction and play guidelines above; add awesome pictures. Black and white only, please.

Submissions should be no longer than 15 pages.

COVER ART

We will need some sort of artwork for the cover. Read the submission guidelines for the text portions of the book to get a feel for OMG!'s style. The subject matter is broad, but the overall tone is pretty specific.

How to Submit:

Send your submission as an e-mail attachment to scream.dracula[at]gmail.com. (Yes, “[at]” needs to be replaced with “@”.) Attachments should be in Word, Open Office, or RTF formats.

If you're submitting art, send it as a high-resolution JPEG.

Please include the word “SUBMISSION” somewhere in the subject line. If you fail to do this, your work may be deleted unread.

OMG! is not accepting any “snail mail” submissions at this time.

What You'll Get:

Payment for all published submissions will be $2.39 (the cost of a 24 ounce can of Modelo Especial at a Kwik Trip gas station in Wausau, WI.) The primary method of payment will be via PayPal.

Contributors without PayPal accounts will be compensated via a money order for $2.39, minus the money order fee, minus the cost of a postage stamp. (International contributors without PayPal accounts will not be compensated.)

Contributors will also have a short biography blurb printed in the book, and will receive a discount code allowing them to purchase OMG!: The Book of Awesome Stuff at a reduced price.