Submissions wanted (speculative fiction, climate) | $1,000 per story

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: TRACTOR BEAM

Deadline: 15 October 2025

Tractor Beam is a quarterly speculative and science fiction publication dedicated to soilpunk: radical visions of hopeful futures on Earth. Our editorial mandate is to explore provocative, optimistic ideas around farming, food, soil, and beyond, reimagining how humans can live more harmoniously with nature.

So let’s bring sci-fi down to earth–literally–and sow the seeds of a better tomorrow, today.

SUBMISSIONS

YOUR FICTION, OUR FUTURE.

We are looking for original written and graphic works that have actionable soil-based technologies as their premise.

For our upcoming issues, we’re specifically seeking stories celebrating decay and rot, ice and snow (the frozen earth), the ocean and soil under water, fashion and style, soil as tech, soil as the origin of life and anti-apocalyptic futures. Literal or abstract, near term or on distant horizons: worlds can take inspiration from innovations or alternative practices in earth and material science, regenerative agriculture, food, microbiology, and more.

A perfect Tractor Beam story gets readers thinking: “What if this really could happen?” “What’s the soil science behind it?” “What do I need to learn to be a part of a thriving planet?”

Think optimism! Think cross-genre submissions. A soilpunk romance, spy thriller, coming of age story. Interrogate what it would actually mean for us to successfully take on the climate crisis. What would that world look like? What technology would have to exist? We’d love to see people look at the latest soil science and dream.

The deadline to submit for Issue 4 is October 15th.

Tractor Beam pays $1,000.00 for all accepted submissions.

We prefer stories under 6,000 words or graphic novellas at 16 panels.

Pitches and pencils are welcome.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but please notify us immediately if your piece was accepted elsewhere so we can withdraw it and congratulate you!

Submit your piece here.

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

Submissions: Via the webform

Website: https://www.tractorbeam.earth/

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