Story Submission Terms

Submitting a story to ReadNextList does not transfer your copyright or any other intellectual property rights. You remain the author and owner of your work.

By submitting, you represent and warrant that you are the copyright holder of the story, that the story is your original work, and that you have the right to grant the license described in Section 2 below.

By submitting a story, you grant Cora Press (owner of ReadNextList) a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to:

• Publish and display the story on ReadNextList
• Produce and distribute audio recordings of the story (e.g., narrated or dramatized readings) on ReadNextList, in podcasts, or in related media
• Promote the story and its author across ReadNextList, Cora Press channels, and any other promotional materials, in any medium now known or later developed
• Make minor editorial corrections (see Section 5)

This license is non-exclusive — it does not prevent you from publishing your story elsewhere or exploiting your rights in any other way.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted. You may submit your story to other publications while it is under consideration with ReadNextList.

If your story is accepted elsewhere before we make a decision, please notify us promptly at hello@readnextlist.com so we can withdraw it from consideration.

Note: ReadNextList does not currently pay market rates for story submissions. Contest submissions may be subject to different terms; any applicable contest terms will be stated at the time of the contest.

Submission does not guarantee publication. ReadNextList reserves the right to decline any submission for any reason, including but not limited to fit, quality, scheduling, or content. We are not required to provide a reason for declining a submission.

ReadNextList reserves the right to make minor editorial corrections — including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting — without altering the story's content, voice, or meaning. Any changes beyond minor corrections will be discussed with the author before publication.

ReadNextList publishes speculative fiction for a general audience. All submitted stories must meet the following content standards:

• No graphic violence. Conflict and peril are welcome; gratuitous or detailed depictions of gore, torture, or cruelty are not.
• No explicit sexual content. Romance and attraction are fine; graphic or explicit sexual scenes are not.
• No graphic horror. Tension, dread, and dark themes are acceptable; content that exists primarily to disturb or disgust is not.
• Language.Mild language (e.g., “damn,” “hell,” “damn it”) is acceptable. Strong profanity is not.
• Invented language is welcome. Made-up words, alien dialects, and speculative terminology are part of the genre — use them freely.

Stories may explore dark or morally complex themes — loss, grief, conflict, moral ambiguity — when handled with care and without gratuitous detail. If you're unsure whether your story fits, feel free to ask before submitting.

Published stories will be credited to the author by name (or pen name, at your request). Your author name, a short bio, and any links you provide may be displayed alongside the story and used in promotional materials.

Questions about these terms or about the submission process may be directed to hello@readnextlist.com.