Dear readers,
When I started Swords & Sorcery Magazine over twelve years ago there seemed to be few markets interested in the stories I wanted to read, stories set in an imagined pre-industrial past, full of magic and swordplay. This was especially true for emerging writers who had not yet established themselves in the market. I decided to help solve the problem by starting my own online magazine publishing fantasy stories with pre-industrial settings. I chose the name to reflect the tales I wished to see, though I have never restricted submissions to only sword and sorcery tales.
Over the years I have been privileged to publish the works of many emerging writers, many for the first time. Alongside the new voices, I am proud to have published the works of seasoned pros with many professional publishing credits. I am continually amazed by the quality of the work that comes into my inbox, and I hope you enjoy the stories I select as much as I do.
Swords & Sorcery Magazine is, and always has been, a one person operation. I am responsible for choosing the stories that are presented here, and also for all aspects of production. Beyond the criteria I lay out in the submission guidelines the one thing that all the stories I publish have in common is that I enjoyed reading them. I apologize for any errors or omissions. I am happy to correct any that I find, or are pointed out to me.
I can be reached with questions or comments at editor@swordsandsorcerymagazine.com. Public comments can be made on our Facebook Page. Swords & Sorcery also has an X, formerly Twitter feed, @SwordsNSorcery, and a Bluesky account where I post links to stories when they are posted. Submissions are always welcome, but please see the guidelines before submitting. I’m looking for genre-related reviews and critical essays in addition to short fiction. Please query before submitting anything not clearly within the guidelines.
Best regards,
Curtis Ellett
editor
Curtis Ellett is a fantasy writer who also contributes to the genre in other ways. He has lived on three continents, studied archaeology, and worked as a newspaper ad designer, a bookseller, and a tech entrepreneur. He now works as an unpaid editor and game master. Find him on Bluesky.