Call for Submissions:
Tales From Space Bar

About Tales From Space Bar

Tales From Space Bar is a new quarterly science fiction and fantasy anthology series launching from Pittsburgh's own Space Bar. We're looking for original short stories that capture the spirit of tales overheard at an intergalactic watering hole—the kind of stories that make eavesdroppers lean in closer.

Our anthology follows in the grand tradition of club tales and tavern stories that dates back to Lord Dunsany's tales of the Billiards Club at the beginning of the 20th century, through the beloved "Tales from the Spaceport Bar" anthologies of the 1980s, to modern incarnations like Spider Robinson's Callahan's series. We're reimagining this classic framing device for a new generation, where the eternal human tradition of swapping stories over drinks extends to the far reaches of space and the infinite realms of imagination.

Think of it as the literary equivalent of that perfect bar conversation: surprising, entertaining, maybe a little strange, and absolutely worth retelling. Whether your space bar is a dingy asteroid miners' dive, an elegant orbital lounge, a wizard's tavern between dimensions, or something we haven't imagined yet, we want your stories.

Each issue features 6-8 original stories anchored by a headliner piece from an established author. Selected stories will be published in our print anthology, performed at our live reading events at Space Bar in Pittsburgh, and distributed via podcast and video channels.

What We're Looking For

Genre: Science fiction and fantasy in all their forms—space opera, cyberpunk, sword and sorcery, slipstream, weird fiction, hopepunk, cli-fi, and everything in between. We love genre-bending work that defies easy categorization.

Tone: From laugh-out-loud funny to deeply contemplative, action-packed to quietly devastating. The only requirement is that your story feels like something worth sharing over drinks.

Voice: We're especially interested in:

  • Stories from perspectives we haven't heard enough

  • Fresh takes on classic tropes

  • Weird, wonderful ideas executed brilliantly

  • Characters we'll remember long after last call

We strongly encourage submissions from writers of all backgrounds, especially those historically underrepresented in genre fiction. We believe the best anthology represents a constellation of voices.

Submission Guidelines

Story length: 2,000-7,500 words

Payment: $0.10 per word, paid on acceptance

Rights: We purchase First World English rights in print, digital, and audio formats for 12 months from publication. All rights revert to the author after this period. We also purchase non-exclusive anthology rights for potential "Best of" collections. You retain all other rights to your work.

Response time: We aim to respond within 6-8 weeks of submission window close

Simultaneous submissions: Yes, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere

Multiple submissions: Please submit only one story per reading period

Reprints: Not for our first issue, but may be considered for future issues

Format requirements:

  • Standard manuscript format (William Shunn's format guidelines are excellent)

  • .doc, .docx, or .rtf files only

  • Include your name, email, and word count on the first page

  • File name: YourLastName_StoryTitle

How to Submit

Submission window for Issue #1: November-December 31, 2025

Submission method: Moksha submission page here.

Please include a brief cover letter with your submission. Tell us about yourself if you'd like, but don't stress about it—your story speaks loudest.

The Live Experience: Launch Events at Space Bar

Each issue of Tales From Space Bar culminates in a special launch event that transforms publication into performance. These aren't just readings—they're full productions that celebrate the art of storytelling in the unique atmosphere of Pittsburgh's premier science fiction-themed cocktail bar.

Event Format

The Evening Includes:

  • Headliner Performance: Our featured author presents their story in a 20-30 minute reading

  • Featured Readings: 3-4 additional authors each perform 8-10 minute selections

  • Q&A Session: Moderated discussion with the audience about craft, inspiration, and the stories behind the stories

  • Book Signing: Authors sign copies of the anthology

  • Themed Cocktails: Space Bar creates special drinks inspired by stories in the issue

  • Community Celebration: Network with fellow writers, readers, and SF/F enthusiasts

For Local Authors

Pittsburgh-area authors selected for publication will receive:

  • Reading slot in the launch event program

  • Performance honorarium for participating

  • Complimentary copies of the anthology

  • Professional recording of your performance for our podcast

  • Video content for your own promotional use

  • Green room access with fellow authors and our headliner

For Out-of-Town Authors

Can't make it to Pittsburgh? We've got you covered:

  • Virtual participation via live stream technology

  • Pre-recorded option if time zones don't align

  • Full inclusion in podcast and promotional materials

  • Shipped copies of the anthology for your own sales/promotion

  • Future invitation priority if you're ever in Pittsburgh

The Space Bar Advantage

Space Bar isn't just our venue—it's our creative partner. The bar's immersive sci-fi atmosphere, complete with spaceship interior design and otherworldly cocktails, creates an unforgettable backdrop for speculative storytelling. Our events regularly draw 100+ attendees including:

  • Local media and arts journalists

  • Pittsburgh's thriving literary community

  • Tech industry professionals (Pittsburgh is a major tech hub)

  • Science fiction and fantasy fans

  • Creative writing students from local universities

Building Your Platform

Every author published in Tales From Space Bar benefits from:

  • Multi-platform exposure: Print, live performance, podcast, and video

  • Professional documentation: High-quality recordings for your portfolio

  • Community connection: Join our growing network of genre writers

  • Marketing support: We promote our authors before, during, and after publication

  • Industry visibility: Our goal is Hugo Award recognition, raising all our authors' profiles

Past Success

While Tales From Space Bar is new, our team at Space Bar recently produced SpaceBurgh, a space-themed festival that attracted 10,000+ attendees to Market Square, with coverage from major Pittsburgh media outlets and participation from NASA representatives. We bring this same level of professionalism and promotion to our literary events.

A Note From the Editor

I've spent years at Space Bar listening to conversations that spark between strangers over drinks—the wild theories, the impossible dreams, the stories that start with "you're not going to believe this, but..." Those moments of connection are what we're trying to capture in print.

We're building something special here: a publication that takes genre fiction seriously while remembering that the best stories are the ones you can't wait to share. We're committed to professional rates, professional standards, and creating a publication that both readers and writers can be proud of.

Your story doesn't need to literally take place in a bar (though it can!). It just needs that ineffable quality of a tale worth telling—something that would make a stranger put down their drink and listen.

FAQ

Q: Do stories need to include alcohol or bars?
A: Not at all! The "space bar" is our framing device, not a required setting.

Q: Can I submit if I've never been published before?
A: Absolutely! We're looking for the best stories, period. Every writer starts somewhere.

Q: Will you provide feedback on rejections?
A: Due to volume, we cannot provide individual feedback, but we may occasionally include brief notes for stories that came close.

Q: Is there a submission fee?
A: Never. We don't charge writers to submit their work.

Q: When will the first issue be published?
A: We're targeting Q1 2026 for our inaugural issue.

Tales From Space Bar is a publication of Space Bar, Pittsburgh's premier science fiction-themed cocktail establishment. We're proud members of the science fiction and fantasy community and committed to supporting writers with professional rates and practices.

About Dale Thomas Vaughn

Editor, Tales From Space Bar

Dale Thomas Vaughn is CEO of Space Bar, Pittsburgh's premier science fiction-themed cocktail establishment, and the founding editor of Tales From Space Bar. Author of the science fiction novel Birthright: Recall (2021), praised by Kirkus Reviews for its "complex and engrossing futuristic war tale" and described as perfect for fans of Firefly, The Expanse, and Star Trek, Vaughn brings both literary credentials and entrepreneurial vision to Pittsburgh's speculative fiction scene.

Vaughn has had short stories published in magazines, including "Dr. Mann's Kind Folly," which ranked as high as #17 on Amazon's Sci-Fi Short Stories list—described as a reverse Pinocchio fairy tale set in a future London reminiscent of Jules Verne or H.G. Wells. He is currently shopping The Stillness, a novel blending magical realism and historical fiction to reimagine Camelot in 1840s Texas. His flash fiction appears regularly on his Substack publication, Mr. Inkredible.

Beyond fiction, Vaughn is an accomplished writer and thought leader whose work has appeared in diverse venues. As a former editor at The Good Men Project, he earned a nomination from the Southern California Journalism Awards. His work as a thought leader has been featured on CNN, BBC, and in the documentary NEVERTHELESS, and he delivered a TEDx Talk titled "How Great Men Think Alike." He has also authored several non-fiction books including the bestselling Wine Snobs Are Boring and The 10-Minute Memoir.

By day, Vaughn crafts speeches and narratives for leaders in the tech world, shaping how executives at companies like Microsoft and Google communicate their vision. As he notes with characteristic humor: "More of my work has been seen at Davos or in Wired Magazine than at WorldCon or in fiction magazines—but both sides of my writing career share a love for compelling storytelling and transformative ideas."

Vaughn's unique background adds depth to his editorial vision. The grandson of a NASA engineer and a tunnel-boring engineer who built massive structures under every major U.S. city, he grew up in Texas gazing at the stars and watching rockets. His adventurous spirit has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, trek UNESCO-certified pilgrimages, compete as a dodgeball player and axe thrower, and even spend "one weird day in Cirque du Soleil."

Now based in Pittsburgh after living in Paris, London, and Los Angeles, Vaughn recently produced SpaceBurgh, a space-themed festival that attracted over 10,000 attendees to Market Square and earned significant media coverage. With Tales From Space Bar, he combines his love of speculative fiction, community building, and the art of storytelling to create a new venue for science fiction and fantasy voices.

"My focus remains on speculative fiction that asks big questions and explores human connection," Vaughn says. This philosophy drives Tales From Space Bar, where every story is an invitation to lean in closer and discover what's possible when imagination meets the eternal human tradition of swapping tales over drinks.

Selected Bibliography

Fiction

  • Birthright: Recall (Novel, 2021) - First in the Birthright trilogy

  • "Dr. Mann's Kind Folly" (Short Story) - Amazon Bestseller

  • The Stillness (Novel, forthcoming) - Magical realism/historical fiction

Non-Fiction

  • Wine Snobs Are Boring (Bestseller)

  • Beer Snobs Are Boring

  • The 10-Minute Memoir

  • The Good Life Plan for Men

Editorial Work

  • Tales From Space Bar (Founding Editor, 2025-)

  • The Good Men Project (Former Editor)

Submit a story here