Tractor Beam Magazine Issue Three: Submit
Call for Submissions: Tractor Beam Issue 3 — Soilpunk Stories for Radical Futures
Deadline: July 21, 2025 | Pay: $1,000 per accepted submission
Submit here: Tractor Beam Submission Form
What does a hopeful future look like if it begins with the ground beneath our feet?
Tractor Beam—a quarterly speculative and science fiction journal dedicated to soilpunk—is now accepting submissions for its third issue. They’re calling on writers and artists to imagine Earth-centered futures that are radical, optimistic, and grounded (literally) in soil-based technologies.
Whether you’re working on climate-forward short fiction, a soil-themed spy thriller, or a love story blooming in a compost pile, now is the time to dig deep and submit.
What Tractor Beam is Looking For
- Original fiction or graphic works with an actionable soil-based concept at their core
- Stories inspired by:
- Decay and rot
- Frozen earth (ice and snow)
- Underwater soil and ocean ecologies
- Soil-tech futures
- Fashion, microbiology, regenerative agriculture, and more
The editorial team is particularly interested in cross-genre stories that challenge apocalyptic narratives. Instead, they want hopeful imaginings of how humanity can rebuild, thrive, and reimagine our relationship with the Earth.
Your submission might ask:
“What if this really could happen?”
“What scientific principles support this?”
“What can I learn or do to help build this world?”
Submission Guidelines for Tractor Beam
- Word count: Preferably under 6,000 words
- Graphic novellas: 16 panels max
- Compensation: $1,000 per accepted piece
- Simultaneous submissions allowed (notify them if accepted elsewhere)
- Deadline: July 21, 2025
Ready to Polish Your Submission?
Before you hit send, sharpen your storytelling with this guide on showing vs. telling, a core skill every speculative writer should master.
And if you’re seeking inspiration, check out this roundup of the best short stories available online.
Whether you’re dreaming of sentient compost, bioluminescent root networks, or fashion woven from microbial soil threads, Tractor Beam wants your story. So, dig in.
