Web Mystery Magazine (ISSN: 1547-9609) is a free on-line quarterly dedicated to investigating the mysterious genre in print, in film, and in real-life. The Web welcomes well-researched, well-written articles, reviews, and mystery fiction.

Web Mystery Magazine seeks submissions in:

+ Non-fiction.  Contributors should be experts in the field treated by the article.
+ Fiction.  Well-constructed plots, believable characters.  Vulgar language acceptable if it functions to delineate character.  Excessive gore discouraged.
+ Interviews with personages related to the focus of the Web (for example: mystery fiction novelists, investigators, forensics professionals).
+ Reviews (books, movies). Reviews must include publication information. Thoughtful essay reviews are sought; brief summary reviews are not acceptable, except in special circumstances.

Please visit Archives and read a few articles to get an idea of Web Mystery Magazine's general high level of literacy.  In particular, book/movie reviewers should read archived essays by Lev Raphael, Lisa Polisar, and Nicki Leone to see examples of desirable reviews.

Always query first.  All queries and submissions should be sent to Rosalie Stafford, Editor (editor@lifeloom.com).  There is no length limit.  Use as many words as you need to say what you want to say – but no more than that.

By editorial fiat, people are to be referred to by title (for example: Mr. Smith, Mrs. Black, Miss White, Ms. Brown, Dr. Green, Professor Jones, Marquess of Cholmondeley, and so on).  If a person holds a Ph.D., honorific is "Professor" unless the subject prefers another title.

Book titles, as well as periodical titles, should be rendered in bold italics (for example: Rebecca, not REBECCA, City Journal, not CITY JOURNAL).  Story titles are to be set within quotation marks (for example: "The Adventure of the Speckled Band").

Paragraphs: do not indent.  Single-space text within body of paragraph; double-space between paragraphs.

Use of spaces: two spaces (not one) after period; one space (not two) after colon.

Use of numbers: spell out numbers from one to nine; use numerals for 10 and above.

No capital after colon: use lower case (except for proper names).

Serial comma: in a list of three or more elements, use a comma before the final item (e.g. "We had coffee, toast, melon slices, and eggs" and "We had coffee, toast, melon slices, and ham and eggs").

Punctuation with quotation marks: commas and periods go inside, semicolons and colons go outside, question marks and exclamation points can do either, depending on context.

Text submissions should be either included in the body of the e-mail or sent as a separate text file (Word or RTF). Please include a biographical paragraph, links, and jpg mugshot (if desired). 

Do not zip jpgs, gifs, text files.  Please send within body of e-mail or as attachment.

There is no length limit.  Use as many words as you need to say what you want to say – but no more than that.

All materials must be the original work of the contributor. Contributors retain all rights.

Web Mystery Magazine is published four times a year. The deadline for each issue is five weeks before the issue publication date, as follows:

February 21 for the Spring issue (published 1 April)
May 21 for the Summer issue (published 1 July)
August 21 for the Fall issue (published 1 October)
November 21 for the Winter issue (published 1 January)

A labor-of-love, Web Mystery Magazine is not supported by ads, grants, or subscriptions; sadly, no monetary honorarium can be offered to any contributor.