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By Chaz Kemp
Author FAQs
Page Layout:
Font: Arial, Size 12 Double spaced Indented paragraphs Single space after periods. No extra line break between paragraphs Section breaks, as needed, should be three ### symbols, centered on the page. In the document Header, include Title/Last Name/Page #File Naming:
When you SAVE your file, name it in the following way: StoryTitle-V01.doc as in "Pangenesis-V01.doc." In case we ask for edits or a rewrite, the second version would be V02, etc. (You may include your name in the file name if you wish) During the submission process, you will have the opportunity to write a cover letter, enter the word count, select genre and story type, etc. (We know that's a bit of double work, but there's the story and then there's the submission log, and if they get separated this helps us know what went where and what belongs to whom, etc.)Our Positive Approach
In all worlds and times, our tales revolve around those individuals and groups who bring meaning and value to the world, whose actions are of consequence, and whose dreams are the vanguard of things to come.
Whether you call that Solarpunk, Hopepunk, or just DreamForge stories, you’ll find them here.
Our goal is to publish fiction and commentary that embody, in one way or another, these essential principles: integrity and decency, compassion and creativity, intelligence and inventiveness, the rule of law and liberty under the law, and the dignity of the individual.
We do not subscribe to hopelessness or futility as a vision of the future or of any setting or situation.
We believe in the power of synergy to unleash the potential of disparate individuals and communities for the betterment of all.
By Elizabeth Leggett
By John Blumen
A Passionate Attention to Writing
The path we’ve chosen is based in the enjoyment we experienced working with authors to solve story problems and polish near gems to perfection. It was equally gratifying to provide useful feedback to hopeful contributors, writers who rarely heard from editors about the quality of their work. We love it when we receive comments like:
"Your advice has helped me get stories picked up twice!!!!" and "the feedback you offered me on the first few stories I submitted is far and away the best feedback I've ever gotten." --Angelique Fawns
We share these comments not in praise of us, but in hope that we can contribute to helping more authors if we focus on the writing and share what we've learned.
To pursue this work with writers, we’ve established a Writers Discussion Group, including writing challenges that lead to publication, which can be accessed as a Patreon supporter.
Our Thematic Values
DreamForge Magazine celebrates speculative fiction, blending fantasy and science fiction into immersive narratives that emphasize hope and humanity.
Our pages offer both imaginative futures and inventive realms, where storytelling ranges from scientifically grounded worlds to those ruled by creative imagination.
We favor traditional narratives that center on empathetic characters facing daunting challenges—be they physical, moral, existential, or psychological.
Each story is a journey where outcomes, whether triumphant or tragic, underline the resilience of compassion, integrity, and the enduring human spirit.
In our science fiction, technology and scientific thought pave the way for problem-solving, while our fantasy tales rely on coherent yet imaginative rules that invite inventive approaches.
Our storytelling approach is guided by clear principles:
- Engaging plots: Focus on relatable characters confronting serious challenges.
- Narrative range: Stories span from flash fiction to serialized novellas.
- Quality over gimmicks: We steer clear of overly experimental or abstract works unless truly exceptional.
We welcome eclectic readers ready to explore worlds that shift from the cosmic to the magical, where communities unite and overlooked heroes emerge amid perilous trials.
Ultimately, DreamForge Magazine is dedicated to publishing fiction and commentary that uphold values of integrity, decency, and creativity, championing the idea that hope and humane values can light even the darkest of futures.
By Quinzell Kills
Story Examples
Are you new to DreamForge? Consider the following DreamForge stories as representative of our best. From these starting points and take your visions to an even higher elevation.
- A Bowl of Soup on the 87th Floor – Can a special recipe bring a species of tree back from the brink of extinction? [Winner of the 2024 WSFA Award]
- Dandelion Brew – Saving the environment is about more than defeating enemies; it’s about making allies everywhere.
- A Language, Older than Words – Kindness and forgiveness are both older than language, and together will journey with us to the stars.
- The Spiral Ranch – Sustainable farming in a spiral skyscraper.
- Wrath of a Lightweight – The children of a settlement on Mars claim the Red Planet as their rightful home.
- DreamForger – When the curse is one of empathy, more than one life may be changed.
- Unlinked – Even utopia can become dystopia for those who simply don’t want to participate.
- Being Me – Rescuing the last whale at the end of Earth’s natural life-span.
- Another Day on the Orbital Ranch – Setting up orbital pastures to relieve ranching stresses on Earth.
- Esclados the Red – The intersection of honor, fighting skill, and sexual identity.
- Sapiens – A time-traveling historian comes back to find out why we embraced hopelessness.
- But We’re Still Alive, Aren’t We? – A poem where the direction of reading creates all the meaning.
- Fire in The Sky – There is still enchantment in the Earth and magic in a small boy’s sacrifice.
- Pangenesis – No extinction for Humanity, but at the end of time a new Universe awaits.
- Countryside – A garden of flowers collected from across the galaxy gives colonists hope in their first years.
- The Winds and Waters of Mars – When we move to other worlds, we take our cultures and our heritage along.
- Mr. Gibson Goes to Work – Chaos is no excuse for panic. Always keep calm and carry on, and look out for others in your life.
- The Giant and the Thaumaturge – Forgiveness is a radical act, especially when your pain involves a loss that can never be forgotten.
- Huddle – Accepting the Other in the mundane of the everyday is more utopian than you might imagine.
- The Peculiar Constraints of Peacetime – When is the most advanced and fearsome weapons system no longer to be feared?
- Vern Fronk Returns to Our Neighborhood – The answer to the zombie apocalypse may be love, patience, and a few dedicated caseworkers.
- The Joy Fund – We don’t know what the future of AI is, any more than we know our own. AI is simply something new in the world that we have to figure out...together.
- Lost in Intuition – What happens when a driverless car is empowered to take you not where you want to go, but where you need to go?
- Walker in Leaves – Humanity uplifting another species toward society and civilization.
If you have a question or comment, we'd love to hear from you. We try to answer all inquiries.
Let us know if you are an author or artist and, if you'd like to sign up for our newsletter.
Illustration by Jane Noel
Please consider supporting DreamForge Magazine.
DreamForge is a volunteer effort supported by Dreamers like you. Every small donation helps us to buy hopeful stories and help new authors learn how to bring hope into this crazy world.
Hope is not an illusion; it's a perspective backed by engagement with the world, whatever the condition of the world may be. Like the crew of the Enterprise, we don't expect everyone to share our values, only that we will engage them with ours, and in the course of doing so, possibly, just possibly, win a better future.
Thank you for your support!
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