Warmth | Shelter | Cheer

Welcome, authors! And thank you for taking some time to visit. Until our website is up and running, our author guidelines will be posted here for ease of access. Take a look around, make yourself at home, and feel free to reach out with questions that may come up.

Joy be with you,

Elizabeth
(aka E.R. Scrivener)

Editor and Innkeeper 

Once upon a time, there was a writer who thought that the magic of words thrived best in solitude. She wrote alone, read alone, thought she had to do it all alone. But one day during a covid lockdown, she discovered the magic of community, a discovery made through small, socially distanced book clubs. These book clubs taught her how to listen to others better and to see the world with more open eyes. Soon, she came to find that her wounds were healing up, too: deep wounds that she had hidden within her heart for such a long time. And suddenly, she was no longer alone. It made her a better writer, and it made her a better person.

Months melted into years. As this writer began sending her stories out for publication, she discovered that the world of fantasy magazines can be a dark place. Her own stories didn’t quite fit in. She wanted her stories to be different: the promise of sunrise amid gathering darkness, stories that might bring people together. And perhaps, others might find that they, too, are not alone.

***

The Drowsy Dragon is a bi-annual fantasy magazine book club for adults, set to launch in October 2025. We plan to make it available in two formats: as a PDF download from our website and as a physical copy.

At its heart, the Drowsy Dragon is about faerie tales and fellowship:

• They’re often branded as children stories, but grownups need faerie tales perhaps even more than children do. As adults, we know that in the real world, good doesn’t always triumph over evil, that safety is merely an illusion. In those moments of harsh reality, we crave stories of hope that will seep into our hearts. Something stemming from the intangible realm and bubbling up to the tangle, something to light our way back home.

•  The Drowsy Dragon is meant to be read in fellowship. Once readers have finished each issue’s stories, we envision them holding their own “Drowsy Dragon Gathering” to discuss the stories with a friend (or many), either at a tavern, café, in a living room, around a hearth, or bonfire.

• We include ideas for how to host a Drowsy Dragon Gathering, with different options for varying budgets and personalities, drawing from our editor’s experience with leading book clubs.

• Each issue, the Drowsy Dragon is looking to publish five original short stories of the fantasy genre.

We’re in need of passionate fantasy writers who are willing entrust their stories to the Drowsy Dragon, helping us to build a unique place where readers can hunker down until sunrise with a band of trusted friends, sending them onward with renewed hope for the journey ahead.

We would be absolutely honored if you would consider going on this journey with us.

Author Guidelines 

Drowsy Dragon embraces C.S. Lewis’ much beloved sentiment that “One day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again,” along with our own slogan, “Warmth, Shelter, Cheer.” Below, you’ll find the best explanation we can provide for what that means to us.

·       We consider stories set in both secondary realms (high fantasy) and low fantasy/magical realism/speculative realms.

·       We consider ourselves a publisher of faerie tales. As such, stories should include magic/speculative elements, conflict, and come to a happy, positive, or hopeful conclusion.

·       We prefer stories that would be considered PG in nature.

·       We want high stakes, low stakes, humorous tales, and perilous journeys.

·       We don’t want trendy, we want lasting: stories that will stand the test of time.

·       We want to feel like we’re safe inside Tolkien’s Last Homely House. We want the edge of a cliff and the plunge. We want dilemmas and solutions. We want second chances after failure. We want the weary traveler and the inspiration to continue on.

·       We want truth, pain, joy, healing, and Hope. We want beauty and light. We want warmth, shelter, and cheer. Friendship, forgiveness, and unconditional love. But mostly, we want Hope.

Drowsy Dragon is a safe place for all. What that means for us:

·       All life should be treated with respect. There is no place in the Drowsy Dragon for hatred, bigotry, or the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.

·       We will not accept stories that depict sexual violence (not even in backstory). We understand the importance of such storytelling when done in meaningful ways, but the Drowsy Dragon is not the place for it.

·       No graphic violence. Any violence should not exceed a “PG-13” rating and should be there for a reason (but as stated above, we prefer PG).

Statement on the use of AI: We do not accept pieces that were in any way created with the use of AI. By submitting to the Drowsy Dragon, you agree to these terms. Any piece found to be created with the use of AI will be withdrawn.

Word Count: 5,000 words. This is not a hard number. If your story is a little longer, please send it to us anyway for consideration.

*The Drowsy Dragon does not purchase serializations. 

Rights and Compensation

The Drowsy Dragon, LCC purchases first world digital and print rights, exclusive for six months after the publication date. You as the writer keep the copyright and are free to reprint after the six months have expired (as stated in the contract, signed before publication). 

·       $50 for stories 1000-5000 words

·       $25 for stories under 1000 words

I am that writer, the one thought she had to do it all alone. But book club changed my life. It is one of my great passions. That, and stories. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for considering submitting to the Drowsy Dragon. We’re a fledgling operation, but if you would consider going on this journey with us, the Drowsy Dragon could be so much more than we could ever be on our own.

Joy be with you,

E.R. Scrivener

Ready to submit? 

Head on over to the Drowsy Dragon's website and use our online submission portal. We're looking forward to reading your work!