BFS Journal – The British Fantasy Society

Features and non-fiction

Editor: Kevan Manwaring

British Fantasy Society Journal – Call for Submissions – Gender in Fantasy

Fantasy has long explored lifeworlds and paradigms outside of societal norms. Orlando, Virginia Woolf’s gender-fluid protagonist, declares, ‘I’m sick to death of this particular self. I want another.’ World myths, legends, folk tales, and fairy tales are early promoters of gender-fluidity, populated by the likes of Inanna/Ishtar; Hermaphroditus, the offspring of Hermes and Aphrodite; androgynous Dionysus; Ardhanarishvara; Ometeotl; Guanyin; cross-dressing thunder and trickster gods; heartsick seafaring maidens disguised as sailors; and the mercurial ontologies of the Fae. In this issue we will explore how gender is portrayed and explored in Fantasy. Fantasy plays an important role in enlarging what is possible, and creating refugia for the marginalised and other modalities. In an increasingly intolerant, xenophobic, and close-minded world, where Far Right governments roll back hard-won freedoms and civil rights legislation, and undermine, mock or openly attack important principles of equality, diversity, and inclusivity, this function of Fantasy is never more vital, for as Orlando states, ‘He who robs us of our dreams robs us of our life.’

The BFS Journal is seeking original, unpublished, human-authored articles of between 2000-8000 words (including bibliography). Possible approaches include:

∙Non-binary identities and challenging binaries.

∙Found families and marginalised identities in YA Fantasy

∙The portrayal of matriarchies and patriarchies in Fantasy worlds.

∙The rise of Romantasy and the female gaze.

∙The performance of gender.

∙Power and gender roles.

∙Queer Fantasy and destabilisations of heteronormativity in Fantasy.

∙The divine masculine and feminine in Fantasy.

∙Masks, disguises, masquerades and carnivals.

∙Friendships and relationships in Fantasy.

∙Flirting, courting, and marriage in Fantasy.

Send the Abstract (200 words), including title, keywords, and a 100-word bio to the Editor (Dr Kevan Manwaring) by 31st August. The BFS Journal Winter issue will be published December 2026. Completed articles, if commissioned, will be due in by 30th September when they will undergo peer-review. Send to: bfsjournal@britishfantasysociety.org

About the Journal

BFS Journal is a biannual periodical devoted to scholarly reflections on aspects of Fantasy (including Horror, Weird, and other forms of imaginative literature).

We are looking for well-researched, critical articles on aspects of Fantasy (see call for submissions), reviews (retro, or recent publications including novels, short story collections, graphic novels, films, television, stage plays, TTRPGs, computer games, podcasts, and emergent forms), convention and conference reports, well-written letters discussing Fantasy, celebrations and obituaries of key figures in the Fantasy community, and original artwork.

We do suggest you contact us before writing any substantial article, to check on suitability and word count (for academic articles submit a 200-word abstract and 100-word bionote). Our readers are generally knowledgeable when it comes to fantasy, so don’t be afraid to suggest topics slightly off the beaten track. Hybrid submissions such as ficto-criticism, creative criticism, and “rebellious research” approaches especially welcome.

Academic articles for the BFS Journal should be between 4000 and 8000 words. References in the text should be written using the Harvard notes and bibliography system for the Arts and Humanities (Author, Year of Publication) with a full publication listing for the bibliography given for each article at the end. Please don’t use footnotes in your submissions.

Supply any images as separate files. Use letters in the filenames to indicate the preferred order (e.g. a-arrival.jpg, b-conversation.jpg, c-departure.jpg). Original artwork, photographs, and cartoons are welcome as long as you own the copyright. AI-generated work will not be considered.

Publishers should note that we are always on the lookout for suitable people to interview. We might also be interested in providing our readers with previews of forthcoming non-fiction titles.

BFS Journal is always open to queries, pitches, and submissions, although those responding to specific calls for submission will be given priority. Please familiarise yourself with the Journal before submitting, and bear in mind the specialist audience it is catering for. However, well-written submissions that consider connections between disciplines, genres, audiences, contemporary issues, etc, will always be considered.

Letters to the Editor

We are always interested in publishing correspondence from BFS members, on any aspect of the society, not just the BFS Journal itself.

BFS Journal Submission Guidelines

Scholarly articles are welcome that have been drafted in accordance with the following guidelines:

Fully-referenced articles using the Harvard notes and bibliography system on the theme of the issue (see Calls for Papers) of 4000-8000 words.
Reviews of Fantasy in novels, novella, short stories, interaction fiction, TV drama, film, radio, theatrical production, table-top role-playing games, computer games, podcast, graphic novel, etc of 500-1000 words.
All submissions should be in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, standard margins.
Title and any subtitle should be in bold.
Beneath the title place your name, also in bold.
Follow this with the Abstract (200-words).
Under the Abstract add 5 key-words.
Add your surname and title in the Header.
Add page numbers to the Footer.
After the main text add a 100-word bio-note.
If it is an Article, add the Notes and Bibliography.
Add the word count to the end.
Send as an editable Word docx.
Title your file SURNAME_TITLE_WINTER_2024 (or whatever relevant issue).
In the submission email include the title and brief summary of your submission, plus clearly identify yourself as the author, and if appropriate, your BFS membership number, other affiliations, and any previous publications. State whether the submission for consideration is original and unpublished. Work that has been previously published in any form will not be considered.
Articles and reviews that follow these submission guidelines will be acknowledged on receipt, although please note this is not a guarantee of inclusion, just a courtesy. Those who do not, e.g., generic blanket submissions, will be ignored. If we wish to proceed with your piece, you will receive editorial feedback within one month of the deadline for submissions. You will have 14 days to make any initial changes, then a further 14 days for any final changes. You will be asked to sign-off the proof copy before we go to press (within 5 days). Failure to act upon editorial feedback and meet this production schedule will mean your work will no longer be included, although we may consider it again if an appropriate issue occurs.
The editor/s reserve the right to make any changes to make the submission suitable for publication, including the removal of inappropriate language and incorrect formatting, although you will be initially requested to do this yourself.
Usage of any submission will be in accordance with BFS policy.
Submissions to be sent to The Editor: bfsjournal@britishfantasysociety.org