We’ve always believed the fiction we publish at Shimmer can stand with the best. And we’ve always thought it was worth a lot more than we were able to pay for it. Today, we’re taking a big step toward paying our authors what we think their stories are worth.

I am delighted to announce that we’re raising our pay rate for fiction from 1 cent a word to 3 cents a word, beginning with Issue 16. (Authors already under contract for Issue 16 will be recontracted at the higher rate. I’m sure they won’t mind.)

From here, it’s just one short step to pro rates. This is the golden age of the independent press, and we will thrive.

When Shimmer started, the goal was to raise the pay rate as the magazine could afford it. It has inched up over the years. I am so excited to see their pay rate rise like this. It’s a beautiful magazine, and this is a great step for authors. In a time when so many magazines are closing their doors, it’s nice to see one that is making changes for the better.

–Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo-award winning author of Shades of Milk and Honey and Glamour in Glass

We’re also increasing the size of each issue by about 50%, so there’ll be even more Shimmery goodness for our readers. (Why not subscribe right now, before the price goes up?)

Other ambitious plans for this year: the Best of Shimmer anthology we’ve been dreaming about for years, in a fancy-pants hardback; a special young adult issue with a guest editor; and a foray into novellas and novelettes.

Shimmer has always been a labor of love, and it is marvelous to watch the beloved flourish.

Shimmer had the infinite good taste to publish one of my first short stories, and since then they’ve gone from strength to strength, establishing themselves as the purveyor of unique, quirky but always wonderful short fiction. I’m glad to see them take this important step forward.

— Aliette de Bodard, Hugo and Nebula-nominated author of the Obsidian and Blood series

My deep thanks to the Shimmery staff for their untiring efforts — and to all of our readers, whose support makes this possible.