As it turns out, finding a comprehensive list of countries is not as easy as you may think - what with contested areas and places that are still technically part of other countries. I've made a best effort attempt below. If a country you love/know is not on the list and you think it should be, get in touch and make a case for it, and I'll consider it. :) 

What do we want? 

 One story set in each of the countries on this list. Submissions will stay open until we have a full complement. We're not in a hurry, so we will be leaving submissions open as long as it takes. As we accept stories, I will remove the countries that are no longer available from the list. 

 I would prefer stories with a sense of the actual place rather than travel stories. The best situation is where a writer who actually lives there sends us a piece, but failing that, please do your research! I'm not interested in the old "traveller finds themself by appropriating a culture not their own" nonsense. I am looking for stories by and of the place itself. Stories that feel local, even if you, the writer, are not necessarily local. If you think you can achieve this with a travel story, you are welcome to try, but I am telling you upfront that I am likely to be prejudiced against it. ;) So, go a little deeper, awesome humans! 

 Word count should be no more than 5000 words. There is no lower limit, but don't undersell yourself. I will consider poetry, but only if it is spectacular. 

 Payment

 For these anthologies, all accepted stories will be paid a flat fee of $25. (Wordcount should serve the story, not the bottom line.) If the books become a runaway success, we will negotiate a royalty cut for each of the writers whose work appears in them. 

 For the love of god, send me a clean manuscript. 

 I'm not overly fussy about the form in which it comes, but please keep it simple. Simple font, 12 point, 1.5 or double spaced, no fancy flourishes or coloured text or pretty borders. (All things I have received in submissions in the past.) Format should be .doc, .docx, .rtf or .txt. PLEASE proof-read it, or get it proof-read before you send it. Spelling and grammar errors will make me much less inclined to use your story unless it totally blows my mind. Simple, clean, correct. 

Email your submission to: thepatchworkraven@gmail.com
Please make sure you include the following in your subject line: Backyard Earth Submission - [Title of story] - [Author name] - [Country]

 I look forward to reading your submissions!