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Anthology / Events / Flash / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: Level 1 2022 Fantasy Anthology

Deadline: November 28, 2022
Payment: $50
Theme: Endings & Epilogues

We are currently accepting submissions for the 2023 Level 1 Anthology. All writers of independent RPGs are invited to submit their work for consideration to be included in Level 1.

Suggested submission length is 500-1500 words. However games of any length will be
considered for inclusion. Each designer(s) may submit as many games as they want, though
only one game per designer(s) will be selected for inclusion in the anthology.

If chosen, contributors are compensated with a stipend of $50.
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Articles

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Ken MacGregor’s Unsolicited Advice on Doing Shows

Ken MacGregor’s Unsolicited Advice on Doing Shows

So you want to sell books to real people, in the real world, for real money. Okay. Cool. Let’s talk about that.

First things first, I know a lot of writers are, shall we say, not the most socially comfortable people in the world. I mean, I’m not one of those, but many are. To misquote the Tick, I’ve…heard of social anxiety. Before I was a writer, I was an actor. I did sketch comedy. I was a jury foreperson (not because I was necessarily the most qualified, but because I wasn’t afraid to express my opinion in the juror’s room). I have always been outgoing. Always loved being the center of attention. So, yeah. I have some tips.

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Royalties

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Taking Submissions: Lucky Stars

Deadline: October 1st, 2022
Payment: Royalties
Theme: Reasons to count your lucky stars!

Title: Lucky Stars
Opens: July 1st, 2022
Submission Deadline: October 1st, 2022, 11:59 EST or Until Full
Theme: Life can be full of ups and downs for the folks of Bones Hollow, but it’s always good to give thanks. When the spells go just right, when the blood is hot, when the night is clear and the moon is full, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
And when you’re in love, even more so.
Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on the things that make you grateful, whether it’s a long-lasting relationship, an opportunity for new love, a harmonious house or the chaos of creation. Life, love and magic are all gifts. What do the denizens of Bones Hollow have to be thankful for this year?
A Bones Hollow anthology celebrates love for all kinds, shapes, sizes, and orientations based in the fictional Vermont town where the supernatural and Hallmark collide.

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Articles / Interviews

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Read Our Interview With Philippa Ballantine and Clara Carija!

Today I’m excited to be speaking with Philippa Ballantine and Clara Carija, the creative minds behind Alien: Inferno’s Fall. Fans of the Alien franchise are always thrilled by the latest works delivered to us from Titan Books and I can tell you that this one is no exception!

Before we dive into the interview, the synopsis for this novel reads as follows: “As war rages among the colonies, a huge ship appears over the UPP mining planet Shānmén, unleashing a black rain of death that yields hideous transformations.

 

Monstrous creatures swarm the colony, and rescue is too far away to arrive in time. The survivors are forced to seek shelter in the labyrinth of tunnels deep beneath the surface. Already the grave to so many, these shafts may become the final resting place for all who remain.

 

Hope appears in the form of the vessel Righteous Fury. It carries the Jackals—an elite mix of Colonial Marines led by Zula Hendricks. Faced with a horde of grotesque mutations, the Jackals seek to rescue the few survivors from the depths of the planet. But have they arrived too late?”

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: Manor of Frights

Deadline: October 31st, 2022
Payment: $10.00 USD
Theme: A collection of tales all set in different rooms of the same horrifying house

Imagine a Victorian house where every room is cursed with a frightful existence. Are monsters in the halls? Ghosts left to fester in the library? Or are the rooms themselves enchanted with malevolent energy? What was summoned long ago and what doorways were left open? Manor of Frights will be a collection of tales all set in different rooms of the same house.

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Events / Flash / Magazine / Non-fiction / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Dark Recesses Winter 2022 Issue

Deadline: November 15th, 2022
Payment: 5 cents per word
Theme: horror/dark fiction

Breakdown of content:

 

8 fiction pieces (approximate word lengths) – 1x 5000, 1x 3000, 1x 2500, 2x 1500, 3x 500
3-5 non-fiction pieces – 1 article, 1-2 briefs, 1 interview and/or review

– Fiction:

 

We are looking for horror/dark fiction pieces between 500-5000 words firm. Common sense when submitting please. We do not accept stories that involve the sexual abuse/exploitation of minors direct or implied. We are not looking for pure shock value. All components of your story should have merit. Gore for gore’s sake is not what we are looking for.

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Articles / Guest Post

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Scaring Children for a Living: Writing Horror for Middle Grade and Young Adult

Scaring Children for a Living: Writing Horror for Middle Grade and Young Adult

By Ty Drago

The release of my novel RAGS through eSpec Books in the coming weeks marks my fifth published horror novel targeted to YA or Middle Grade readers. RAGS tells its story through the eyes of 16-year-old Abby Lowell, who must navigate through one supernatural terror after another in order to save the people she loves. Her journey is harrowing, suspenseful, and often a bit gory. But that’s horror in the nutshell, isn’t it?

The challenge arises when the writer has to balance traditional horror elements with the demands of a younger audience. Miss the former and the story comes off as more of an adventure than true horror. Miss the latter and readers will shy away. 

Let me elaborate.

Traditional horror novels are paced slow. Don’t believe me? Have a gander at Stephen King (back when he was still penning the scary stuff). Then check out Joe Hill, Dean R. Koontz, and even H.P. Lovecraft. In horror, one builds tension by “filling in the reader’s blanks,” describing the texture of the air, the nuance of a thrumming heart, the bitter coppery tang of blood. Every sensory experience of the character in the thick of things drags the reader from scene to scene. Anticipation is the order of the day—and all else, including action, takes a back seat to it.

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