Author: Stuart Conover

Anthology / Events / Flash / Reprints Allowed / Semipro

 by 

Taking Submissions Self (S)care Anthology May Window

Submission Window: May 15th-31st, 2025
Payment: 2 cents per word
Theme: Reprints of self-published horror stories

Calling all self-published horror authors! Get those short stories ready! Open submissions begin next week for this brand-new anthology geared toward spotlighting the best in indie horror!

In this unique collaboration project, Paul Carro and Candace Nola have teamed up to create a new opportunity for self-published authors! The incredibly talented Laurel Hightower is on-board to write the foreword, and the book will be published in all formats by Uncomfortably Dark Horror.

(more…)

Anthology / Events / Royalties

 by 

Taking Submissions: Beyond

Deadline: June 10th, 2025
Payment: Royalties
Theme: Straightforward science fiction with great characters

A Science Fiction Anthology

Submission Period: March 10, 2025 to June 10, 2025

Theme: Beyond – Science Fiction.
Editor likes: characters, emotion. Dislikes: difficult words to pronounce. Faves: Dune, Expanse, Fifth Element, Foundation

Stories that contain infanticide, rape, or gratuitous gore will not be accepted.

Submission Period: March 10, 2025 to June 10, 2025

Submissions: No AI, 1 per author; no reprints, no simultaneous submissions;

(more…)

Articles

 by 

10 Ghoulish Gourmet Horror Reads for the Brave Foodie

10 Ghoulish Gourmet Reads for the Brave Foodie

If you consider yourself a foodie with a taste for the macabre, then you are in for a treat. These ten ghoulish gourmet reads combine culinary delights with chilling tales that will satisfy your appetite for both food and horror. Not only will these books entertain you, but they will also inspire your next culinary adventure, allowing you to explore the darker side of cooking and dining. Embrace the eerie and discover how these unique narratives can enhance your culinary creativity.

(more…)

Events / Flash / Online / Pro

 by 

Taking Submissions: Anomaly June 2025 Window

Submission Window: June 1st – 7th, 2025
Payment: 8 cents per word
Theme: Dark and disruptive SF stories that have strong emotional resonance under 300 words in length

We open from the 1st-7th of each month, beginning April 2025.

What we want: Anomaly is interested in science fiction stories under 300 words in length, for publication on their Patreon, with the right to collect stories into a future anthology. We’re looking for dark and disruptive stories that have strong emotional resonance. We like stories that stick with us after reading, that get us thinking about the twisted use of technologies, the way the world may be, or how characters might react to an evolving technological future.

(more…)

Events / Flash / Flat Amount / Magazine / Non-fiction / Poetry

 by 

Taking Submissions: The First Line – Fall 2025

Deadline: August 1st, 2025
Payment: $25.00 – $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 – $10.00 for poetry
Theme: Story must begin with: Her truck took the sharp turns of the mountain road with ease.

Fall:
Her truck took the sharp turns of the mountain road with ease.
Due date: August 1, 2025

We love that writers around the world are inspired by our first lines, and we know that not every story will be sent to us. However, we ask that you do not submit stories starting with our first lines to other journals (or post them online on public sites) until we’ve notified you as to our decision (usually four weeks after the deadline). When the entire premise of the publication revolves around one sentence, we don’t want it to look as if we stole that sentence from another writer. If you have questions, feel free to drop us a line.

Also, we understand that writers may add our first line to a story they are currently working on or have already completed, and that’s cool. But please do not add our first line to a previously published story and submit it to us. We do not accept previously published stories, even if they have been repurposed for our first lines. And, just to be clear, we do not accept simultaneous submissions.

One more thing while I’ve got you here: Writers compete against one another for magazine space, so, technically, every literary magazine is running a contest. There are, however, literary magazines that run traditional contests, where they charge entry fees and rank the winners. We do not – nor will we ever – charge a submission fee, nor do we rank our stories in order of importance. Occasionally, we run contests to help come up with new first lines, or we run fun, gimmicky competitions for free stuff, but the actual journal is not a contest in the traditional sense.

(more…)

Artwork / Events / Flash / Flat Amount / Magazine / Poetry / Reprints Allowed / Semipro

 by 

Taking Submissions: Radon Journal October 2025 Issue

Submission Window: May 1st – August 31st
Payment: Fiction: 2¢ per word for original, 1¢ per word for reprints. Poetry: $20 per original poem and $10 for reprints. Artwork: $100 for issue cover art, $30 for back cover art, and $20 for art used on our site
Theme: Stories and poetry containing elements of science fiction, anarchism, transhumanism, or dystopia.
Note: Reprints Welcome

Radon welcomes short stories and poetry containing elements of science fiction, anarchism, transhumanism, or dystopia.

​

We publish quality literature the first of every February, June, and October.

  • Submissions are accepted year-round.

  • Simultaneous submissions are welcome.

  • Reprints no longer accepted as of 2025.

  • AI submissions are not allowed at Radon.

​ (more…)

Events / Flash / Magazine / Reprints Allowed

 by 

Taking Submissions: Taking Submissions: Allegory Volume 48

Submission Window: May 1st, 2025 – June 30th, 2025
Payment: $15
Theme: Speculative fiction, primarily horror, science fiction, and fantasy.
Note: Reprints welcome

Formatting Guidelines

This is proving to be a recurring problem, so we’re putting it up front. Please, for all our sakes, read this next part carefully.

All submissions should be sent by e-mail (no letters or telephone calls please) to [email protected]. Below are some formatting rules to help us process your submission more quickly.

EMAIL AND COVER LETTERS

Email is accepted in both text and HTML formats. When submitting, please put this in the subject line:

Submission: (Title) – (First and Last name)

Include the following in the body of the email and in the attached submission:

Your name
Name to use on the story (byline), if different
Your preferred email address
Your mailing address
The story’s title
The story’s word count
(more…)

Articles

 by 

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Round the Maypole

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Round the Maypole

Welcome to “Writing Prompt Wednesdays,” a haven where your imagination can roam free in the realms of speculative fiction. As we embark on this weekly journey, it’s thrilling to think about the untold stories waiting to be penned in the domains of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding wordsmith, these prompts are your gateway to unexplored worlds and untapped potentials.

Every Wednesday, we’ll serve up a fresh, thought-provoking prompt designed to ignite your creative spark and challenge your storytelling prowess. Think of these prompts as a key, unlocking the doors to uncharted territories where your creativity is the only limit. From eerie, shadow-laden corridors of Gothic horror to the farthest reaches of interstellar space, and the mystical depths of high fantasy, our prompts are a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to approach these prompts. They are mere stepping stones, guiding you towards the vast landscapes of your imagination. Use them to break free from writer’s block, to experiment with new ideas, or simply as a fun exercise to keep your writing skills sharp.

This week’s writing prompt:

(more…)