Author: Stuart Conover

Events / Flash / Magazine / Pro

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Taking Submissions: SmokeLong – Dark Fantasy and Psychological Thriller Call

Deadline: August 15th, 2025
Payment: $300
Theme: Dark Fantasy prose that explores our darkest fears

Beginning May 11th, SmokeLong will be searching for prose that is troubling, that explores our darkest fears. We’re not quite sure we’re ready for this to be honest, but that’s part of the appeal. We are looking for literary prose. We do not want to weather gratuitous violence or cruelty, but we do–or at least we think we do–want to feel fright, unease, a racing heart. If you are a writer of stories that do this, this call is for you. Think Shirley Jackson.

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Articles

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10 Summer-Themed Horror Stories for Summer 2025

10 Summer-Themed Horror Stories for Summer 2025

You might think summer is all about sunshine, beach days, and barbecues, but it’s also the perfect season to dive into some chilling tales that mix heat with horror. Why? Because nothing spices up those long, lazy days like a good scare with a summer twist. These stories not only entertain but also offer a clever way to enjoy the season from the safety of your favorite reading spot. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or just looking for a fun, spooky read, these summer-themed horror novels will keep you hooked and maybe even make you think twice before taking that midnight swim.

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Anthology / Events / Flat Amount

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Monstrous Books Is Looking for Comic Scripts for ‘Darkest Depths Volume 1’

Submission Window: June 13th – July 31st, 2025
Payment: $15 USD per page
Theme: Horror, no specific theme, but stories should be hard hitting

We’re looking for comic scripts for DARKEST DEPTHS VOL. 1, a new horror anthology series to be published by Monstrous Books and Crystal Lake Publishing.

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Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: More Monsters Next Door

 

Submission Window: June 1st – July 31st, 2025
Payment: $25 and a contributor’s copy
Theme: Stories about monsters living in a mundane setting

Announcing our latest horror/fantasy anthology, the follow-up to THE MONSTERS NEXT DOOR!

MORE MONSTERS NEXT DOOR will be accepting 20 short stories, each one focused on a monster living in a mundane setting. The Tudor house across from you may be Dracula’s summer home. That apartment down the hall may be Cthulhu’s downsizing goal. The hairy guy who just moved into the trailer court sure does make a lot of noise during the full moon.
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Events

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Ruadán Books 2025 Novel and Novella Reading Period

Submission Window: June 1st – August 31st, 2025
Payment: Professional rates. An advance may be paid at the discretion of the editors. Royalties percentages will be negotiated upon acceptance
Themes: Speculative fiction and dark thrillers

Ruadán Books will be opening for novel and novella submissions on June 1! We are looking for speculative fiction stories, dark thriller stories, and genre-bending tales that explore the darkness in all of us. If you have a complete manuscript in the dark speculative fiction, horror, mystery, or thriller genres, we want to hear from you.

We accept submissions through Moksha – check below for our submission guidelines. And don’t forget to mark the date!

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Anthology / Events / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Deep Anthology (Title TBD)

Deadline: July 31st, 2025
Payment: 5 cents per word
Theme: Stories for lovers of the unexplored depths of our planet and universe

💥OPEN CALL: DEEP ANTHOLOGY (Title TBD) with Death’s Head Press
Anticipated Release: Late Spring 2027💥

Death’s Head Press continues its exploration of dark horizons. This time we seek the abyss.

We’re putting together an anthology for lovers of the unexplored depths of our planet and the universe. We are looking for stories between 2,500 and 10,000 words that dive into the dark.
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Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: After Dark, Volume 2

Deadline: September 15th, 2025
Payment: $20 and 5 contributors copies
Theme: Vampire and/or Werewolf themed horror stories

The sun sets. With it, light fades as though it were a mere background character in a sinister plot as the stories within “After Dark, Volume 2” cast their shadows, and darkness comes to life.

Campfire Publishing is excited to announce that we are currently accepting submissions for, “After Dark, Volume 2”, the second volume in our collection of Vampire and Werewolf themed horror stories!

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Events / Flash / Flat Amount / Magazine

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Taking Submissions: Slugger Summer 2025 Window

Submission Window: June 15th – July 15th, 2025
Payment: $25
Theme: All subgenres of horror (dark fantasy, sci-fi, noir all accepted as long as horror plays a central role).

SLUGGER is the creative effort of two horror writer pals.

Send us: 

  • In general, we are open to all subgenres of horror (dark fantasy, sci-fi, noir all accepted as long as horror plays a central role).
  • Body horror tickles our fancy the most if we had to pick a subgenre, but SLUGGER will be open to all horror stories.
  • We love subversive and transgressive fiction. Anything that fits the punk ethos is likely to get our attention.
  • Stories can be speculative or not.
  • Our guidelines may change over time, but we are open to the full spectrum of genre to literary fiction, conventional storytelling to experimental, and plot driven to vibes only.

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