Category: Anthology

Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Die by the Sword! Volume 1

Deadline: December 31st, 2022
Payment: One cent per word and a contributor’s copy
Theme: Sword-and-sorcery

Submission window: November 1, 2022-December 31, 2022

This fall DMR Books will open again for submissions. As DMR is the preeminent publisher of sword-and-sorcery fiction, it is only right that we should have an ongoing anthology series of new S&S stories. Now, we have that series—Die by the Sword!

For clarification, sword-and-sorcery is a genre that combines swashbuckling adventure with supernatural elements (usually of a horrific nature) in a pre-industrial setting. The stories can be set in an invented world like Zothique or Nehwon, or in the past of the real world. Some of the best-known characters of the genre are Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Cimmerian, Michael Moorcock’s Elric, and Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. If you’re familiar with them, you should have a good idea of what we’re looking for. If you’re not, you probably shouldn’t submit a story to us.

While there’s no specific theme to Die by the Sword, feel free to crank up the violence and make it live up to its title.

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Pro

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Taking Submissions: The Crawling Moon: Queer Tales of Inescapable Dread

Deadline: January 15th, 2023
Payment: $0.08 a word for original stories
Theme: Queer stories featuring gothic horror, perversion and depravity.

The Crawling Moon: Queer Tales of Inescapable Dread will be an anthology of gothic depravity, horror and perversion. It will likely straddle genre lines, stalking the line between fantasy and science fiction. We will be open to queer horrors both psychological and supernatural, gory and cerebral. But more than anything, we’re asking contributors to scandalize us.

General submission notes:

  • Unless the editors are otherwise specified, you can address cover letters to “Dear editors” or “Dear dave.” Please avoid “Dear Mr. Ring.”

  • If you joke about how straight white men are underrepresented in speculative fiction, it will not win you any points.

  • Please query [email protected] if you aren’t sure if your submission went through. We’re happy to check.

  • Thanks for thinking of Neon Hemlock for your work!

  • Please don’t self-reject.

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Flat Amount / Reprints Allowed

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Taking Submissions: Transform the World

Deadline: February 28th, 2023
Payment: New stories: $50 for 2.5-5k words, $75 for 5-10K words; $100 for 10-15K; Reprints accepted at half the new story rate
Theme: Near future hopepunk
Note: Reprints Welcome

Open for Submissions: November 1st 2022 – February 28th, 2023
Story Length: 2.5-15K
Genre: Near future hopepunk
Characters: All welcomed. Diversity (race, sexuality, gender, ability) welcomed
Payment: One-time flat fee. New stories: $50 for 2.5-5k words, $75 for 5-10K words; $100 for 10-15K; Reprints accepted at half the new story rate
Include: Word file (.doc or .docx, see below), short submission letter with story title, word count, problem addressed in the story, solution/adaptation, and if this is a reprint.
Submit to: Editor J. Scott Coatsworth, [email protected]
Other Submission Notes: One story per author, please, no simultaneous submissions.

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Literally Dead: Tales of Holiday Hauntings

Deadline: January 20th, 2023
Payment: 6 cents per word
Theme: Classic paranormal, poltergeists, ghosts, spirits, haunted places and objects, and the eerily unexplained that take place on or around the winter holidays.

Edited by Gaby Triana

Release Date: September 21st, 2023

LITERALLY DEAD is back for more ghostly atmospheric moodiness with a new volume: Tales of Holiday Hauntings. We’re inviting writers of dark fiction to submit short stories of classic paranormal, poltergeists, ghosts, spirits, haunted places and objects, and the eerily unexplained that take place on or around the winter holidays.

#ownvoices, BIPOC, gender-diverse, LGBTQIA, and authors of other marginally represented groups highly encouraged to apply.

NOT looking for:

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Anthology / Events / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Clergy: Stories Inspired by Ghost (Early)

Submission Window: November 1st through December 31st 2022
Payment: $0.03 per word and a contributors copy
Theme: Horror stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost

Tales from the Clergy: Stories Inspired by Ghost

“Tales from the Clergy” is a horror anthology of stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost to be release by our October Nights Press imprint.

Forming in 2006, Ghost exploded onto the Swedish rock scene with their debut album, Opus Eponymous. Their follow-up albums: Infestissumam, Meliora, Prequelle, and Impera would all go on to produce numerous hit singles, awards, and metal/pop songs sung loud by adoring fans at their concerts, which they have dubbed rituals.

Ghost is known for having an eccentric on-stage presence with group members concealing their identities with costumes and the lead singer adorning the vestments of a demonic anti-Pope. Ghost relies heavily on themes of horror movies from the 70s and 80s, while also embracing the satanic panic from the late 80s.

Although a relatively new band, Ghost has a large catalog of songs to choose from. Creativity is key and I recommend exploring some of their lesser-known tracks. Submitting a story based on “Square Hammer” or “Cirice” may pit you amongst others who did the same, and I really want variety with this anthology. As such, only one story per song will be accepted. We are looking to accept 15 stories.

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Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: The Damned and The Divine (Early)

Submission Window: November 1st, 2022 – January 1st, 2023
Payment: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy
Theme: Gothic Tales of Broken Gods

Quill & Crow Publishing House is opening submissions for our second anthology of 2023, The Damned & The Divine: Gothic Tales of Broken Gods.

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For this collection, we are looking for short stories (5,000 – 8,000 words) that blend mythology with Gothic/literary vibes. Whether you decide to give us a mythology retelling, or take common myths and give them a new twist, we want fresh perspectives, deconstructed tropes, and unique voices. This isn’t a collection for hero stories – rather, evocative, character driven tales. Give us some broken, wayward gods.

Things we are looking for:

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Anthology / Events / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Bisexual Thrillers

Deadline: February 27th, 2023
Payment: $0.01 CAD per word
Theme: Thrillers, that can have horror, see details below for full guidelines

Engen Books Ltd. and Quadrangle are proud to be teaming up again after the positive reception to ‘Acceptance: Stories at the Centre of Us!’

Over the last six years, the Engen’s has become one of the preeminent publishers of fiction anthologies in Atlantic Canada. We have been home to some amazing established talent and helped some new authors break through that have gone on to dominate their fields, becoming bestsellers in their own genres. The From the Rock series is going strong, and we’re happy that our Quadrangle partnership is growing as well!

Quadrangle’s mission is to create a community centre for 2SLGBTQAI+ individuals and organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador, a space that is a resource for building community resilience and connection, and that provides supports for existing initiatives of our 2SLGBTQAI+ community. As a registered charity, both working toward having a community centre, and taking up projects like this one contribute to Quad’s vision of contributing to sustainable, positive, community connections. All profits from this collection will go towards that goal.

We are currently accepting submissions for the second anthology in our partnership series with Quadrangle. This collection will feature strong fiction by and about members of the 2SLBGTQIA+ community.

We decided to pick a different genre and group under the 2SLGBTQIA+ banner with each collection to focus on, and to choose each pairing at random! The dice decided upon BISEXUAL THRILLER for this year’s combination!

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Anthology / Events / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Elements Book 4: Wind

Submission Window: December 1st – 31st, 2022
Payment: ¢1 per word CAD
Theme: Stories of horror with the theme of ‘wind’ – Rated R welcomed

Elements Book four
OPEN DECEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 31

Stories of horror with the theme of ‘wind’ – Rated R welcomed

​Tornados – Dust Storms – wind power – air-born viruses – 

Welcome to our four-book series, dedicated to horror from the elements.

Each quarter has been assigned an ‘element’. Please review the elements and open submission windows below. Each quarter submission window is only one month, so please make sure to submit during that specific time period Patreon members will be allowed to submit one week early, and be given a one-week extension to each quarter call.

Although there can be some fantasy elements tossed in there, the overall feel of the stories must remain in the horror genre. Aim to scare.

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Each part will be approximately 70,000 words and have its own ebook and paperback. Once all four sections are complete we will release a ‘collection’ containing all four books in ebook, paperback and hardcover form. 

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