Category: Call Type

Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Flash / Royalties

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Taking Submissions: A Darker Continent: Strange Tales of Europe at War

Deadline: August 31st, 2023
Payment: Royalties and a contributors copy
Theme: An anthology of new, original weird and strange fiction set between 1938 and 1946

CORE CONCEPT: An anthology of new, original weird and strange fiction set between 1938 and 1946 – from (and including) the Spanish Civil War to the immediate winding down of conflicts after World War Two. Weird fiction is a mode of writing which includes the subversion of many standard tropes, or more imaginative interpretations, and has a strong psychological component, so please bear that in mind.

SETTING: Geographically, stories should fall in the zone from Ireland to Russia, the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean shores. Stories can be set during direct military conflicts or far from battle, where distant wars have local repercussions for society or individuals. We’re not looking for ‘war stories’ so much as stories set DURING the war across Europe and showing some awareness of its impact. This was a bleak time for most. Go inventive with this one, such as (a few throwaway illustrations):

  • Something unnatural walking through the fires of the London Blitz
  • German occupiers learning terror in an isolated Norwegian village
  • Dread and disquiet amongst the Free French in Tunisia
  • US troops lost in the Ardennes
  • Families in Britain sensing a wrongness about returnees
  • Torn loyalties and minds in Ireland
  • Horror in the snows of the Eastern Front
  • An Italian soldier dealing with fear by disassociating from reality
  • Balkan partisans trapped in the mountains
  • Communities trying to pretend that there is no war

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Events / Flash / Flat Amount / Magazine

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Taking Submissions: Fairy Tale Magazine: 2023 Window 2 (Early)

Submission Window: May 1st, 2023 to June 2nd, 2023
Payment: $50
Theme: Love

We’ll be accepting new submissions for 2023, with the theme of LOVE in December of 2022.

​The following is relevant to all submissions for 2023 for The Fairy Tale Magazine.

Writing opportunities for 2023 include:

New Fairy Tales: Fairy tales that are almost or entirely new or are just new takes on old tales are all welcome. Mashups of existing fairy tales are welcome as well. Submissions must follow the theme below to be considered.

Poetry: Poetry inspired by fairy tales and that follows the theme is also welcome.

HERE IS HOW YOU SUBMIT AND FORMAT AND WHEN

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Events / Flash / Flat Amount / Magazine / Poetry / Semipro

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Taking Submissions: Apparition Lit May 2023 Window (Early)

Submission Window: May 15th – 31st, 2023
Payment: $0.05 per word for fiction, $50 per poem
Theme: Creature

Apparition Lit is a speculative fiction magazine that publishes themed issues four times a year.

We publish poems and stories between 1k-5k words in January, April, July, and October.

We also hold monthly flash fiction contests between the 1st and 15th of each month. Flash stories must be under 1000 words and be inspired or based on the chosen theme.

Read our submission guidelines and submit your work through our Moksha portal.

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Flash / Novella / Ongoing Submissions / Online / Royalties

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Ongoing Submissions: Galactic Treks

Payment: Royalties
Theme: Space Opera

Theme: Space Opera.

Submission Period: Ongoing.

Word Count: Anything from 2,000 words to novel length. Submission should be written in third person point of perspective, past tense.

Author Eligibility: Open to all.

Reprints: Not allowed.

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Contest / Events / Flash / Magazine / Pro

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Taking Submissions: Elegant Literature: Shadows & Knives

Deadline: April 30th, 2023
Payment: 10 cents per word
Theme: Shadows & Knives, and a crow
Note: There is ALSO a contest you can enter your work into instead of a magazine for a chance to win $3,000. However, it is pay to play on the contest.

Write a story involving Shadows & Knives, and a crow.
$3,000 grand prize.

Hurry down the street as night falls. Is that movement in the shadows? Don’t look back. Dark figures block your path, steel glinting. No time to think. Do you run, fight, or scream?

Murder is as old as time. The lights come on and someone’s dead. Everyone’s a suspect. The genius detective plays cat and mouse with a meticulous villain. Bodies, blackmail, and bloodstained letters. The cozy mystery is anything but for the victim. Prepare your alibi, avoid suspicion, and hope the trail of bodies leads back to the butler. The investigator has a secret, and the killer is working with the police. Conspiracies, confessions, and court intrigue. Assassins and bloody night raids—danger lurks in the dark. So accept the invitation, gather round the campfire, and hope the train doesn’t go through a tunnel. It’s a mystery, and we’re all gathered for the big reveal.

This contest invites you to explore shadows and knives, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.

Submissions close April 30th at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers

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Anthology / Events / Flash / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: Strange Machines: An Anthology of Dark User Manuals

Deadline: April 30th, 2023
Payment: $10
Theme: Your darkest, strangest microfiction in the form of user manuals, FAQs, and how-to guides for the use of (or by) robots!

We are looking for your darkest, strangest microfiction in the form of user manuals, FAQs, and how-to guides for the use of (or by) robots!

Tell us a story while guiding humans through the use of a strange machine, or guiding sentient robots through human activities they may not understand. Reveal deep yearnings and dark secrets between the lines, show us fascinating futures or weird horrors, and don’t be afraid to mix biology with machine. Let your imaginations go wild to create beautiful, surreal, and dark user-guides for strange machines!

Please no simultaneous submissions or multiple submissions. We will aim to have first responses back within 30 days of closing to submissions.

Word count: Up to 250 words

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Anthology / Events / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: Guest Author for Medical Horror Collection

Deadline: April 7th, 2023
Payment: $20
Theme: Medical Horror
Note: Apologies for the short notice; likely only if you have something sitting around or are a fast writer. This was only sent in today.

ISO: Guest Author for Medical Horror Collection by Ruth Anna Evans

Via: Ruth Anna Evans.

Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Flat Amount / Reprints Allowed

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Taking Submissions: Strange Aeon: 2023

Deadline: April 14th, 2023
Payment: US authors: $20 and a contributors copy, Non-US authors: $35
Theme: Wonder
Note: Reprints Allowed

Strange Aeon: 2023 (Wonder) is a continuation of the Strange Aeon anthology series. As always, I want good, solid stories in a cosmic horror/Lovecraftian vein.  I specifically say Lovecraftian rather than Cthulu because I’d like stories across the entire Mythos, including additions by the original group of Mythos authors like Robert Howard and Clark Ashton Smith. [1]. In fact, I’d like to use more stories that do not have specific Lovecraftian references and that move away from the traditional Lovecraft style and voice. Try to avoid pastiche and tell fresh new stories in your own settings. Style preference applies to gore and sex as well: think early Weird Tales, no excessive language or explicit sexual references. (You do not have to remove all profanity from your submission—I can read around it—but, if your story is accepted, you will be required to remove it from the final version.)

I am especially interested in stories of mad science, monster-based horror, weird western, and stories that “peel the onion.” Indeed, I cannot emphasize strongly enough the need for these categories. Victoriana and Lovecraft era period pieces will have a much harder time finding acceptance.

The theme of this year’s anthology is wonder and I am specifically looking for stories that have a sense of grandeur and discovery. That being said, please send anything you consider a good story. Feel free to query for any questions. If you are planning to write a story especially for this anthology, by all means query the idea first.
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