by Ken MacGregor | Jan 14, 2020 | Anthology, Events, Flat Amount, Reprints Allowed
Deadline: April 21st, 2020
Payment: $20
Theme: Stories based on the seven deadly sins
Note: Reprints accepted
Stories involving one of the Seven Deadly Sins
Works: short stories
Genre and theme: Horror, extreme horror
(no glorified rape, child abuse or animal torture)
Deadline: April 21st
Format: Attach the .RTF, .DOC, or .DOCX
Word Count: 5k-10k
Multiple Submissions accepted
Reprints Accepted
Submit a bio
Payment: $20 per story accepted
Send submission to: [email protected]
by Stuart Conover | Jan 13, 2020 | Events, Flat Amount, Novel, Royalties
Deadline: April 5th, 2020
Payment: $300 advance on royalties, with 40% royalties on net revenue from print sales and 30% royalties on net revenue from digital sales thereafter.
Themes: horror, science fiction, weird western, or dark fantasy.
Excession Press is now open for submissions!
Our reading period runs Jan. 5th – Apr. 5th 2020.
What We Want:
- Excession Press is looking for original manuscripts 30,000 – 60,000 words in length that can be described as horror, science fiction, weird western, or dark fantasy. Our word count limit is firm, +/- a few hundred words.
- We want quality, character-driven narratives with imaginative settings and creative conflicts that will engage readers.
- We want strong, memorable prose.
- We prefer our fiction to be surreal, grotesque, and thoughtful, but more than anything, we want it well-written and well-paced.
- Simultaneous submissions are acceptable but we ask that you let us know at time of submission, and we ask that you give us notice if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
What We *DON’T* Want:
- No reprints or incomplete manuscripts.
- No books that are part of a series – your submission should function as a standalone narrative.
- No poetry or non-fiction.
- No YA or children’s stories.
- No stories that function primarily as erotica.
- No experimental formats or images – submissions should be text only.
- No queries. Please have something submission-ready.
Submission Format:
- File must be in a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.
- 12 point font.
- Double-spaced with .25″ indents and 1″ margins.
- The first page should have author name, an email address, title of your submission, and total word count. Every page should have author name, title, and page number.
How to Submit:
- Email submissions as an attached file to [email protected]
- Include in the body of your email a brief (3-5 sentence) description of your submission and an even briefer (1-2 sentence) description of yourself.
Response Times:
- We’re a small team. If we like your manuscript, expect a response 3 – 6 months from date of submission.
Payment and Rights:
- Excession Press offers a $300 advance on royalties, with 40% royalties on net revenue from print sales and 30% royalties on net revenue from digital sales thereafter.
- Authors will have the ability to purchase their titles at wholesale.
- Excession Press will be granted the right to publish and distribute your work worldwide in paperback and ebook formats. All other rights will be retained by the author.
Via: Exession Press.
by Stuart Conover | Jan 13, 2020 | Anthology, Events, Flat Amount
Deadline: March 31st, 2020
Payment: $5
Theme: Serious horror and comedic/bizarre horror.
The online form at the bottom of this page is the sole method of submission and contracting for the upcoming Corpus Press publication Two-Page Terrors. Please read all information thoroughly. You will be signing a contract with Corpus Press by placing a submission.
***
Corpus Press is seeking original horror stories (no reprints) ranging in length from 400-550 words (approximate, see additional details regarding length below) for a 2020 publication titled Two-Page Terrors, which may evolve into an ongoing series. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm, March 31, 2020 (EST).
We are seeking stories of two types:
1) Serious horror
and
2) Comedic/bizarre horror
Please select which category your submission best falls under when completing the submission form below.
Individuals are permitted to make up to two submissions in total, but only one submission per category. Any additional submissions by a single individual will not be reviewed.
STORY LENGTH REQUIREMENTS
ADDITIONAL INFO
The story must fit onto no more than two full pages, regardless of overall word count, and not be shorter than a page and a half. Most stories ranging in length from 400-550 words will fit the length requirement easily, but significant dialogue will reduce the overall word count.
Story title and author name will be placed on a separate page, so do not factor those elements into the length.
HOW TO TEST STORY LENGTH
To ensure your story meets length requirements prior to submission, we have provided this template for download:
LINK: Length Test Template – Two Page Terrors
Alternatively, you can test length by creating a document of your own using the following settings:
* 1-inch margins all around
* 14pt Palatino Linotype font
* Line spacing of 1.15
* Paragraph spacing: 0pt before, 10pt after
ONCE YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR STORY MEETS LENGTH REQUIREMENTS, SIMPLY CUT AND PASTE STORY TEXT INTO THE SUBMISSION FORM – NO SPECIAL FORMATTING REQUIRED (other than standard paragraph breaks).
** YOU WILL NOT BE UPLOADING A DOCUMENT **
Please note: We are not seeking stories created with the sole intention of shocking or offending readers with explicit content. An element of horror must be present to be selected for publication in either category.
TERMS OF SUBMISSION
By submitting work via this form, Author agrees to be bound by the terms as stated below. Publisher is not bound by these terms unless notification of acceptance is sent to Author via email. These terms of submission will become the binding contract upon notification via email.
You (“Author”) are submitting a work for consideration as a short story (“the Work”) to be included in the anthology, Two-Page Terrors, by Corpus Press (“Publisher”).
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. Grant
From time of execution of the Agreement through submission, Author grants to Publisher the sole and exclusive worldwide right to publish and sell the following English language editions:
* Printed Trade Paperback & Hardcover Edition;
* EBook Edition;
* Audiobook Edition (if produced)
Author reserves all rights in the Work not specifically granted to Publisher in this agreement.
Author agrees not to submit this work to any other publication for consideration until after notification of non-acceptance has been made (i.e., no simultaneous submissions). Submission gives Publisher full first right to accept Work provided, and submissions may not be rescinded once submitted.
2. Term of Agreement
The Agreement will begin on the date executed by both parties and will end on August 31, 2021.
3. Rights Upon Expiration of Agreement
Upon the expiration of this agreement, all rights revert to Author, with the exception of Publisher’s right to sell the work under the title Two-Page Terrors in eBook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook formats, and/or within future “Best of” or “Complete” Two Page Terrors anthologies produced by Corpus Press.
4. Payment
IF THE WORK IS ACCEPTED (VIA EMAIL NOTIFICATION), and in consideration of the Author’s grant of rights in Section 3 above, Author shall receive $5 USD per story accepted for publication. Payment shall be made via PayPal to the email address provided by Author on the form not later than thirty (30) days after initial publication, but may be made sooner at the discretion of the publisher.
5. Publication
Publisher agrees to publish and commence distribution of said Work within one (1) year of approval and acceptance of the Work. In the event the Publisher shall fail to publish and distribute the Work by said date, this agreement shall terminate forthwith, and all rights hereunder shall revert to the Author. However, this mandated publication date may be extended to any other date, and any number of such extensions may be made, upon mutual agreement between Publisher and Author.
6. Representations and Warranties
Author warrants and represents that this Work is original with Author, that Author is the sole author and proprietor of said Work with full power and right to enter into this agreement and to grant the rights hereby conveyed to the Publisher; that said Work contains no matter which is unlawful in its content, libelous, or infringes any right of privacy or copyright; that the Work contains no defamatory matter nor does it violate the rights of any third party; that the Work is not in the public domain; that Author has not heretofore and will not hereafter during the term of this agreement enter into any agreement or understanding which would conflict with the rights herein granted to Publisher. Author further warrants that the Work has never before been published, in part or in whole.
Author agrees to allow likeness and biography to be listed in the “Authors” section of the Corpus Press website and/or publisher social media pages at Publisher’s discretion.
Author agrees to help publicize the Work post-publication by promoting it on social media platforms (as applicable).
Author further agrees to indemnify Publisher for any claims concerning or arising out of a breach of any of Author’s representations or warranties or the content of the Work.
7. Changes in Text
Publisher reserves the right to make minor corrections of typographical or grammatical errors without Author’s consent. No other changes will be made without Author’s consent.
8. Signatures
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Author and Publisher have executed this agreement on the day and year of submission of Work, electronic signature accomplished by act of submission of Work.
Please direct all inquiries related to this publication to [email protected]
[The submission form is located in the link below.]
Via: Corpus Press.
by Stuart Conover | Jan 10, 2020 | Anthology, Events, Flat Amount, Semipro
Deadline: April 30th, 2020
Payment: 2¢ per word for original stories ($15 flat rate for reprints)
Theme: Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered will contain short stories that pay tribute in some way to Jules Verne’s novel.
Note; Reprints Welcome
Pole to Pole Publishing is seeking fictional short stories for its upcoming anthology, Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered, to be published in June 2020, on the sesquicentennial of Jules Verne’s work.
Since June 20, 1870, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has been hailed as a classic, translated and reprinted in numerous book versions, transcribed for stage, movies, and TV miniseries, made into video games and a theme park ride. The book has inspired countless submariners, undersea explorers, and ship designers, not to mention armchair adventurers. We can’t let this anniversary pass unnoticed, so will launch this anthology as our tribute to the Father of Science Fiction and his masterwork. Pole to Pole Publishing welcomes Steven R. Southard as a co-editor of this anthology.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered will contain short stories that pay tribute in some way to Jules Verne’s novel. Set your story in any time or place; use characters from Verne’s novel or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The mood of your story need not be dark, as other Pole to Pole Publishing anthologies have been. Aim to capture, in your own way, the sense of wonder and adventure for which Jules Verne is famous. The connection between your story and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea must be obvious and significant, and your story must not disparage either the novel or its author.
Stories should be 3,000-5,000 words (firm).
Hard Sells:
- Profane and vulgar language. Because we market to both adult and YA readers, if you use an F-Bomb, and we accept your story, we’ll probably ask you to change it.
- First person and Present Tense. We’ve published both: when the stories were very, very good. We want to let you know up front that we’re going to reject this most of the time. It’s just not our preference.
- Excessive Gore and/or violence. Blood and guts are fine—as long as they’re part of the story and not the story itself.
- Sex. See above about marketing to a wider audience.
Edition and Rights:
- Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered will be published in electronic and trade paperback in English. We are asking for exclusive, worldwide rights to your work for both electronic and print for six months only, and a non-exclusive right to keep your story in the anthology after that.
- Payment: Payment is 2¢ per word for original stories ($15 flat rate for reprints), paid at publication, via PayPal only. (Paypal fees will apply.)
- If you do not have a PayPal account, please do not submit your work.
- Authors will also receive one copy of both the electronic and paperback versions of the anthology. (Authors can buy additional books at a discount.)
What We Don’t Want:
- No rape, torture, etc. of children. No animal abuse. No stories with characters from a copyrighted world that belongs to someone else. (Note: both Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island are in the public domain.) No Poetry. Only one story from each author will be considered.
Formatting:
- No tabs. Please format the document with a first line indent.
- Curly quotes, please—no straight quotes.
- Please, no headers or footers. Use italics, not underlines. No boldface. Use Times New Roman font.
If you’re not sure if your story is suitable, don’t query; just go ahead and submit, and let our editors decide. (Word count is firm, however.) If your story is a reprint, please give us details of its publication history.
Opens: January 10, 2020
Deadline: April 30, 2020, or until filled. Be aware that all of our anthologies have filled before the deadline, so don’t wait until the last minute to submit.
Via: Pole to Pole Publishing.
by Stuart Conover | Jan 6, 2020 | Anthology, Events, Flat Amount
Deadline: March 1st, 2020
Payment: $25 flat rate per story
Theme: Short story submissions that explore the implications of non-cisgender life within the context of furry.
As furries, we base large swaths of our identity around species. We search for what fits, we let our species choose us, and find ways to be happy as such.
Species isn’t the only portion of identity that we explore within this subculture, though; given the relative safety of our community, gender is also something that we frequently explore. More than 8% of furries describe themselves as non-cisgender, and a further 6% describe their gender as ‘complicated’ (via the 2016 Furry Survey).
Furry is often a means of wish-fulfillment for us, the players of our characters and the bearers of our avatars, so we often present ourselves as we desire to be seen. Within a fictional furry world, though, there’s little reason to expect that similar statistics around gender identity and expression would not also be the case.
Genderful: Green and Gold — How would those in a such a world explore their gender in a day-to-day context? What are the mechanics of hormone replacement therapy – transdermal patches obviously being out of the question – or of gender affirming surgery? What are the social implications of gender transition in a society already differentiated by species?
Genderful: Blue and Silver — How would those in a such a world explore their gender in a sexual context? What are the effects of hormone replacement therapy or of gender affirming surgery on one’s sexuality? How does sex and sexuality work in a setting with complex scents and sensitive noses? Dating, already scary, gains a new layer of tension; romance, already complex, gains a new layer of difficulty; and sex, already fraught with gender, becomes even more complicated.
About the anthology
Genderful is an anthology of short fiction in two parts edited by Madison Scott-Clary. It will comprise several pieces from diverse authors. The anthology will be released in both physical and e-book formats, as well as, depending on interest, audiobook format.
Genderful: Green and Gold is the general side of the anthology, and Genderful: Blue and Silver is the adult side. Stories for general audience and adult stories will be offered in separate sections or books (the exact details will be determined when we receive submissions) to allow readers to curate their experience.
Here is what HYBRID will be looking for:
- Submission content
- We are looking for short story submissions that explore the implications of non-cisgender life within the context of furry. There is no restriction on gender of characters or perceived orientation, including anywhere on the asexuality spectrum. Though the set and setting may be tough and the plot may involve hardships, the characters should be treated with sensitivity and care. We are particularly keen on featuring #OwnVoices authors.
Stories should focus on characters struggling or living with a non-cisgender identity. There are no further restrictions on genre. No preference will be given to stories with any character:
- on any stage of their chosen path of transition,
- of any gender identity or gender assigned at birth, or
- of any orientation
We would like a balance of expressions, and will be publishing an anonymous list of what is represented in each submission as they come in!
HYBRID Ink will not, under any circumstances, publish content that portrays any of the following without justification or in a positive light:
- Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or other forms of discrimination
- Pedophilia or sex with characters under the age of 18
- Rape, torture, dubious consent, or forced seduction
- Gratuitous violence, gore, or death
For more information, please see here, and remember that we’re all governed by our code of conduct.
- Submission genre
- While there is no restriction on genre of submitted stories, we will aim for a cohesive anthology after the fact. For instance, if we receive more speculative fiction stories than contemporary fiction, that may play a role in accepting stories. Literary fiction, speculative fiction, murder mystery…give us your best!
- Submission rating
- G-X — stories of an erotic or violent nature and stories written for a general audience will be presented in separate sections/books (specifics to be determined) to allow readers to curate their experience.
- Submission length
- 2,000–15,000 words — if you feel like you will fall outside this range, let us know!
- Rate
- $25 flat rate per story.
- Simultaneous submissions
- Yes, but please inform us if you are also submitting to other sources.
- Multiple submissions
- Yes — limit 2. A maximum of 1 will be published.
- Prior publication
- Previously published works are allowed, but preference given to entries that have not yet been published.
- Schedule
| Submissions open | December 1, 2019 |
| Submissions close | March 1, 2020 |
| Submissions read and responded to | Within four weeks |
| Anthology available for sale | within six months of contracts |
Submission contracts will include a sunset clause. You may see an example contract here.
Submitting to HYBRID
Please submit via email to [email protected].
Include your name and what you are submitting for in the subject line in the format [Submission type] Submission name (for X) by Author. For example, Jace Doe is submitting their story “Something Awesome,” to the Great Stories anthology, they would use the subject line [Story] Something Awesome (for Great Stories) by Jace Doe.
Alternately, for longer work queries, if Anna Doe is submitting a query for her novel Holy Crap, Birds!, she would use the subject line [Query] Holy Crap, Birds! by Anna Doe.
Please submit a synopsis of your work, plus the entire short work, or the first 10,000 words or so (about twenty pages) for longer work queries. We will accept the following formats: Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Open Document Format/LibreOffice/Calligra Words (.odt), Markdown, TeX of various flavors. We can also accept Google Docs, but would prefer a standalone file.
If you are submitting to a call for submissions, please be sure to note the following in your submission email:
- Whether or not you are submitting simultaneously to other markets
- Whether or not your submission has already been published elsewhere
- Whether or not you are submitting multiple submissions to the call
We appreciate you following these guidelines, as they help all of us keep submissions organized!
Via: Hybrid Ink.
by Stuart Conover | Jan 3, 2020 | Anthology, Events, Flat Amount
Submission Window: January 15 – 31, 2020
Payment: $50
Theme: A story similar to the “survival horror genre of video games”
Note: I don’t usually post calls before they open but as there is a limited window and I like the theme, here you go!
Status: Will re-open for submissions January 15 – 31, 2020
Our first fiction anthology,
Negative Space, will focus on the survival horror genre of video games, made popular by such legendary franchises as
Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and
Amnesia. Although the term “survival horror” was first coined for Capcom’s 1996 release of
Resident Evil, it is now a widely used term in video game verbiage. Overall, our main goal of this anthology is to incorporate elements of the survival horror tradition into narrative fiction writing.
So, in essence, what is survival horror? It is a sub-genre of horror video games in which the protagonist(s) must face dire situations in locations far off the beaten path by using the environment, or items found in the environment, to survive. While it’s safe to assume that “survival” is a common element in most horror stories, there is an extra emphasis in a survival horror story. It could mean finding escape, or fortifying a position and awaiting rescue, or fighting the threat head on with the use of traps and/or under-powered weaponry. Think of Neil Marshall’s film The Descent, or the last thirty minutes of Predator; that’s what we’re looking for.
We are looking to publish around twelve pieces of original fiction for this anthology. Please keep in mind that this will be an experimental collection that favors active horror stories over quieter, literary pieces. When writing your story, think of dangerous locales, overwhelming odds, makeshift weapons, cryptic journals, secret underground facilities, and deadly traps. For inspiration read Stephen King’s “The Mist,” or play the new Resident Evil 2 remake, or watch John Carpenter’s The Thing, then try your hand at writing your own survival horror piece. We’d love to see what you come up with.
Fiction Submission: Survival Horror.
Word Count: 2,000 – 8,000 words.
Payment: $50.00 + digital copy.
Rights: We are seeking first time rights for 1 year after publication. After that time all rights revert back to the author. The publication will appear in both print and digital formats.
Reprints: None. Previously unpublished only.
Multiple Submissions: None.
Simultaneous Submissions: None. Please wait until you hear back from us before submitting your piece to another market.
File Format: Include your story as an attachment in MS Word (DOC or DOCX), LibreOffice, or Rich Text Format.
Manuscript Format: Use the
Shunn Format, but use Times New Roman font. Italics should be italicized instead of underlined. Include a short bio in the body of your email. Your subject line should read NS Submission: (“Title”) by (Author’s Name). For Example, NS Submission: “The Black Phone” by Joe Hill. Attach the story as a separate document.
Response Time: 2-3 weeks after submissions close. A confirmation email will be sent within one week of receiving your submission.
Submission Period: All submissions must be received between May 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019 EST (submissions will re-open for a short period between January 15 – 31, 2020). Any story sent before or after will be deleted unread.
Send Submissions to: darkpenpress (at) gmail (dot) com
Influential Games/Series: Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Clock Tower, Fatal Frame, Dead Space, State of Decay, Rule of Rose, Siren, Parasite Eve, Amnesia, Haunting Ground, Obscure, D, Tomb Raider (2013), Eternal Darkness, Outlast, The Evil Within, Dino Crisis, Until Dawn, The Last of Us, Condemned, Alone in the Dark, Them & Us, Alan Wake.
Influential Novels & Novellas: The Mist by Stephen King, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Off Season by Jack Ketchum, Bird Box by Josh Malerman, The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft, The Terror by Dan Simmons, The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey.
Influential Movies: The Descent, The Thing, Alien(s), Cube, Predator, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Deliverance, Jaws, Rogue, Wrong Turn, Green Room, The Hills Have Eyes, The Edge, A Quiet Place, 28 Days/Weeks Later, Severance, Vacancy, Open Water, Splinter, The Ruins.
To read more about the history of survival horror, click
HERE
To read more about how negative space is used in survival horror, click
HERE Note added on 6-23-19: Although this is a sub-genre created by video games, you don’t have to have knowledge of video games to submit. You could look at this as a “survival against the elements” type of story, or a “survival against something in the woods” type of story. But keep in mind…the protagonist must be at severe odds against his or her adversary. Good luck!
Note added on 7-19-19: We’re starting to see a lot more “military-style” horror coming through the submission floodgates. You are welcome to submit these kinds of stories, but keep in mind that military horror is generally not a good fit for this anthology. This anthology is more about making due with a VERY limited amount of resources. It’s about intelligence, evasion and craftsmanship…not raw firepower.
Note added on 12-8-19: We’re going to open for another round of submissions soon. There are 4 slots left to fill for this anthology, but we’re more interested in shorter stories this time around: 2,000 to 5,000 words in length.
Via: Dark Peninsula Press.
