Submission Window: June 1st – July 15th, 2024
Payment: $50 for story, $25 for poem
Theme: Speculative fiction including a black cat

A black cat approaches, do you eagerly cross its path, or run in the opposite direction? From the superstitious to the unlucky, from a witch’s familiar to a soul stealing grave robber, black cats have captured our imagination and remain solidly in the realm of the dark.

Dazzle us with your best black cat story or poem. A black cat or a clowder of black cats must be featured predominantly in your story and not simply set decoration. Think outside of the box and show us something we haven’t seen before.

• Submission Guidelines: Each author may submit 1 story and 1 poem, but must make two separate submission entries, one for each piece. Simultaneous submissions are allowed but we ask you withdraw upon acceptance elsewhere as soon as possible (email: [email protected]). All pieces will be screened through AI/Artificial Intelligence detection software and will be auto-rejected if AI is found. Double-check your work before submitting, any misspellings will make us grumpy and less likely to choose your piece.
• Genres: horror, dark fantasy, sci-fi, erotica, weird westerns, cyberpunk, steampunk…we’re open to all but prefer dark fiction.
• Word Count: 500 – 3,500 words for story, max 25 lines for poetry. These are firm guidelines, one word over or under and it’s an auto-reject.
• Payment: $50 for story, $25 for poem via PayPal
• Reprints: We are only accepting original work for this anthology. No reprints please, that includes blogs, emails, websites, anthologies, podcasts, etc.
• Format: Submit your work in Shunn Standard Manuscript Format (Modern or Classic). Do not include your address. Please list your penname and email only. Your manuscript should be in DOC, DOCX, or PDF file format.
• Submission Window: Opens June 1st, Closes July 15, 2024 at midnight PST. All submissions will be responded to by August 31, 2024.

Black Cat Publishing welcomes and encourages submissions from diverse writers of all races, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and military status.

No story ever gets published if it never leaves your desk, so send it our way!

Submission form is available at the bottom of the Via link below:

Via: Black Cat Publishing.