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Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: Royalties Theme: A murder needs to be solved by these main characters as the stakes rise higher. Any branch of investigators can be included, even vigilantes. Murder & Mayhem (Rated R) Deadline – April 30th, 2021 Publication – July 2021 Word Count – 5,000-15,000 Theme – A murder needs to be solved by these main characters as the stakes rise higher. Any branch of investigators can be included, even vigilantes. * Introduction of yourself should be a short biography in 3rd Person between 100-200 words. Upon acceptance, this will be used within the anthology. Send a bio with every single anthology submission. We work with hundreds of authors and will not take time to retrieve yours from a previous anthology. * Poetry submissions: All poetry needs to be contained within a single e-mail. Each poem should be in a separate document. Haikus may be grouped together. * All e-mails should be addressed to “Dear Editor.” After receiving edits back, the author has two weeks to return the submission for formatting. All submissions will be reviewed within thirty (30) days of the anthology’s submission deadline. This ensures submission calls do not close early and gives everyone a chance to submit. You will know your submission has been received for consideration by receiving a generic response. Whether accepted or rejected, you will always receive a response. View our blog articles on how to submit to a publisher and how to write a proposal.   Failure to submit following all of the guidelines will result in an immediate refusal. You are able to submit again before the submission call deadline.   Rating – Check each anthologies‘ rating. Word count – Check each anthologies‘ word count requirements. E-mail address to submit to – [email protected]   NOTICE –  Failure to submit correctly will result in refusal of submission. Via: Dragon Soul Press.

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: Royalties and a contributors copy Theme: Romantic love, in all its rawness, oddity, and power, although this does not have to be the primary focus of the story. Short stories submitted in this category will be evaluated for inclusion in the annual Anthology. For stand-alone collections, please submit in the other Short Story category. Please tell us in query form the length, as well as the theme, working title, and upload the complete short story in .doc, .docx, .txt., or .rft format. Please do NOT upload a .pdf of your story. If your story is illustrated, kindly state this in the query, and we will contact you regarding these if selected. The next Short Story Anthology is tentatively titled Draw Down the Moon, from a line in Sextus Propertius's Book I, Love Poems to Cynthia. We will make final selections for this collection by the end of April, 2021. Stories may evolve along a theme of romantic love, in all its rawness, oddity, and power, although this does not have to be the primary focus of the story. This collection is scheduled to be published in the Summer of 2021. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable in this category but please tell us if you are submitting this work to other publishers, and we would appreciate being notified should you decide to contract with another publisher before we have made a final decision on acceptance of your work. Publication in this collection does not preclude publication elsewhere, as will seek a one-time publication only. Winners will receive the following: 1. One (1) print copy of the Anthology 2. One (1) digital copy of the Anthology in the format of your choice 3. Substantially reduced price on purchase of an unlimited number of copies of the Anthology 4. A pro-rata...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: $ 0.06/word Theme: Original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe. Note: This anthology will ONLY be open from April 1st-30th. I'm listing it here as early as possible as there will be INTENSE competition for it. Do NOT submit outside of their open window or they'll likely blast you into the cold darkness of space to never be heard from again. There’s life out there… and it’s coming for you! With the success of our first two MIDNIGHT anthologies, MIDNIGHT IN THE GRAVEYARD and MIDNIGHT IN THE PENTAGRAM, it’s time to roll out the 3rd in our ever growing series - MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS! Silver Shamrock Publishing is announcing its upcoming Open Call for the MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS anthology. We are looking for original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe. Specific submission guidelines: Open window for receiving submissions is April 1st - April 30th, 2021 ONLY ! (anything received outside of this window will not be considered). Submit by email to: [email protected] Length: 2,500 - 6,000 words. Format: preferred format is Doc or Docx, double-spaced with author email at the top of the first page. - please use the anthology title, MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS, in the subject heading of your email. - A writer’s CV with a summary of previous publications, awards, recognition, influences, hometown and social media links. - The word count. - Acknowledgement of receipt of your manuscript will be emailed within 3 business days. - Successful authors will receive a contract upon acceptance. Once we have a signed contract by the author and Silver Shamrock Publishing, payment will be made within 30 days via PayPal. Payment: Professional rate of $...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Prizes: Grand prize: $250.00 and purchase for inclusion in Galaxy’s Edge, second: $100, third: $50 Requirement: An author who has not had any work (including short stories, novelettes, novellas and novels) published by any of the professional publishers listed by SFWA as an “eligible” publishing venue THE MIKE RESNICK MEMORIAL AWARD FOR SHORT FICTION ​ Annual Award for the Best Unpublished Science Fiction Short Story by a New Author ​ Sponsored by Galaxy's Edge (published by Arc Manor) and Dragon Con Short Story (definition): A story up to 7,499 words, as defined by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). New Author (definition): An author who has not had any work (including short stories, novelettes, novellas and novels) published by any of the professional publishers listed by SFWA as an “eligible” publishing venue. Eligibility: New science fiction short story by a new author. The story must not have previously been released to the public via any means, including online, digital, or paper publications, or privately through such avenues as newsletters, Patreon and the like. This award is exclusively for science fiction stories, not any other form of speculative genres (including fantasy and horror) and Arc Manor (the publisher of Galaxy’s Edge magazine) will be the final decider of this criteria in case of any disputes. Submissions are open to everyone. They do not need to be current members of Dragon Con. Submission Fee: None. Submission Process: 1. All submissions must be made electronically as an MS Word document or an RTF (Rich Text Format) document. 2. The manuscript should be formatted with size 12 text, black Times New Roman font, lines double spaced, and the entrant’s address (physical and email), phone number and approximate word count should appear at the top of the first page of the manuscript above the title (which should be in...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: 2¢ per word for original stories ($30 flat rate for reprints) and a contributors copy Theme: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne Note: Reprints welcome The North American Jules Verne Society is seeking fictional short stories and illustrations for its upcoming anthology, Extraordinary Visions: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne, planned for publication in 2021. This is the first anthology of new fiction ever sponsored by the Society. For Authors: Extraordinary Visions: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne will contain short stories inspired by the writings of Jules Verne. Your story may be set in any time or place. You may use characters from Verne’s novels (they’re all in the public domain) or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The connection between your story and at least one of Verne’s works must be obvious and significant. We’ll accept simultaneous submissions, but let us know immediately if your story gets accepted elsewhere. We also accept multiple submissions, but it is highly unlikely we’ll publish two or more stories by the same author in this anthology. Stories should be 3,000-5,000 words (firm). Hard Sells Profane and vulgar language. Mild curses are acceptable. Excessive Gore and/or violence. Blood and guts are fine—if they’re part of the story and not the story itself. Sexual acts. Romance is acceptable. Edition and Rights: Extraordinary Visions: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne will be published in electronic, trade paperback, and possibly hardback, 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 ($30 flat rate for reprints), paid at publication. Authors will also receive one copy of both the electronic and...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: $30 for the first 3,000 words, then a 1/2 cent per word up to 7,500 words + print contributor’s copy Theme: Horror fiction focusing on the culture, history, and folklore of the Jewish people Horror is part of the human condition, but few peoples across the ages know horror quite like the Jews. From slavery in Egypt, to the Holocaust, to the crippling neuroses brought on by overbearing mothers, the Chosen People have not only endured hell on Earth, they’ve transcended it to become some of the most influential—and feared—people on the planet. THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR is an anthology of horror fiction focusing on the culture, history, and folklore of the Jewish people, to be published on the first night of Hannukah, 2021. Submissions must tie into the Jewish people or Judaism in some way, shape, or form. While we intend to publish a handful of stories about the Golem and dybbukim, Biblical times (10 Plagues!), and persecution across Europe, we also encourage authors to expand their horizons of what Jewish horror can be, and certainly not shy away from irreverence and/or humor. THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR will be published by Denver Horror Collective (publishers of Terror at 5280’, Denver Post bestseller and 2020 Best Book Award winner for anthology and finalist for horror & the newly-released Consumed: Tales Inspired by the Wendigo), and edited by Josh Schlossberg, biological horror author and lead editor of Terror at 5280’. Please take a moment to read the submission information below to ensure your story content and format fall within guidelines. While we of course encourage Jewish authors to submit, this open call is open to all authors, everywhere.  DEADLINE: Lag B’Omer, April 30, 2021, midnight. WORD COUNT: 3,000-7,500 words (please query for stories outside this range). PAYMENT: $30...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Prizes: The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $75, $50, and $25 respectively, runner-ups will be printed in the collected anthology Theme: Ink Note: There are 4 criteria to follow: Is there at least one queer character and/or obvious queer content? How well does the work incorporate speculative fiction (sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror) tropes and concepts? Is the work well-crafted, with a plot, a beginning, a middle, and an end? How well/cleverly is the theme used in the work? Every year, QSF holds a flash fiction contest to create an amazing new anthology of queer speculative fiction stories. We ask authors to do the nearly-impossible – to submit a sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror LGBTIQA story that has no more than 300 words. Our 2021 contest launches on March 1st, and closes on April 30th, but we do accept early entries. The theme for 2021 is “Ink”: 1) A colored fluid used for writing 2) The action of signing a deal 3) A black liquid ejected by squid 4) Publicity in the written media 5) A slang word for tattoos Ink is everywhere. Liquid ink the books and magazines and newspapers we read. Virtual ink in our devices. Tattoos have moved decorative body art ink into the mainstream, and our politicians and celebrities often get more ink in the press than they can handle. And ink can leave an indelible stain. Tell us about ink (and the stain it leaves) on your characters, the culture, and the world, for better or worse. We’ll be accepting works from across the queer spectrum, and would love to see more entries including lesbian, trans, bi, intersex and ace protagonists, as well as gay men. We also welcome diversity in ability (physical and mental) and...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: 6 cents per word Theme: original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe. There’s life out there… and it’s coming for you! With the success of our first two MIDNIGHT anthologies, MIDNIGHT IN THE GRAVEYARD and MIDNIGHT IN THE PENTAGRAM, it’s time to roll out the 3rd in our ever growing series - MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS! Silver Shamrock Publishing is announcing its Open Call for the MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS anthology. We are looking for original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe. Specific submission guidelines: The deadline for receiving submissions is April 30th, 2021. (anything received outside of this window will not be considered). Submit by email to: [email protected] Length: 2,500 - 6,000 words. Format: preferred format is Doc or Docx, double-spaced with author email at the top of the first page. - please use the anthology title, MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS, in the subject heading of your email. - A writer’s CV with a summary of previous publications, awards, recognition, influences, hometown and social media links. - The word count. - Acknowledgement of receipt of your manuscript will be emailed within 3 business days. - Successful authors will receive a contract upon acceptance. Once we have a signed contract by the author and Silver Shamrock Publishing, payment will be made within 30 days via PayPal. Payment: Professional rate of $ 0.06/word. Note: This is an invitation AND open-submission anthology (approx. 75% invitation/25% open-submission). With the All-Star cast of horror writers we assemble, this will prove to be a very competitive open-submission, with us only taking the very best entries. Via: Silver Shamrock Publishing.

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: 1/2 cent per word and two contributor’s copies Theme: General audience furry stories that involve the ocean, an ocean dwelling creature, or ocean life in some way. All stories should be PG-13 at most. Note: Reprints welcome The editor is Ian Madison Keller who previously co-edited The Daily Grind and Tales from the Guild: World Tour. Publisher is Rainbow Dog Books. This will be our first anthology publication. CURRENTLY OPEN to Submissions The submission period is 1/1/2021 – 4/30/2021 We’re looking for excellent general audience furry stories that involve the ocean, an ocean dwelling creature, or ocean life in some way. All stories should be PG-13 at most. All stories must be furry. That means an anthropomorphic animal figure should be significantly featured in your story — it could be anthropomorphic in body or only intelligence. We’ll consider any type of furry fiction from secret life of animals to fox in Starbucks — as long as it’s excellent. Though, the editor does have a preference for stories where the animal nature of the characters matters — if the reader can’t even remember the species of the characters by the end of the story, then that’s not a good sign. Some examples of this theme in popular media would be Spongebob Squarepants, Finding Nemo, the “Fish Out of Water” episode of Bojack Horseman, Mary E Lowd’s story “An Otter’s Mermaid” from Furry Trash, or Frances Pauli’s “Seed of Doubt” from Passing Through. Other takes on the theme could be an octopus band mistakenly booking a gig on dry land, a cross-species romance between an octopus and a dog, or a literal loan shark trying to collect on a loan. We are interested in underrepresented voices. We welcome and will be looking for diverse voices. We are not interested in stories that give...

Deadline: April 30, 2021 Payment: Up to 3000 words $10.00, Up to 5000 words $15.00, Above 5001 words $20.00 Theme: Portals - Doorways - Cracks in reality ​ Submission Open: March 1, 2021 Submission Close: April 30, 2021 - End of day, last place on earth Publishing timeline: 2021 HORROR - May have elements of Dark Fantasy, Dark Fiction and Cosmic horror. But must have the intention to scare the readers. ​ Theme: HORROR -  Portals - Doorways - Cracks in reality ​ Give me your nightmares. Think rips in dimensions, portals to another universe, a forgotten or forbidden land, being pulled into something unknown. This is going to be a ride, and I want you on it. Submission date and Call out will be announced in 2020 ​ Word count: 2000 - 8000 Some wiggle room allowed. ​ Compensation: Flat rate per story (after approved edits)     - Up to 3000 words $10.00     - Up to 5000 words $15.00     - Above 5001 words $20.00 We are also hoping to be able to offer a bonus payment should the sales reach a specific target profit after expenses. This detail will be outlined within the contract ​ Formatting guidelines: Please read carefully ​ We are reading these stories blind, so please refrain from adding your name or any identifying information on the story itself. All fiction manuscripts should be in a standard manuscript format with 12 pt Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing, set auto-indent new paragraphs. Please make sure the title is on the first page, but no other identifying details in the manuscript itself. ​ Title your manuscript with the story title and doors " (the actual story title) - Doors" - again no identifying names on the title of the document. The form you fill out will have your...

Deadline: April 30, 2021 Payment: $0.015 USD per word. Theme: Short stories that highlight a magical or haunting Victorian setting. About the project In late 2021, Bronzewood Books is releasing a Gaslamp Fantasy Anthology, filled with short stories that highlight a magical or haunting Victorian setting. The tentative plan is to release in time for Halloween, so the more spooky you can make the story, the better. If you’re curious about what Gaslamp Fantasy entails, think about Steampunk but less about tech and more focus on magic. Goodreads defines gaslamp fantasy as: a sub-genre of both fantasy and historical fiction. Generally speaking, this particular realm of fantasy employs either a Victorian or Edwardian setting. The gaslamp fantasy genre is not to be confused with steampunk, which usually has more of a super-science edge and uchronic tone. Gaslamp fantasy also differs from classical Victorian/Edwardian faerie or pure fantasy in the J.R.R. Tolkien or Lewis Carroll style or from historical crime-novels in the Anne Perry or June Thomson style by the supernatural elements, themes, and subjects it features. Many of its tropes, themes, and stock characters derive from Gothic literature — a long-established genre composed of both romantic and horrific traits and motivated by the desire to rouse fear, apprehension, and other intense emotions within the reader — and could be described as an attempt to modernize literary Gothicism. Here is a fantastic article about the subgenre with lists of books: Best Fantasy Books: Gaslamp Fantasy Notes & Answers to questions already asked:   Question: Can it be a story I’ve already published? Answer: This should be an original short story (not previously published). Question: Can I publish the short story elsewhere? Answer: Exclusivity will be required for a short period of time, then individual story rights will revert back to the author....

Submission Window: April 1st-April 30th, 2021 Payment: 8 cents per word Theme: Fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Note: You must identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. khōréō is a quarterly publication of stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. We’re especially interested in writing and art that explore some aspect of migration, whether explicitly (themes of immigration, colonialism, etc.), metaphorically, or with a sly nod and a wink. Most importantly, we’re a new magazine and we’re still finding our identity: therefore, please don’t self-reject because you’re not sure if your work is a good fit. We won’t know until we see it, so please give us a chance to look! See submission requirements & how to submit at the following pages: Fiction Non-fiction Art Voice actors Who can submit? khōréō is dedicated to diversity and amplifying the voices of immigrant and diaspora authors and artists. We welcome, but do not require, a brief description of the author’s/artist’s identity in their cover letter. We invite you to submit if you identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: A copy of the book and £50 Theme: Poems that pay tribute to the women who’ve changed our lives Note: My apologies for the short turnaround, this JUST hit my inbox. Submissions are OPEN for our 2021 anthology, The Book of Bad Betties. Deadline: 30th April Editors: VANESSA KISUULE and ANJA KONIG We’re looking for poems that pay tribute to the women who’ve changed our lives—whether yours personally, or the wider world’s. From your mum to Marsha P Johnson, Enheduanna to Joan of Arc, Maya Angelou to Marlene Dietrich. We want to hear about the baddasses, the queens, the upstarts, the legends, the bosses, the matriarchs, the hellraisers, the darlings, the dames. We aim to represent a broad range of poetic styles and approaches, so roam wild and take this wherever you want. If your work’s chosen, you’ll receive a copy of the book and a £50 fee, and be invited to perform at an online launch in September.   Submission guidelines Please send 1-3 poems (in a single PDF or Word doc) to [email protected] Please use 2021 Anthology as your email subject We’re looking for work that has not been previously published (in a book, magazine or on social media – screenshare during online events is fine) There’s no line limit or requirements for font or contact details Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world The deadline is Midnight, 30th April — poems sent after this won’t be read The best way to get an idea of the kind of work we like is to read our books. (We don’t require any purchase and it won’t affect your chances of selection, but it will help to keep us in business and support indie publishing.) After sending work, you’ll get an immediate response confirming that we’ve received your submission. We’re aiming to make decisions and respond to...