Events

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: $30 Theme: Your queerest horror fiction & poetry Sliced Up Press is looking for your queerest horror fiction & poetry for Slay and Slay Again! An Anthology of Queer Horror. Whether you want to embrace tropes or tear them to pieces, we want to see what queer horror means to you. We’re not looking to fill this book with pieces where the only queer characters die, though we won’t overlook submissions where that happens. What we’re looking for: All submissions must be in the horror genre. Bizarro, splatterpunk and extreme horror are welcome. Preference will be given to submissions from LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC authors. If you don’t like this, don’t submit. All submissions must be original. We will not accept reprints, or stories/poetry published elsewhere, including on blogs, social media etc. Please avoid references to real-life persons or situations. No AI/machine generated stories – any AI/machine generated submissions will be deleted without reply, and the submitter will be blacklisted from any future submission calls, grant programmes & other services offered by Sliced Up Press. Submit your best work in modern or classic manuscript format (as outlined on www.shunn.net/format – though we DO NOT require your real name & mailing address), as an MS Word .doc or .docx attachment. Anything sent in a different file type will be rejected without reply. Poems may be submitted in whatever form best suits the piece. You do not need to include your postal/mailing address or full birth name anywhere in your submission. These will only be requested if your submission is successful, to allow for payment & contributor copies (if wanted) to be sent. Authors may submit 1 (one) story and 1 (one) poem maximum for consideration – if you want to send both, please send them in separate emails. Do not send more than one...

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: $15 + Contributor's Copy Theme: An anthology where queer disabled villains take the stage. An anthology where disabled villains take the stage. Vampires in wheelchairs, necromancers with IBS, blind enchanters--we want it all. We want them visibly queer and irredeemably rotten.  ​ This is not a space for ableist language or themes. We are going to showcase the very dastardliest of villains who are also disabled, not villains who are evil because of or "in spite of" their disabilities.  ​ 2k-6k wordcount limit (but not a HARD limit. It is okay if your wordcount goes a little over 6k, we won't mind.) Simultaneous submissions are OK, but please no multiple submissions.  Payment: $15 + Contributor's Copy  Please submit as a .DOC or .DOCX using Standard Manuscript Format. Send submissions to uncrownedtheseries gmail com.  Please include "Maleficence Submission" in your subject line!  ​ Publication date: September 2024. ​NO Reprints. We are asking for 6-month exclusive first print and ebook publication rights, with non-exclusive rights after.  Submissions are open from Dec. 1 2023-Feb. 29, 2024.  Via: Uncrowned Novel.

Submission Window: January 1st – February 29th, 2024 Payment: $25 and a contributor's copy Theme: Stories that combine crime and horror We are excited to announce At the Edge of Darkness, the sixth edition of our original Shotgun Honey Presents anthology series. At the Edge of Darkness will release October 1st, 2024 right in time for the Halloween Season, featuring stories on that dark, half-lit space where crime and horror simultaneously reside. That’s right, we’re dipping our toe into the dark pool of horror and we’re not doing it alone. Our guest editor, who will be knee deep in the quagmire of submissions, is none other than Keith Rosson, author of Fever House and the Shirley Jackson Award winner for Best Short Story Collection, Folk Songs for Trauma Surgeons. Joining him will be series editor, Ron Earl Phillips. As with the recent Thicker Than Water anthology released last August, At the Edge of Darkness will be a charity anthology. As guest editor, Keith Rosson has chosen to support a Portland nonprofit assisting children entering the foster care system with vital goods and necessities. All profits for this edition will go to benefit this cause. Now, you know the title, the theme, the release date, the editors, the cause, what else would you want to know? Oh, yeah… when and where to submit. Now that we’re fresh off the Halloween Season, many of you getting over your Halloween hangovers, we hope you’ve retained some of that dark spirit and will spend the next two months writing an original horror/crime mashup that is between 1000 to 5000 words. Our open submission for At the Edge of Darkness will open on January 1st and close on February 29th. We will open a special submission page prior to the window. TL;DR Title: At the Edge of Darkness Theme: Crime and Horror Release: October 1, 2024 Guest Editor: Keith Rosson Series...

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: 0.015 per word Theme: A chronicle of something speculative fiction related (see below for more details!) Note: The pay is a bit lower than what we usually would list, however we don't always see newer podcasts pop up and thought it could be interesting for those who want to get in on the ground floor. A brand new audible zine centering the bizarre, the horrifying, and the what-ifs. New Episodes bi-monthly with an exciting new theme every time. Imagine attending an open mic story-telling night in the cellar of that haunted house on the hill or the canteen of a starship that traverses time and dark dimensions. What stories would you hear? Would they inspire awe or disgust? Hope in the future or existential dread? Genres: Sci-fi, Slipstream, Weird Fiction, Near-Future, Retellings, Folk-Tales, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Surrealism, Cosmic Horror, Dark Fantasy, Speculative… Formats: Mainly Short Stories, Poetry, Flash Fiction, Short Plays/Extracts, (but open to) Personal Stories, Dreams/Nightmares, Songs, Soundscapes, Fictional or Real Mini-Docs, Interviews, and whatever else you can dream up… CURRENT THEME: THE CHRONICLE Imagine the diary of an awakening A.I.'s consciousness, ship logs chronicling a perilous journey through an ominous patch of space, an unearthed time capsule housing century-old audio solving an enigmatic mystery. Does your chronicle unravel the epic tale of a forgotten civilization’s rise and fall or narrate the everyday escapades of a lone passenger adrift at sea? Perhaps your chronicle is a tangible artifact, a relic hidden by a secretive order, demanding protection... or destruction. Think intricate field notes of a planetary explorer, official documents from the desk of a demon, heartfelt letters exchanged between lovers existing in parallel dimensions, and ancient spells encapsulated in a mystical grimoire. Each entry unfolding a unique tale, from the artificial to the mystical…...

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: $10 Theme: Punchy, genre-oriented short stories that can captivate, intrigue, and entertain a diverse audience.​ Epic Echoes is a digital magazine that reverberates with the pulse-pounding spirit of vintage pulp fiction while resonating with the modern sensibilities of today's diverse readers. Our publication offers a vibrant symphony of genre-oriented tales, each one a short, sweet echo of the epic narratives that have thrilled readers for generations! From the ghost towns of the Old West to the farthest reaches of space, from the mean streets of crime-ridden cities to the shadowy corners of the supernatural realm, Epic Echoes delivers captivating stories that intrigue and entertain readers while showcasing up-and-coming literary talents! WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS(Jan. 1 - Feb. 29, 2024) We're seeking punchy, genre-oriented short stories that can captivate, intrigue, and entertain a diverse audience.​ ​ Please see guidelines for submission below:​ What We're Looking For Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Crime, Adventure, Horror, and everything in between. We love genre-blending stories and unique takes on classic tropes. Grounded, more realistic stories are also welcome. Rating: Our stories should be accessible to a wide range of readers. Think PG-13—nothing gratuitously violent, explicit, or overly disturbing. Seriously, if "shock value" is what describes your story, it's probably not a good fit. Also, profanity and swear words does not a mature and well-written story make; there is a fine line between lazy writing and heightened narrative tension—tread it lightly. Length: We prefer stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words. However, we will consider outstanding stories outside this range with an aim toward serialization. Please note that this is a small publication with minimal payment. We encourage you to save your best work for higher-paying markets. Style: We seek stories with strong, clear storytelling and, most importantly, good characters. Compelling, diverse, heroic, flawed, larger-than-life, and...

Submission Window: February 1st - 29th, 2024 Payment: $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue Theme: Any genre, short story Mission = Revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful. Payout = Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Wait, you mean if this substack gets thousands of subscribers, the winner would get thousands of dollars? Yes! The New Yorker pays roughly $7,500 per story and I sincerely hope to go way past that. What does the timeline look like? Submit stories by the end of the month, winner to be announced on the 15th. There is ONE story that wins and receives the full payout. Where do I send submissions? [email protected] What are the rules for submitting? 1. No Fees 2. Send in Microsoft Word or Google Doc form 3. Any genre 4. 6- 10,000 words. Yes, just 6 words, like Hemingway's famous 6-word story "For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn." 5. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. 6. Acknowledge Distribution Rights on this Substack - You can still sell your story elsewhere but we need to be able to save and publish it here. The goal is to create a library for subscribers. 7. Only the winner will be published and rights will only transfer for the winning story. What do I get for subscribing? One beautiful story every month. The complete library. The joy of supporting artists and doing something interesting. What if I can’t pay right now? That’s ok! If you publish a blurb about this site on your website, blog, or social media, I will send you one full story of your choosing. Best of all, it is...

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: 0.05 per word, maximum payout of $400 Theme: Fairy tales being retold as science fiction About Once Upon a Future Time, Volume 4 Return to a future full of mystery, magic, and malevolence. How can you tell friend from foe when faced with the cold darkness of outer space? The asteroid belt holds as much danger as the darkened woods, and the huntsman may be just another bounty hunter. The same warnings and concerns that were whispered over baby cradles and guarded by knights in shining armor can be found in the far reaches of space, but just a bit more…alien. The future is as expansive as the universe and full of untold stories. Rumors whispered in the dark of night and legends shared throughout the day. Is Cinderella’s fairy godmother truly a fairy, or is she perhaps a visitor from another world? Perhaps the rings of Saturn are giant gems and the far off supergiant is nothing more than glowing cotton candy. Was the beast transformed by a curse, or is he an offworlder in disguise? There are as many tales as there are stars in the sky and now is your chance to share yours, once upon a future time. This anthology will be the fourth anthology installment based on fairy tales retold as science fiction. Submission requirements: All genres welcome. Submissions must be all ages appropriate. Original, never before published content Submissions are to be 250-15,000 words Based upon a fairy tale or folk tale (Include title of original tale after author name in the manuscript) Standard manuscript format (https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/) No AI generated work No prior submissions No simultaneous submissions Period of exclusivity until three months past publication Author grants non-exclusive global, English language hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook licenses in perpetuity...

Deadline: February 29th, 2024 Payment: $5 Theme: original feminist tales, feminist retellings of traditional tales, and personal essays related to traditional tales We’re looking for original feminist tales, feminist retellings of traditional tales, and personal essays related to traditional tales. Although we started as a magazine of fairy tales, we’re now open to pieces based on or related to fairy tales, folklore, myths, legends, and pop culture. We accept fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and pieces that are in-between. For prose, we accept stories of up to 5,000 words. Longer pieces will be declined. Please note that you do not need to be female or femme to submit a piece; writers of any gender identity and expression are welcome. How to submit. To submit a piece, please fill out our submission form. Please submit only one piece per reading period. Multiple submissions will be declined. Our submission form is unfortunately not able to send an automatic response or a copy of your submission; if you aren’t sure if your submission has gone through, please email [email protected]. We’re always happy to check! Wish list. We encourage you to read through the journal to get a sense for the stories that generally speak to us, but here are some specific characters, themes, & forms we’d love to see in this round of submissions! coming soon! Policies. We do accept simultaneous submissions; reprints from defunct blogs, magazines, and presses; and pieces that have been pulled from publication for ethical reasons. We do not accept pieces that are currently still available online. We ask that you include content notes with your piece, and we’ll provide a dropdown list to choose from. We will not accept anything that promotes racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or other oppressive and harmful viewpoints; anything that uses sexual violence for shock...