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Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $50 Theme: A novelette featuring detectives in a steampunk setting solving peculiar crimes. Deadline: October 31st, 2024 The genre of mystery is designed to get the cogs cranking, but let's not forget that steampunk is all about cogs too! Why not bring them together? Steampunk Sleuths will be an anthology of four novelettes (15 - 20,000 words) featuring detectives in a steampunk setting solving peculiar crimes. The only requirements for submission will be that the means of committing the crime (murder, theft, kidnapping...) must be clearly steampunk and the reader must be given the tools to crack the case before the solution is revealed. Think Agatha Christie and Jules Verne getting kinky together... um, actually, please don't. ;) * Previously unpublished only * Double the standard rate for this one: $50 USD Due to increasing numbers of submissions for our anthologies, we will no longer be sending rejection messages. We appreciate your understanding with regards to this decision. We will announce the table of contents via social media once it has been finalised. If you are not on social media, please consider your submission unsuccessful if you haven't received an email from us within two weeks of the end of the submissions period. We regularly post news on our Facebook page. You can also get a feel for what we like by buying our previously published titles. Publishing quality fiction is an expensive passion, so the more we sell, the more we can publish. It's that simple. Our cherished Patreon patrons also provide us with the means to keep producing quality books. # Rates: We use PayPal to pay our contributors. If your submission is successful, you'll need an account. Alternatively, we can pay with an electronic Amazon gift coupon. Payment is made upon publication. $25 USD  for original stories and $10 for reprints...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $10 and $5 for reprints Theme: Poems inspired by games or game culture (Ideally video games, tabletop also accepted.) Note: Reprints Welcome Submissions are now open for “Dangerous to Go Alone! 2”, the sequel to Manawaker Studio’s anthology of gamer poetry, edited by CB Droege. The guidelines follow. POETRY ONLY Unlike many other Manawaker anthologies, DtGA is only for poetry. Sorry, fiction writers and visual artists. We’ll do another multi-media anthology next year. ;D We are looking for poems inspired by games or game culture. Most of the selected poems will be about video games and the culture surrounding them, but some will be about tabletop games. (We don’t want any poems about field sports or casino games). For legal reasons, poems about games with specific IP should be somewhat abstract. We feel that poetry is pretty well protected by fair use in this case, so specific characters and situations can be mentioned, but it’s still better if they are only alluded to. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Poems (no more than five, please) should be included in the body of an e-mail (see below). If your poem requires special formatting not available in an e-mail, attach an RTF file. Previously published work is okay, as long as you let us know where it was published previously, so we can credit them in the book. It’s the submitter’s responsibility to ensure they have the rights to their work before submitting. If the work is self-published online in a public setting (like in a personal blog, forum, facebook, deviant art, etc.) this counts as previously published If your work is accepted, you will grant Manawaker Studio the right to non-exclusively publish your work as part of this project in perpetuity. The work or parts of it may also be used for promotional purposes in print or online....

Submission Window: June 15th - October 31st, 2024 Payment: $15 and royalties Theme: Stories that feature the strange and bizarre from around the cosmos and other dimensions “Ladies and gentlemen,” the Ring Master waved her arm toward the crowd, “and, of course, all you ‘sweet’ children daring to see what, up until now, only existed in your dreams.” Her voice floated outward to the crowd. “Or perhaps your nightmares.” Her golden skin seemed to crack when she offered them a toothy grin. “Behind me, lurking in the blue-black darkness on the fringes of the unknown are the stars of the show. Creatures waiting to be seen, anxious to meet you...creatures from so many galaxies you never knew existed.” Again she offered a toothy grin as her red eyes took on a fiery glow. “And I, as the master of the show cannot wait for the entertainment to begin.” ~ * ~ ​ What we are looking for are stories that feature the strange and bizarre from around the cosmos and other dimensions. They can be the stuff of dreams or nightmares. Think along the fantastical lines of Something Wicked This Way Comes but with an intergalactic or other dimensional feel to the carnival or carnival sideshow. Magic and Science, Dreams and Nightmares, Joy and Terror, Love and Hate, combined with the alien and the familiar -- they all blend together at the Midnight Menagerie. The two paragraphs above will be the intro to the anthology - so imagine a ringmaster or guide in your story using those lines to draw your reader into what you are about to show them. WolfSinger does ask that stories maintain a PG-13 rating – so please be careful with any violence or sexual depictions. However, as this theme can lend itself to some dark stories –...

Deadline: October 31st 2024 Payment: AU$5.00 for stories under 2,500 words, AU$10.00 for anything above 2,500 words Theme: Horror or Science Fiction stories that involve school School School life is a dynamic blend of early morning routines, the hum of classrooms, shared experiences, peer pressure and forgotten homework. It's a period of growth, discovery, and a time for forging lasting friendships. If you have spine-chilling horror or mind-bending sci-fi stories to share—whether it's tales of eerie encounters in deserted hallways, unsettling experiments gone awry, or futuristic twists on school dynamics—we eagerly await your submissions. Please ensure that you read through the general guidelines and format your submission accordingly - poor formatting choices may result in your work not being read or considered. If you have any specific questions please contact us using the form on the home page or via the listed social media accounts. To help make sure that your submission gets to the correct place, please include the following in the subject line of your email: Thuggish Itch - School - Story Title. Word count: 1,000 - 10,000 words Deadline: October 31 2024 Payment: AU$5.00 for stories under 2,500 words AU$10.00 for anything above 2,500 words General Guidelines: Please no extreme erotica or stories that feature excessive violence or vulgarity (unless otherwise specified). We are all dog lovers here, so violence against animals is the quickest way to get your story rejected. All stories should be formatted appropriately. Please see here for more details. Ensure that your name, address, and email contact and word count are at the top of your manuscript. Double check your spelling and grammar before sending your work. Please submit all stories in .doc, .docx or .rtf formats. International submissions are accepted. No simultaneous submissions. Multiple submissions are encouraged. Where possible, we will provide feedback on request. No reprints. Please send all submissions...

Submission Window: September 1st - October 31st, 2024 Payment: $10 Theme: Stories of any genre by writers who identify with and as any of the following descriptors: trans, two-spirit, disabled, neurodivergent, Mad, queer, crip, nonbinary, genderqueer, intersex. We welcome submissions by those who identify with and as any of the following descriptors: trans, two-spirit, disabled, neurodivergent, Mad, queer, crip, nonbinary, genderqueer, intersex. This is a space for the words, works, and worlds of and by those whose bodyminds defy social expectations and invite new ways of thinking and knowing. We do not need to know the specifics of your identity/diagnosis/experience unless you want us to. We invite closeted and questioning people to share their work, as well as those whose experiences fall outside the confines of the language we used above. We welcome submissions from creators of all ages. We particularly encourage unpublished/emerging/young creators to submit. If you know an incarcerated/institutionalized creator who would like to submit, email us for information as to where to mail the submission, or clearly indicate in your message that you are submitting on their behalf. We publish on a quarterly schedule, with issues coming out on: February 15 May 15 August 15 November 15 We are open for all submissions EXCEPT during publication months. That is to say, we are open for submissions January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December. Things to note This is a leftist magazine. We hate capitalism, “america,” cops, prisons, borders, neoliberalism, and all the rest. We don’t tolerate white supremacy, zionism, cisheterosexism, ableism, transmisogyny, xenophobia, fatphobia, intersexism, and anti-sex worker sentiment here. We reserve the right to reject and/or remove content from creators whose work does not align with our values. We do not tolerate AI-generated or -assisted submissions. Anyone found to be using AI will have their content immediately rejected/removed...

Submission Window: September 15th - October 31st, 2024 Payment: $0.02 per word Theme: Science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and everything in between Note: Reprints Welcome We are open to submissions: Jan. 15 – Mar. 31 May 15 – Jul. 3 Sep. 15 – Oct. 31 Nov. 1 – Nov. 30 (Drabbles only) Before submitting, please read the writer’s guidelines below. Story Guidelines Flash Point Science Fiction wants speculative fiction stories from 100 to 1,000 words in length. Send us your science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and everything in between, so long as it’s short. We here at FPSF are partial to flash fiction and want to see the flash market grow. So as much as it pains us, please take your 10,000 word tour de force elsewhere. We’re not looking for the next Brandon Sanderson. (Unless you are, in fact, Brandon Sanderson, in which case we’d be delighted!)   What we’re looking for: -Fantasy (all kinds—epic, adventure, contemporary, urban, grimdark, fairy tale, magical realism, myths and legends, etc.) -Science Fiction (all kinds—hard, space opera, military, near future, science fantasy, cyberpunk, dystopian, etc.) -Slipstream (make it as weird as you want, so long as it works) -Seasonal (we love stories with holiday and/or seasonal themes, but please submit AT LEAST 3 months in advance of the relevant occasion) -Anything that makes us laugh, cry, think, or smile. What we aren’t looking for: -Horror—it can be spooky or menacing, but we’re not a horror market, so the fright factor should not be the primary appeal. DARK fantasy and sci-fi, however, are welcome. -Literary fiction—this is a genre market, so there needs to be an SF&F element, however slight. -Gratuitous sex or violence—we’re big fans of Love Death + Robots, but don’t be that guy. -Fanfic—original concepts only, please. We know there was a lot going on in Hobbiton...

Submission Window: October 1st – 31st, 2024 Payment: 4 cents per word for original fiction and 1/2 cent per word for reprints Theme: Speculative fiction, speculative poetry, and related non-fiction Note: Reprints Welcome Trollbreath Magazine is a journal of speculative fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, publishing electronic issues on a quarterly schedule. Our interests are as varied as the endless amount of genres, from dark fantasy to hope punk to surrealism, and everything in between. We have a particular fondness for slipstream and fabulism in all their delightful forms, but what motivates us most are great stories by wonderful authors eager to share their visions of the past, the future, the in between, and everything that lies outside the margins. Coloring beyond the lines encouraged. Examples of stories we particularly love (but there are too many to include): Bears Discover Fire, by Terry Bisson (England Underway as well) Last of the Winnebagos, by Connie Willis (Even the Queen; all her work!) Rabbit Test, by Samantha Mills A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Bride, Knife, Flaming Horse, by M.L. Krishnan Stories, poems and articles will be available at the beginning of the quarter for those with paid subscriptions to the magazine, either on the website or sent via email depending on membership level. Over the course of the quarter, a new story will be opened every Friday to the those without subscriptions, until all stories have been publicly released. We read for two issues at a time during our month-long submission periods. Submission periods for fiction/poetry are as follows: April 1st- 30th (for the September and December issues of the same year) October 1st – 31st (for the March and June issues of the following year) Note: we are open year-round for non-fiction pitches (see below poetry)....

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: 6 cents per word Theme: Workplace Horror Dread Mondays: A Whisper House Press Anthology of Workplace Horror Projected Pub Date: Oct. 31st 2025 Word count: Keep it under 4k words. Stories under 3k words will get preference over those approaching the higher boundary. Pay Rate: .06/wd Deadlines & Decisions: Submit by October 31st, 2024. Historically marginalized groups (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, etc.) may submit through Nov. 30th 2024. Decisions, unless they’re a clear pass, will not be sent out until January 1st 2025. Formatting & Dictionary: Use the Shunn modern manuscript format (link) and the American English dictionary. Cover Letter: No need for anything fancy! Say hello, give your story title and word count, and include an author bio (if you have one ready) below your note. If you’re submitting after the first deadline, please include an acknowledgment that you fit into one of those groups mentioned. (If you want help with an author bio, check out this post.) If you are affiliated with the HWA or another professional organization, please note it in your letter; if you’re not, don’t worry! We are excited to include new as well as established writers. No previously published (in any form, online / in print / audio format / etc.) work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are a-okay, but do tell us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere. No A.I.-produced or A.I.-assisted submissions. The legal contract you’ll sign upon acceptance will require that you agree to this stipulation, as well. Important notes: Submitters, please understand that Whisper House Press is a highly communicative, contributor-involved press. This means you’ll hear from me every step of the way and that I hope to have your buy-in for a full-court press on publicity. For our books to have any chance at success (defined here as “winning all of...

Submission Window: October 1st - 31st, 2024 Theme: Haunting, atmospheric and unsettling stories full of subtle menace and pervasive dread Payment: £0.07 per word Dust & Dark is a new quarterly magazine showcasing the best in original horror fiction. We will shortly be inviting submissions for our debut issue, scheduled for release in Spring 2025 following a Kickstarter campaign early next year. What we’re looking for We’re in the market for short, scary stories between 2,000 and 7,000 words in length. The majority of stories we publish are expected to be between 3,000 and 5,000 words. We’re looking for stylish, atmospheric horror fiction, and we take a broad view of what that means. We’re interested in clearly defined characters, evocative settings, tight pacing and compelling plots. But most of all, we’re looking for stories that leave a lingering sense of unease after we’ve read them. We’re much more interested in expertly rendered dread than straightforward shocks. We also see horror very much as part of the speculative fiction spectrum, and if your story has something to say, it’s likely to stand out in our submissions pile. Don’t just scare us: surprise us, intrigue us, open us up to new perspectives. We are particularly keen to feature writing from a diverse range of voices, and we especially welcome submissions from writers of colour, disabled authors, LGBTQ+ authors, neurodivergent authors and anyone from a background or community underrepresented in publishing. If our submissions process presents any accessibility obstacles for you, please contact us to discuss any necessary accommodations. Our debut issue will be dated Spring 2025, and while it isn’t a themed issue, stories with a particularly autumnal or wintery feel may not be the best fit. Please also note that we will be publishing in British English. We will amend non-British spelling (color,...

Submission Window: October 1st - 31st, 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: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $5 Theme: Gore, extreme horror, splatterpunk, and horror with sexual elements to it. We want solid entertaining writing. That has to be clearly stated because we are open to gore, extreme horror, splatterpunk, and horror with sexual elements to it. Sounds great? Like anything too good to be true, there is a catch. We have some hard “Nos.” Before you go off about the freedom of expression, remember, this is a web ‘zine, not a government. We donate our time to it and if we’re not getting joy from reading your story we’re not going to publish it. This website runs on our love of horror. We offer a token payment of $5 USD to support your drug habit, paid upon publication. However, you keep your rights –we don't want them. The Stuff We Don’t Want to Read: NO sex with children, NO sexualization of children, and NO child rape. If you’re writing a story about a child predator who gets what’s coming to him –great. But we don’t want to read about that predator coming on his victims. We won’t publish anything supporting a racist, transphobic, or homophobic agenda, so don’t try it. Sex and sensuality are fine, but we publish horror. We won’t publish a story that’s 90 percent lesbian vampires having explicit sex and 10 percent them ripping their victims to pieces. Go 50/50 on that and you've got our attention. High-quality gory smut is fine. Like gore, sex has to serve a purpose. If you want to write a piece about a cowboy who discovers one of the prostitutes at the local brothel has a vagina that opens to another dimension filled with blood clot monsters and he can fit his entire body into it… Sure, that’s great. If you want to write a story...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: Over 300 words: £0.015 per word, Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. Theme: Reverse Mermaid Note: This is only for audio rights Reverse Mermaid Under the moon's glow, I cast my line into dark, choppy waters, fishing for stories. Something stirs beneath—a ripple, a glint—something waits to be caught. Two eyes break the surface; its scales reflecting the moonlight. Is that a fish... or a man? It’s impossible to say. Reverse mermaids, strange and unsettling, haunt these depths. Unlike their traditional counterparts, they defy expectations, caught between two worlds in a form that exemplifies the absurd. They are symbols of transgression and transformation, urging us to embrace the parts of ourselves that don’t fit neatly into established categories. Stories are out there, waiting to be reeled in. With a bucket of maggot sandwiches and the patience to wait, we're ready for whatever surfaces —absurd scenarios, monstrous creatures in mundane lives, or vice versa, powerful transformations, quirky individuals, nightmares and hallucinations out in the daylight, worlds flipped upside down, and tales of two halves that proudly let our freak flag fly. The Catch of the Day includes stories, scripts, poems, flash fiction, and songs that champion the eccentric, unique, and unexpected, leaping from the surface level, and pulling us, kicking and screaming, down, down, down into the realm of the extraordinary. Current Deadline: October 30th, 2024 We seek writing that transports listeners beyond themselves, offering glimpses into uncharted emotions, compelling characters, and imaginative worlds. These stories should delight, disgust, or inspire awe. They should make our sides split with laughter, enthrall us with mystery, or evoke deep feelings that linger long after the episode ends – show us your unique universe; make us feel something! What are we looking for?​ Currently, we are working on our...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $10 USD (plus 1 paperback copy for stories over 4,000 words) per story accepted. Theme: Erotic Horror Dive into the chilling night and the forbidden allure in our open call for Erotic Horror tales. Explore human desire intertwined with the macabre, where fear and passion collide. Whether it’s vampires seducing prey or eerie encounters, we seek boundary-pushing stories that ignite the senses. Let your imagination soar, crafting narratives that leave readers spellbound and trembling. Submissions can be as spicy as you dare. Join us in exploring the darker side of desire. Wordcount : We are looking for stories of 500 to 5,000 words for publication in February 2025. Author eligibility : Open to all. Reprints : Allowed. Slots available : 25. We will read in batches until full. Simultaneous Submissions : Not allowed. Multiple Submissions : Five can be submitted, two acceptances allowed. Co-authored Submissions : Allowed. Publication : Paperback, hard cover, and digital, plus 3 will be chosen for our online magazine. Author compensation : $10 USD (plus 1 paperback copy for stories over 4,000 words) per story accepted. Submit to : [email protected] BLACK HARE PRESS is—and has always been—an inclusive publisher. LGBTQ+ characters always welcome. All our calls are for dark speculative fiction or weird/horror. No co-authored projects, please, unless the call specifically says they are allowed. Submission Guidelines: Whilst we are open to all genres and styles of writing, ultimately we reserve the right to reject topics that are not suitable for our publications. Please read the individual submission call information for guidance. Word count requirements, deadline dates and author compensation are detailed against each submission call. Hyphenated words will be counted as one word. Paragraph breaks are not included in word counts. All submissions must be in English. Our stance on; Bestiality – Unless your character is in the fantasy world (ie...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $0.01 CAD per word Theme: tories should include an unlikely, but likeable, amateur sleuth pursuing a mystery in a cozy setting. Note: Will firstly feature authors from writers Newfoundland and Labrador, however, they are open to writers across Canada and international authors Engen Books is now accepting submissions to the latest From the Rock anthology, for release in 2025. Editors Ellen Curtis and Erin Vance are accepting submissions for short fiction under 10,000 words that fit into the cozy mystery genre. ​Appropriate stories should include an unlikely, but likeable, amateur sleuth pursuing a mystery in a cozy setting. Some settings popularized by the genre include bakeries, craft shops, cafés, bookstores, libraries, and small towns. Some cozy mysteries also include an element of the supernatural, with characters like witches, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts rounding out the cast of characters. Authors may also wish to include an element of romance in their story, however this is not necessary. Authors should note that any violence or sexual content should appear off-screen. As always, the From the Rock collections are intended to highlight the fantastic, varied writers Newfoundland and Labrador has fostered. When submitting, we request that authors indicate if they are current or former residents of the province, and if their story is linked to the province in any way (though it need not be). While we will accept submissions from across Canada and internationally, authors with a connection to the province are given preference for this series, and this information will be given to editors during the jurying process. As with all content at Engen Books, misogynistic, racist, ethnocentric, homophobic, or transphobic messaging will result in the submission being rejected and may result in the author being barred from future submissions. Authors should take care to avoid...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $250 advance (USD) and 50/50 royalty split Theme: Horror/ Dark Fiction Note: Female or non binary author What Nefarious Bat Press wants: 1) This call is open to female and non-binary authors. We strongly encourage writers from the LGBTQIA+BIPOC communities to submit. (Whilst we are a queer press – you don’t have to be.) 2) We’re looking for a novella with a word count between 25- 40k. 3) The genre must be horror/dark fiction. We’re not specifying a theme – that’s your call. 4) No reprints. One submission per author. Simultaneous submissions are fine with us. What Nefarious Bat Press is offering you 1) $250 advance, paid via PayPal 2) Three-year contract 3) 50/50 royalty split What Nefarious Bat Press does not want: AI-generated text, of any kind. We hate it, and we actively oppose it; it’s plagiaristic, ethically untenable, ecologically destructive, and using it demonstrates a frankly embarrassing lack of imagination on the user’s part. Send an AI-generated monstrosity our way, and you can guarantee we’ll never read anything you write Formatting Guidelines: 1) Double spaced, 12pt, any legible font. 2)  Word format (.docx) 3) Please send as an attachment; don’t include your submission in the body of the email. Submission Window / Submission Guidance: 1) Window will be open September 16, 2024 to October 31, 2024. 2) Please send your submissions to [email protected] 3) Subject Line: Novella Sub – Author name – Novella Title 4) In the body of your email, please include a short author bio and a brief synopsis of your story.     *PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU’VE READ THE ABOVE BEFORE SUBMITTING* Via: Nefarious Bat Press.

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: $20 Theme: Dark fantasy and fantastical horror Speculative fiction is a powerful tool for exploring not only the darkest and most challenging aspects of our world, but of worlds beyond it—and in the psyche. It can take us on harrowing and haunting journeys and introduce us to fascinating and frightening characters. It can leave us shaken and sorrowful and scared. But it is within the darkest stories that hope burns brightest: acts of desperation, passion, and overcoming that showcase the power and resilience of the human—and perhaps non-human—spirit. And in the terrifying unknown, in the gaping maw of the blackest abyss, beauty and wonder await. After all, fear is a component of awe—and of courage. The unknown is filled with possibility for those willing to face it. For this anthology, we're looking for character-driven dark fantasy and fantastical horror stories that take on challenging themes, spark fear and wonder and so many other emotions, and immerse the reader in extremes of experience. Throw off the shackles of the safe and mundane and delve Into the Dark. What We're Seeking For this anthology, we're looking for 1500-4000 word stories in the below genres: Dark Fantasy We're especially hungry for high fantasy stories, but will also consider low fantasy stories. Fantastical Horror We're looking specifically for horror with fantasy-inspired elements, not speculative horror in general. A cosmic or creature horror story might be a fit, but a fully sci-fi horror story wouldn't be a fit for this anthology. Most ghost stories, for instance, also wouldn't be a fit, unless they feature more cosmic consequences. We're looking for stories that prioritize characters and themes, rather than extensive world-building, fast-paced plots, or shock value. We want stories that have something to say. We also appreciate striking voices and literary-leaning prose, but are...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: 0.005/word Theme: Science Fiction and fantasy *** SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FROM OCTOBER 1st, 2024 - OCTOBER 31st, 2024 *** We ask for the following: 1) We are looking for great Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Don’t overthink it! Just write an incredible story and you will find yourself in this anthology. 2) Submit your work in the Shunn Standard Manuscript Format. We only accept documents in DOC, DOCX and RTF formats. 3) We accept work in the range of 1500-7500 words. Anything outside this range will be automatically rejected. 4) Payment for original fiction is currently $0.005/word up to 7500 words. Minimum of $15. Reprints paid at full rate. We retain no rights to your work. 5) Worldstone Publishing encourages submissions from writers of all races, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, etc. We want and value diverse voices. Saying that, we make editorial decisions strictly based on merit, and we do not collect any information that might clue our editors to any of these attributes other than your name, email, address, and cover letter before any decisions are made regarding your submission. Though this is not standard practice we have turned down stories from established bestsellers in favor of new authors, and will continue to do so if we feel a short story better fits our volume and will appeal to our growing readership. 6) Ready to submit? Then send an email directly to [email protected] In the subject line, please write “Anthology Submission: “STORY TITLE”. If this is not followed, your story will be automatically rejected. 7) No multi-submissions. We try to respond to all submissions within 30 days. In past years it has taken us longer for later submissions. We apologize for the inconvenience. 8) Again, reprints are more...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: 2 cents per word Theme: Cosmic Horror Calling all cosmic horror authors! Open for Submissions: October 1, 2024 through October 31, 2024 Expected Publication: June 2025 What is cosmic horror? “Cosmic horror, also known as Lovecraftian horror, is a subgenre of horror that emphasizes the terror of the unknowable and incomprehensible. It favors these psychological horrors more than gore or other elements of shock and awe. … The core of all cosmic horror is the protagonist being absolutely terrified of the unknown or the future and what’s going to happen to them. … There should also be a contemplation of the human experience and the humanness of the struggle. They usually don’t have a lot of blood and gore, and instead thrive on the ideas that are scary.” – nofilmschool.com Submissions Requirements Your story: should be approximately 2,000 – 6,000 words in length. should not contain erotica can be part of an ongoing series you might be writing We aim to have our final selections chosen no more than 30 days after the closing date of submissions. Compensation: .02c/word Estimated publication date for this anthology is June 2025. Graveside Press is a new imprint focused on horror, managed by members of the publishing teams that brings you Paper Angel Press, Water Dragon Publishing, Unruly Voices, and Cupid’s Arrow Publishing. We plan to bring you sleep-shattering tales of horror beginning October 2024. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES When submitting, we would greatly appreciate if you can follow the formatting guidelines below: file type: *.doc or *.docx Spelling: US and UK/AU-spelling and colloquialisms accepted Punctuation: US (modern, e.g. single space after periods) Font: Any legible serif, e.g., Times New Roman, Garamond Include author information at the top of page 1 (see sample below) Use formatted indents and not tabs to begin each paragraph Use hard returns to start new paragraphs Use page breaks to begin...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: Poetry - $15 USD, Flash - $20 USD, Short Fiction - $40 USD Theme: Road trip/travel horror Note: All entries must have a Utah connection, either on the part of the author or the story itself Timber Ghost Press is proud to present No Exit: A Collection of Utah Horror. With the help of the Utah Horror Writers*, Timber Ghost Press is excited to be publishing the 11th collection of Utah horror. We are seeking well-crafted stories and poems that fit the theme of road trip/travel horror. For this anthology, all entries must have a Utah connection, either on the part of the author or the story itself (it is called Utah horror for a reason). The stories will be evaluated in a blind read by three judges and must receive at least two ”yes” votes to be accepted. Therefore, when submitting, please ensure that there is no identifying information in the story itself. We anticipate an October 2025 release. Accepted authors will receive payment according to the pay scale below, plus a contributor's copy of the anthology. Deadline: October 31st, 2024 11:59 pm MDT  The Following Categories are Open for Submission: Poetry Flash Fiction: 1000 words or less Short Fiction: 1001-5000 words Payment: Poetry - $15 USD Flash - $20 USD Short Fiction - $40 USD What We Do Not Want: Timber Ghost Press may outright reject stories that contain the following: ​​Pedophilia\Rape\Child Molestation Animal Abuse Extreme Violence or Gore Just for the Sake of It ​ Multiple or Simultaneous Submissions: You may submit up to three poems and/or once in each category. For example, you may submit three poems, a piece of flash fiction, and a short story if you like. Regarding simultaneous submissions, we don't mind as long as you let us know if your...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: Over 300 words: £0.015 per word. Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. Theme: Tell Me When It's Over Note: Reprints Welcome Tell Me When It's Over This theme is all about endings—be they personal or global. Whether it’s the quiet end of a relationship or the loud bang of an apocalypse, we’re looking for pieces that deal with finality. What happens when it’s all falling apart? How do we face or avoid the end, or prepare for the aftermath? Current Deadline: October 31st, 2024 What are we looking for?​ Currently, we are working on our 1st Season based on planned episodes, but we also accept rolling submissions. ​          We prioritize: ​ Originality and depth Fresh & Unique perspectives Craftsmanship Meaningful interpretations of submission themes (tip: avoid being too literal) Suitable for audio ​​ ​We encourage submissions that allow us to explore new worlds—whether that’s through speculative landscapes, imaginative settings, or narratives that break free from the constraints of reality. Help us escape the everyday! What to Submit: Our main focus is on speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery, weird, slipstream), but we embrace a variety of genres and formats, including non-fiction. ​ ​ Short Stories/Scripts: Up to 15 mins or 3000 words. Poetry/Flash Fiction: Up to 5 mins or 500 words. Songs/Music/Other: Approx 1.30 - 5 mins ​ ​ dystopian urban fantasy weird fiction slipstream speculative afro-futurism​ gothic ​ ​​​ Cosmic horror Lovecraftian horror folk tales retellings mythpunk magical realism surreal Our umbrella focus is the following: ​ fantasy sci-fi horror weird ​                          This includes all sub-genres, such as: ​ Compensation:  Over 300 words: £0.015 per word.  Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. Rights: If previously unpublished, we claim...

Submission Window: October 1 - 14 Members of marginalised groups only, October 15 - 31 General submissions. Payment: £0.02 per word for each piece accepted, with a minimum £20 payment. £50 for selected artwork Theme: Speculative stories about our inner lives; our thoughts, our emotions, our perceptions, our dreams. Inner Worlds is a quarterly digital zine of speculative stories about our inner lives; our thoughts, our emotions, our perceptions, our dreams. We aim to publish works which use elements from science fiction, fantasy, or horror to illuminate the different ways that we experience our selves and our world. That might mean finding a metaphor to express a feeling, or a setting which reflects how your brain works sometimes, or turning a trope on its head to explore a different perspective. We have a specific interest in sharing: stories of neurodiversity experiences of psychological struggle or distress, madness, and extreme states the voices and perspectives of marginalised groups. We'll walk with you in the dark places. But we want your humour, joy, and wonder too. "Can you promise me I'll be happy?" "No, man. Absolutely not. But I can promise that you won't be alone." -Russian Doll, Season One "Ariadne" Who we are At the moment it's just me, Sarah. As a writer, a champion daydreamer, and as someone with lived experience of complex trauma, I'm fascinated by our inner worlds. If you are too and you'd like to get involved in some way, please get in touch at ourinnerworldsprotonmail.com. Support Inner Worlds 1) Send us your words! We're not a pro rate paying market at this time, but we promise to treat all submitted stories with care. 2) Subscribe! There are a few different subscription levels available and it all helps cover the costs and make the magazine more sustainable. 3) Follow...