Events

Deadline: October 30th, 2020 Payment: $5 Theme: Mezo-American/Latinx Authors and Stories Note: Reprints welcome In ‘Corners of the World’ collections we showcase writers and authors from all around the world, each collection focuses on a different subset of people from different cultures. Giving their unique voices and stories a chance to shine. For these collections, we want to bring the folk stories and societies to life in stark horror through the eyes of those who inhabit them. Theme – Mezo-American/Latinx Authors and Stories This year we are looking for Latinx and Mezo-American authors to submit stories that pertain to the legends, folklore, culture, and fears that exist within and surround the cultures of Central and South America, as well as those that have emigrated to North America bringing their stories with them. We HIGHLY recommend you pick up a copy of “Of The Book” our last volume. We are more interested in the authenticity of voice than the fear factor. Please note in your cover letter if you have your story in English & Spanish, only in Spanish or only in English. Currently Open – Will Close When We Have Enough Stories Violence, sex, and gore must be pertinent and interesting to the story. Rape is never acceptable. Anything too gratuitous will be rejected. Racism/Sexism/Bigotry of any form will never be accepted here. Double-check your grammar and spelling. Format your story correctly. Please submit all stories in DOC/RTF format. Reprints are ok. Please include a small bio that includes your own connection to the Latin-American people or culture. We retain exclusive publishing rights for 12 months. We pay $5.00 for stories Deadline is 10.30.20 –  We give this a long submission time due to the narrow nature of our search. Once we have all the stories we need we close submissions. Via: Madness Heart Press.

Deadline: October 30th, 2020 Payment: Royalties Theme: Weird fiction Note: Most paying open calls from Black Hare Press first require authors do have been previously printed with them, this one does not. Submission Deadline : 30th October 2020 Anthology : WEIRD FICTION SERIES Title : WEIRD FICTION Theme : Weird fiction Word count : Around 5,000 Author eligibility : Open to all Reprints : Not allowed Simultaneous Submissions : Not allowed Multiple Submissions : Maximum of two Publication : Expected to release 2021 in Print and Digital formats Author compensation : Royalty split, plus one digital copy How to submit : See our submission guidelines for formatting. Send your story and bio as an attachment in Word format to  [email protected]. Please include wordcount in email body. Your email subject and document name should be Anthology Name – Your Story Name – Author Name. For example; “WEIRD– My Story – A N Author” Please include an author bio of upto 100 words and no more than two links. Via: Black Hare Press.

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: $60 USD for fiction and $30 USD for poetry Theme: Speculative fiction of all types Fiction and Poetry Guidelines Arsenika is looking for previously unpublished original fiction and poetry up to 1,000 words long. Submissions may be in English, Spanish, and/or Chinese. Any submissions not in English will be translated by S. Qiouyi Lu. Se puede enviarnos obras en español. Si publicamos su obra, S. Qiouyi Lu la traducirá al inglés. 我們歡迎繁體和簡體中文的作品。如果我們出版您的作品，陸秋逸會替您翻譯成英文版。 我们欢迎繁体和简体中文的作品。如果我们出版您的作品，陆秋逸会替您翻译成英文版。 Payment is $60 USD for fiction and $30 USD for poetry for first world electronic rights and non-exclusive audio rights. We hope to raise the poetry rate to $60 as well in the future. Submit no more than two flash fiction pieces and five poems at a time, and please make sure you fill out the form again for each piece you send, unless the pieces are meant to be read together (e.g. a triptych of poems). Format poetry exactly as you would like to see it online—use italics for italics, underlines for underlines, boldface for boldface, etc. Send only TXT, RTF, DOC, and DOCX files. Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Multiple submissions are allowed, but please have no more than two flash fiction pieces and five poems in the submissions queue at a time. We try to respond to all submissions within 30 days. If you haven’t heard from us in 90 days, please send us a query at [email protected]. Our secondary email address is [email protected]. Remember: Don’t self-reject. We use Moksha to manage submissions. If you are ready to submit, please use the button below to reach our Moksha page. Do not email submissions. Submit to Arsenika Reprints Arsenika does not accept unsolicited reprints. Payment is $30 upon acceptance. Art Arsenika pays $100 for reprint art. Please feel free to query us at [email protected] with a link to your portfolio. Questions Q. Can I submit multiple times per submissions period? A....

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: $10 Theme: Gothic Romances GOTHIC ROMANCES of old featured a female protagonist dealing with a terrifying ordeal while struggling to be with her true love. Set against dark backgrounds of medieval ruins or haunted castles, the love interest was either a brooding handsome gentleman or a supernatural monster disguised as a gentleman. Following the example of such works as Northanger Abbey, Phantom of the Opera, The Grey Woman, Dracula, The Woman in White, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Witch House and the like, we want your darkest, creepiest horror love story. Although we crave gothic romance style, don’t feel the need to paint a damsel in distress. The woman may certainly be the one who saves the day. We are also open to LBGTQ love stories. The main plot should be horror and romance. We don’t like stories written specifically with social or political agendas. Sensual or passionate stories are acceptable but we don’t want erotica or sexually-based stories. No rape. The editor likes horror. Be careful of sci-fi creatures or anything that sways sci-fi or fantasy. Stories MUST contain: An overwhelming sense of menace and dread. Horror must be just as much a part of the story as romance. Inclement weather.  ie…fog, rain, snow, hurricane.  A supernatural horror being or entity. ie…ghost, monster, vampire, werewolf. Being can be the hero, anti-hero, or the being they are battling against. Just remember the editor likes horror. Be careful of sci-fi creatures or anything that sways sci-fi or fantasy. Set in a spooky location. ie…ghostly gatehouse, haunted lighthouse, dilapidated abbey, crumbling cathedral, terrifying tower, cursed castle, decaying plantation. Time period 1700-1940. We are looking for the classic gothic romance feeling in whatever time period you choose. Also, if writing a diverse character, please set to time period standards. Know your world, what the political/social rules were...

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: Contributor's copy Theme: The afterlife's bodyguard A Sinister Collection of Short Stories Zimbell House is holding open submissions for short stories from the point of view of the afterlife’s bounty hunter. Your story must include: which side the debt collector works for, what the debt to be collected is, the consequences at stake, how the afterlife system works, and most importantly, be from the point of view of the debt collector. Does he/she love or hate his/her job? Is he/she up for a promotion, due for a vacation? What’s in it for the collector-is it just a job or something more sinister? Please keep foul language to a minimum-it loses its punch if over-used. Dialogue needs to be believable, and please keep dialects/slang to a bare minimum if you must use them. No head-hopping or POV changes. Pick one point of view and stick with it. Please show more of the action than just telling the reader what happens. Submissions of both short stories and novellas to this anthology are welcome, please keep in mind the minimum word count is 4,500 and the maximum word count is 19,500. This anthology is a great opportunity to showcase emerging writers and allow them to build their professional platforms. Submission Deadline: October 31, 2020, with a targeted release date of early January 2021. Submit your best work. Poorly formatted and unedited work will be turned down. Please use Americanized English spellings. We will be doing light editing as necessary to fit the standards we strive to maintain. Submission Guidelines: Any work under 4,500 words will be automatically disqualified for this anthology. The work must not have appeared in print or online anywhere before. All submissions must be in English. Each author may submit up to three (3) unique works—please submit them separately. Work...

Deadline: October 31 2020 Payment: $0.01 CAD per word to an upper limit of 4000 words. Theme: Stories of mythology inspired by any and all cultures, from the classic stories of Greek gods, to Celtic and African-inspired myths, to adaptations of modern mythology-inspired works like HP Lovecraft! Note: Canadian authors only Over the last five years, the From the Rock series has become one of the preeminent anthology series’ in Atlantic Canada. We have been home to some amazing established talent and helped some new authors break through that have gone on to dominate their fields, becoming genre bestsellers in their own right. From the Rock is a title readers consistently ask for, review well, and is a great way for avid readers to get introduced to indie talent they might find interesting. In 2018 the series’ third entry, Chillers from the Rock, went Bestseller on pre-orders alone! We are currently accepting submissions for the seventh entry in this series: Mythology from the Rock, to be available in Winter of 2021. Editors Ellen Curtis and Erin Vance are scheduled to return to helm the project. Many authors have expressed interest, but anyone can submit to be a part of this collection! Deadline is October 31 2020, but get your stories in as quick as you can, as it gives our wonderful editors more time to work with you and make sure it is as good as it can possibly be! We’re looking for stories of mythology inspired by any and all cultures, from the classic stories of Greek gods, to Celtic and African-inspired myths, to adaptations of modern mythology-inspired works like HP Lovecraft! What is the target audience? For this specific collection, we’re going for an equivalent of PG to PG-13. Rather than limit our authors creatively, we encourage them to write from the heart and allow us...

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: Poetry – $10, Flash – $15, Short Fiction – $20, Novelette – $35 Theme: Wasatch Witches. Note: Must be connected to Utah somehow to submit Calling all horror writers! Submissions are now OPEN for the Utah Horror Writers 7th annual anthology! Utah Horror Writers is proud to announce its seventh annual horror anthology and call for submissions! Following the success of our previous six anthologies, we’re pleased to announce this year’s theme: Wasatch Witches. Submissions will be accepted from now until 11:59 PM (Mountain) on October 31, 2020. We’re looking for well-written stories and poems involving witches or witchcraft, and which are set firmly within the horror genre. A connection to Utah is required, either on the part of the author or the work itself. If you’re not sure whether you or your work would qualify, please contact us at [email protected]. Entries will be judged on compliance with submission requirements, the quality of writing, originality, creativity, and the inclusion of thematic elements, specifically Horror and the overarching theme of witches/witchcraft. Gratuitous erotica, gore, profanity, as well as manuscripts promoting drug abuse, child abuse, illegal activities, or self-harm will only be considered if the gratuities are critical to the story itself; otherwise, please do not try to cover up bad writing with shock. Remember: the genre for your story, poems, and/or visual art should be Horror. Elements of other genres – Western, Paranormal, Speculative, Dystopian, Magic Realism, Gothic, etc. – are acceptable as long as they are only elements that contribute to the overall genre of Horror. If you are unclear on what horror and other genres are, see Writer’s Digest’s Definition of Fiction Categories and Genres: http://resources.writersonlineworkshops.com/resources/definitions-of-fiction-categories-and-genres/ Writers must also be willing to work with editorial staff to revise their work to meet publication standards. WASATCH WITCHES: A...

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: Contributors Copy and an unknown amount Theme: Queer memoirs deepened, amplified, illuminated, and (re)considered through the lens of a various horror movies Horror movies hold a complicated space in the hearts of the queer community: historically misogynist, and more than occasionally homo- and transphobic, the genre has also been inadvertently feminist and open to queer readings, thanks to tropes such as: the circumspect and resilient “final girl,” body possession, costumed villains, secret identities, things that go bump in the closet. Horror films have also been, for many of us, a safe space where our closeted selves could hide in plain sight among our cis, heteronormative peers and, for two hours in the dark, share in the camaraderie of fear and vulnerability without giving ourselves away… It Came from the Closet will be, at its core, a strong and eclectic collection of queer memoirs deepened, amplified, illuminated, and (re)considered through the lens of a various horror movies (international, obscure, classic, mainstream – open to all!). Submissions should be personal essay/memoir/creative nonfiction ranging from 2500-7500 words, though length and format/structure are flexible if the writing calls for it. We are committed to inclusivity along the LGBTQIA spectrum, particularly QTBIPOC voices. Previously unpublished work preferred. Final Submission Deadline: October 31, 2020. Contributor Payment: All contributors will receive a copy of It Came from the Closet upon publication and a modest honorarium (amount TBD). Send queries, pitches, questions, and submissions to: [email protected] Via: Lambda Literary.

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: $10 for short stories (3000-8000 words, not for shorter work.) Theme: The monsters that come after the apocalypse Working Title: Apocalyptic Monsters ​Deadline: Oct 31st or When Full Premise: The human world has ended, done in by a pandemic, global warming, or maybe a nuclear bomb—spin the wheel of destruction and see what pops up! Out of the ashes, creatures of shadow and myth claim new dominion. Whether it is vampires fighting over the last remains of human cattle to survive, werewolves trying to rebuild a more Earth friendly society, or cthulian nightmares commiserating over a game of poker how they missed their window to enjoy human suffering, we want to see how the dead world fares under new management! The theme is horror/monster fiction, but some elements of romance or humor are welcome. Length Accepted: Drabble, Flash, and Shorts. Author eligibility: Open to all Reprints Allowed: No Simultaneous Submissions Allowed: No Multiple Submissions: See guidelines and story lengths for the number of submissions per pen name. Publication: TBA Submission Guidelines ​ Unless otherwise stated, all submissions should be sent to [email protected] Please fill the subject line as follows:  “SUBMISSION CALL – Author Name – Story Title” ​ Address the email to WTP for a general submission, or a specific editor if you choose (some calls will be run by different individuals). Length ​ Drabble = EXACTLY 100 words. Excludes title and author. Hyphenated words count as 1. Scene break markers and em-dashes are also excluded. No more than 5 drabbles per Pen Name per submission project. These may be submitted at the same time if connected to one another, but all must stand alone as they are likely to be separated from one another in a given anthology.   Flash = 500 -1000 words. Excludes title and author. Hyphenated...

Deadline: October 31st, 2020 Payment: $0.08/word Theme: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. General Information 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 explores the impact of human or cultural migration, whether voluntary or forced, peaceful or forceful. Examples include themes of immigration, diaspora, and anti-colonialism, as well as more metaphorical interpretations of the term. 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! 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 whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. We especially encourage BIPOC creators who identify as the above to submit their work. When reading submissions, we take in good faith that you identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora as described above. If you still aren’t sure if you should submit, please email [email protected]. We kindly request individuals who do not identify as such to support the magazine...