Events

Deadline: April 10th, 2021 Payment: Royalties Theme: Young Adult and New Adult Dark Academia short stories Note: I do realize that the open call has 3/10 and 4/10 listed as the deadline. 4/10 is what they've confirmed as it was recently extended! AESTHETIC: A DARK ACADEMIA ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSIONS OPEN in 12/20 – 3/10!! From the independent editor and publisher of EDGE: A Killer Thriller Anthology and The Beckwith Brothers duology, this is a new Anthology open for Young Adult and New Adult Dark Academia short stories. Ready your Subs! We are accepting YA & NA SHORT STORIES between 1,000-15,000 words! IMAGINE STORIES WITH: Wisdom Loving, Intellectual, & Bookish Characters/Anti-Heroes Old Buildings, Dark Settings College Culture, Boarding School, Prestigious Private School Mysteries/Thrillers/Crime/etc. Fantasy/Time Travel/Sci-Fi/etc. Diverse Dark Humor Romance/Chaotic Romance/Forbidden Romance/etc. *(Any Sub-Genre of your choice)* NO ENTRY FEE! & We DO accept Simultaneous Submissions! *All contributing writers receive RIGHTS and ROYALTIES from sales through AMAZON KINDLE & PAPERBACK as well as a vote in cover design!! DEADLINE: ~ 4/10 Send ENTRIES: [email protected] or Submit through our Duotrope Listing! AESTHETIC: A Dark Academia Anthology Publishes on Amazon in e-book & Paperback on June 20, 2021!! (The first day of Summer Break)! ~ Ivana Sanders (The Novelette) Via: The Writer's Block.

Deadline: April 13th, 2021 Prizes: First, second, and third-prize winners will be awarded $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 respectively, and nine additional finalists will each receive a $300 honorarium. Theme: Hopeful, future-looking fiction. Welcome to Imagine 2200 — a new climate-fiction contest by Fix, Grist’s solutions lab. What we’re seeking: short stories that envision the next 180 years of equitable climate progress. What we’re offering: $8,700 in prizes, publication, and a reason to stay hopeful. The world is crazy right now, and the stakes are high: just, you know, our entire frickin’ future. Our newsfeeds are full of denial, delay, and doom that make us want to scream into our pillows. But that’s just the old story. At Fix, we are telling the new story, of a path to a clean, green, and just future, and the people who are driving it. Our mission is to make the story of a better world so irresistible, you want it right now. To that end, we decided to launch our first foray into the world of hopeful, future-looking fiction. In this inaugural year of our cli-fi contest, Fix is asking writers to assume the role of future ancestors, building the world they want our collective descendants to have — on paper. Stories will be judged by a board of literary experts including authors Adrienne Maree Brown, Morgan Jerkins, and Kiese Laymon. Submissions close in April, 2021. First, second, and third-prize winners will be awarded $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 respectively, and nine additional finalists will each receive a $300 honorarium. Winners and finalists will be published in a stunning, immersive digital collection on Fix’s website and will be celebrated in a public-facing virtual event. Together, we can fix the future with fiction. Join this uprising of imagination, and help us turn the page on earth’s next chapter. In your story lies our...

Deadline: April 15th, 2021 Payment: $10 Theme: Portals to fantasy worlds and what is beyond them! Through the wardrobe, into the woods, going under a mysterious highway bridge, crawling into a cave, logging in to an online game, escaping into a world within your own--wherever the portal is, you no longer are. In this anthology, a collection of portal fantasies follow protagonists from all parts of our world into a new, fantastic reality. These portals could lead to another planet, a different reality, a magical land in need of a savior, or a past version of our world steeped in steam, magic, or over-run by a villainous overlord. ​ Stories of fantasy, LitRPG, sci-fi, literature, steampunk, time travel--so long as someone from one world passes into another--are acceptable. Stories between 5,000 and 9,000 words will be selected for this anthology. Submissions close April 15th, 2021. Tentative release date: June 15th, 2021.    This anthology is rated PG-13. Please see the submission guidelines on how to submit to this anthology before you send your story. No reprints, no simultaneous submissions. Up to 2 submissions per storyteller. Pay: $10 per accepted story. Via: Summer Storm Press.

Deadline: April 15th, 2021 Prizes: First-place receives $200 and publication in the 2020 Confluence program book (Confluence)., Second-place receives $100, Third-place receives $50 Theme: Still Waters, Deep Thoughts. The theme for the 2021 contest is: Still Waters, Deep Thoughts. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. Contest opens: January 1, 2021 and closes April 15, 2021. There is no fee to enter and all entrants will be notified of the results by June 15th. Word count for all entries: No minimum, no more than 3500 words. Genre: All stories must be of the Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror genres. How to Submit: Electronic submissions will be accepted through Submittable: (Opens January 1, 2021) If this is your first time using Submittable, you will need to create a FREE account with them. Instructions for this will appear after you hit the submit link. It’s easy and quick. –> submit your story here <– Publication status: Stories must be original, unpublished, and unsold to any other market. Manuscripts should be in standard manuscript format, double-spaced, and written in either Courier or Times New Roman font. Acceptable formats include .doc, .docx, and .rtf. For an example of standard manuscript format, see: https://www.shunn.net/format/story.html Prizes and Eligibility: The contest is open to non-professional writers (those who have not met eligibility requirements for SFWA or equivalent: sale of a novel or sale of 3 stories to a large-circulation publication (http://www.sfwa.org/about/join-us/sfwa-membership-requirements/). Previous first-place winners and current contest coordinators are ineligible to enter. Requirements: The winning story will be the one that most effectively uses the contest theme as a key element. First-place receives $200 and publication in the 2020 Confluence program book (Confluence). Second-place receives $100 Third-place receives $50 Submission to the...

Deadline: April 15th, 2021 Payment: 3 contributors copies and payments range up to $75, based on length Theme: Previously published erotic stories about male vampires. These bloody assignations and trysts and relationships should be homoerotic. Note: Reprints only We are seeking previously published erotic stories about male vampires. These bloody assignations and trysts and relationships should be homoerotic. So far we have accepted: ​ "Invite the Night" A story from L.A. Fields about a boarding school student who finds at his window a boy reported missing... "Black Samba" Jeff Mann's story features an ancient Scottish vampire encountering another while in Rome. The specifics: Stories should be 1,000 to 8,000 words long. Stories can have previously appeared in print or on websites. Stories can be anywhere on the vampire spectrum of romantic to horrific, but must be erotic. Lethe is seeking one-time reprint rights for print, digital, and audiobook editions. Payments range up to $75, based on length. In addition, contributors will receive 3 copies of the finished print book. Please submit your story as an attachment (MS Word docx) in an email to the editor, Steve Berman. In the subject line put BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS SUBMISSION. Please include in the body of the email where and when the story was first published. Deadline is April 15, 2021. Via: Lethe Press.

Deadline: April 15th, 2021 Payment: $10 Theme: Un-themed, general horror flash fiction. Preference to dread-inducing stories. Submissions OPEN (Monthly, 1st – 15th). Un-themed, general horror flash fiction. Preference to dread-inducing stories. Length: 500 – 1,000 words. Firm. Author Compensation: $10, paid via PayPal. Publication: Dread Stone Press website (Dose of Dread). Reading Periods: Monthly, 1st to 15th. Any stories submitted outside of each reading period will not be read. Two (2) stories will be selected out of each reading period for publication the following month. Rights: First World Electronic Rights. Non-exclusive rights thereafter. No reprint restrictions after publication. Original stories ONLY. No reprints. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but NO multiple submissions. You may submit again the next month if rejected. If your story is accepted, please sit out one reading period before submitting again. Please, for everyone’s sake, no rough drafts. Successful pieces will require little to no proofreading edits. Email your submission as a Word document attachment to [email protected] with “DOSE – – ” in the subject line. Please see the General Submission Guidelines below for additional formatting information. General Submission Guidelines Rejections for Dose of Dread submissions will be sent by the end of the month submitted. If you have not received a reply by then, feel free to follow-up. All rejections will be form rejections. It’s not personal, promise. Which also means please don’t respond to rejections. It’s unnecessary. For Dose of Dread submissions, please send your work by email to [email protected] with the subject line format: “DOSE – – ”. Address your email to “Editor” or “Alex”. Please provide a brief cover letter in the body of the email (title, word count, relevant info, etc). Do not stress over or overthink this. Please include an author bio of 100 words or less, written in third person, plus any links (e.g. to a website / Twitter) if you wish to include...

Deadline: Pitch Deadline: April 16th, 2021. Final Submission Deadline: September 30th, 2021. Payment: $100 or $50 plus 1% of the Kickstarter net profits, whichever amount is GREATER, and a paperback copy of the anthology. Theme: Stories featuring William Hope Hodgson’s character Carnacki the Ghost Finder in a major role. Carnacki’s general behaviour and mannerisms should be canonical, much as in the original tales, though inventive and reasonable extrapolations from those are welcome. We may take a handful of stories with non-supernatural resolutions. Note: Reprints are potentially welcome THE SHORT VERSION THE BOOK OF CARNACKI A Belanger Books Project, edited by John Linwood Grant Core concept: 5,000–10,000 word stories featuring William Hope Hodgson’s character Carnacki the Ghost Finder in a major role. Carnacki’s general behaviour and mannerisms should be canonical, much as in the original tales, though inventive and reasonable extrapolations from those are welcome. We may take a handful of stories with non-supernatural resolutions. Also: For this particular book, we are interested in 3000–5000 word non-fiction articles relating to Carnacki and his world (see LONG VERSION below). Your pitch must be accepted for your completed story or article to be read. See PITCH section below. Pitch Deadline: 16 April, 2021. Final Submission Deadline: 30 September, 2021. Payment: Authors shall receive a payment of $100 or $50 plus 1% of the Kickstarter net profits, whichever amount is GREATER, and a paperback copy of the anthology. The Kickstarter will run March 2022, and publication of book is expected early Spring 2022. PITCHES AND QUERIES ONLY TO [email protected] BY 16th APRIL 2021, PLEASE You MUST put CARNACKI in the subject line of your pitch or query. Failure to do so may invalidate your submission; it may also get lost in general occult detective queries. Reprints: We are open to the possibility of taking a small number of reprints, by negotiation. In order to receive...

Submission Window: April 5th-18th 2021 Payment: 6.00 CAD for 1000-2500 words and 8.00 CAD for 2500-3500 words Theme: short horror fiction with elements of supernatural, quiet, gothic, eerie, paranormal, strange, folklore, magic POETRY submissions will be closed for this issue. Newly added: drabble 100-word fiction Frost Zone Zine is a quarterly zine that is published in digital and print formats. The print issue is a digest-magazine-size paperback book that averages 80-100 pages. (Print will be changing after this year; see this post for more information.)   What we do want: Supernatural. Quiet. Gothic. Paranormal. Eerie. Strange. Folklore. Magic.       Fiction. Original, unpublished, never-broadcast short stories 1000-3500 words. Submit 1 or 2 stories for consideration. (Longer pieces may be considered if writing is concise, not to exceed 5000 words. Keep in mind only 1 or 2 stories over 3500 words can be included, if any.) Also non-paying opportunities: flash fiction 400 – 1000 words, and drabble (exactly 100 words). Submit up to 3 pieces for consideration.   What we don’t want: Do not send material that is offensive, promotes or describes hate, torture, or abuse, is excessively gory or violent; no slasher. No religious, sexual, explicitly adult situations, or politics. No space opera. No fan fiction. No ‘formula’ stories. No derivative works. No media tie-ins, or current events/pop culture references.   For more insight into what Frost Zone Zine is looking for, read this interview with editor M.M. MacLeod For more info. & tips read this page. Payment Frost Zone Zine does not charge reading or submission fees. Payment is expected to increase with time, but as a small, self-funded publication, the following compensation is offered: PAYING OPPORTUNITIES: These pieces may or may not appear on the website, other than a preview, and listed in the table of contents, but will be published in the eBooks and print books. Short Story: (1000-2500 words after editing) 6.00...

Deadline: April 18th, 2021 Payment: $25 Theme: Think R-Rated HBO styled shows where your story’s main character must be killed at the end of the story, or the narrative must heavily imply that the main character will die just after the story concludes. The Grey Rooms – Season 4 Story Submission Guidelines We are excited to bring you another season of our horror anthology series. But we can’t do it without *you.* Please read the following submission guidelines below, as we’ve shaken them up a great deal for this season! Thanks for joining us in… the Grey Rooms! Submissions Begin: October 1st, 2020 Submissions Close: April 18th, 2021:  9am PT / Noon ET / 5pm BT Content Requirements 1.) Stories must be original submissions. To be considered for the Grey Rooms, stories may not have been published in a printed or ebook format, or produced as a podcast or radio drama narrative. 2.) Your story’s main character must be killed at the end of the story, or the narrative must heavily imply that the main character will die just after the story concludes. 3.) In general, content in Grey Rooms stories is similar to what you might find in a Rated R horror film, or an HBO series. Violent acts, psychodrama, confrontational ideas, torture, and pulpy demonic explosions are all welcome additions to the Grey Rooms. 4.) Sexual encounters with underage characters, of any kind, is not acceptable content for Grey Rooms stories. 5.) Rape or sexual assault of any kind is never acceptable content for Grey Rooms stories. 6.) Abuse or torture of children is never acceptable content for Grey Rooms stories. While horror may happen because of children, or around children, we are not looking to publish fictional depictions of children suffering. 7.) Racially charged violence for the...

Deadline: April 19th, 2021 Payment: $5 Theme: Alternative Realities II If you think you’ve got what it takes to terrify, scar and haunt our audience of 10,000 daily listeners, then we want your stories! If accepted, we'll get our fantastic narration team to lend their voices, our editor will sprinkle some magic pixie dust on the track, and you could have your story heard by thousands of listeners each week. (Vol 68.) Alternative Realities II; deadline 19th April !!!NEW SUBMISSION PROCESS!!! SUBMIT YOUR STORIES USING THIS FORM If, this form isn’t working, then please email your submission to [email protected] as a last resort. But please let us know why as we’re hoping to use the form going forward. Title your email with the following syntax: SUBMISSION | STORY TITLE | THEME | WORDCOUNT (e.g. SUBMISSION | THE MARTIAN | SPACE | 1,982) It is important that your story complies with our Submission Guidelines. Any stories found not to be in compliance will be immediately discarded. Click HERE for details If you think you’ve got what it takes to terrify, scar and haunt our audience of 10,000 daily listeners, then we want your stories! If accepted, we'll get our fantastic narration team to lend their voices, our editor will sprinkle some magic pixie dust on the track, and you could have your story heard by thousands of listeners each week. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: • Stories must be 2,000 (10% tolerance +/-) • Save stories in a Word document - Times New Roman font, size 12 • Include a 1-2 sentence log line for your story at the end of the document • Title your email with the following syntax: SUBMISSION | STORY TITLE | THEME | WORDCOUNT (e.g. SUBMISSION | THE MARTIAN | SPACE | 1,982). Failure to...