Events

Deadline: February 11th 2022 Payment: $.01 per word advanced against royalties Theme: Science Fiction Note: Reprints Welcome Rockets and Robots is looking for science fiction adventure stories set on alien worlds, space ships, or the post-21st century future. NO FANTASY! Word Balloon Books sells print editions at comic cons, Ren Fairs, and book festivals. We've noticed that most books at these event target adult readers,  so in 2022 we're launching a line of anthologies appropriate for readers 10 and up. We're open to challenging themes and subject matter, but language, graphic violence, and sexual content should be rated G. Child or teen protagonists preferred. Pay for all anthologies is $.01 per word advanced against royalties, with a possible bonus based on crowdfunding. Publication is NOT dependent on crowdfunding, however. Contributor copies will be provided as well. No firm word count limit, but under 3k is preferred. REPRINTS WELCOME! Email submission in standard manuscript format to [email protected]. Please specify the anthology you're submitting to, and if the story has been previously published.  Deadline for all February 11. 2022, though watch this space for adjustments! NOTE: These are preliminary covers. Final covers will be revealed closer to publication date. Via: James Maxey.  

Deadline: February 11th 2022 Payment: $.01 per word advanced against royalties Theme: Giant bugs! Note: Reprints Welcome Beware the Bugs is open to stories about giant bugs (or, perhaps, normal sized bugs and tiny humans). Fantasy or science fiction are welcome. Word Balloon Books sells print editions at comic cons, Ren Fairs, and book festivals. We've noticed that most books at these event target adult readers,  so in 2022 we're launching a line of anthologies appropriate for readers 10 and up. We're open to challenging themes and subject matter, but language, graphic violence, and sexual content should be rated G. Child or teen protagonists preferred. Pay for all anthologies is $.01 per word advanced against royalties, with a possible bonus based on crowdfunding. Publication is NOT dependent on crowdfunding, however. Contributor copies will be provided as well. No firm word count limit, but under 3k is preferred. REPRINTS WELCOME! Email submission in standard manuscript format to [email protected]. Please specify the anthology you're submitting to, and if the story has been previously published.  Deadline for all February 11. 2022, though watch this space for adjustments! Via: James Maxey.

Deadline: February 11th 2022 Payment: $.01 per word advanced against royalties Theme: Wondrous pets Note: Reprints Welcome Paradoxical Pets is open to stories about wondrous pets, be they alien, magical, artificial, or common pets with some special power. Fantasy or science fiction are welcome. Word Balloon Books sells print editions at comic cons, Ren Fairs, and book festivals. We've noticed that most books at these event target adult readers,  so in 2022 we're launching a line of anthologies appropriate for readers 10 and up. We're open to challenging themes and subject matter, but language, graphic violence, and sexual content should be rated G. Child or teen protagonists preferred. Pay for all anthologies is $.01 per word advanced against royalties, with a possible bonus based on crowdfunding. Publication is NOT dependent on crowdfunding, however. Contributor copies will be provided as well. No firm word count limit, but under 3k is preferred. REPRINTS WELCOME! Email submission in standard manuscript format to [email protected]. Please specify the anthology you're submitting to, and if the story has been previously published.  Deadline for all February 11. 2022, though watch this space for adjustments! Via: James Maxey.

Deadline: February 14th, 2022 Payment: $150 upfront payment; 40% royalties Theme: General Horror, prefers Weird, Cosmic (though generally not the Cthulhu Mythos), Folk, and Body Horror. Note: Send in pitches only Note: I dropped the ball on this and meant to post on February 1st, my apologies. **This is a pitch call. Please do not submit full story manuscripts (more info on this below)** *Open February 1 – February 14. Submissions sent before or after will be deleted unread.* Background/About: Dread Stone Press is seeking novelette length horror stories for an as yet untitled “Novelette Split Book Series”. Each book in the series will contain two novelette length stories from different authors. The goal is to provide an outlet for that “hard-to-sell” length of story, as well as give more individual exposure to authors in a multi-author setting. Remember Split Albums/EPs that the music industry used to do? Kind of like that. The initial plan is to release two of these books this year to gauge interest and measure success. If they prove worthwhile, the series will continue into next year with more books released. One author has already been invited and will appear in Volume 1 of the Split Series. So, this call will be selecting three additional stories. All of that said, if you don’t have anything ready right now, don’t fret! There will *most likely* be another pitch call for this series later in 2022. Theme: No specific theme required; consider this a general horror call. However, subgenres I (Alex) like to read: Weird, Cosmic (though generally not the Cthulhu Mythos), Folk, and Body Horror. Length: 10,000 – 20,000 words will be considered, though stories closer to 15,000 words preferred. Author Compensation: $150 upfront payment; 40% royalties (Meaning each book’s royalties will be 40/40/20 with the two featured authors getting...

Deadline: February 15, 2022, 11:59 PM PST. Payment: 1 Free print edition. Authors are entitled to purchase additional copies at 50% discount for resale. Theme: Unopened Doors Word count: 500-7,000 max Sunbury Press is now accepting submissions for an anthology themed and titled, Unopened Doors, edited by Catherine Jordan. No need to query. Send completed, edited, previously unpublished stories in .doc/docx format. E-mail submissions with “Unopened Doors” and title in the subject line to: [email protected] Stories must be horror or dark fiction. These stories will be published by Sunbury Press in e-book and print. No erotica; no stories with a lot of spelling and grammar errors; no stories that glorify, minimize, or inaccurately represent child abuse, animal abuse, or sexual assault; no stories with intolerance of race, religion, nationality, physical or mental ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. This anthology is open to a diversity of viewpoints, and we welcome a wider interpretation of the theme, including those perspectives faced by women, minorities, and marginalized persons from around the world. We want to feel your dread, grief, anxiety, and fear when faced by an unopened door.  ​MANUSCRIPT FORMAT: Story must be written using American English spelling and terminology 12 pt. Georgia or Times New Roman font, normal margins, and double spaced Include author’s name, title, and word count on the first page Do not use any special formatting like headers, page numbers, images, and page/section breaks Indicate scene breaks with three stars, no space (***) Use double quotation marks for dialogue   A note on editorial: before publication we may work with the author to edit the story for length or readability. However, we always remain true to the spirit of the story, and the author has final approval. We reserve the right to shift publication date slightly, as necessary....

Deadline: February 15th, 2022 Payment: $100 and a paperback copy Theme: Collection of traditional Sherlock Holmes stories that must somehow connect to the theme of “medical mystery”. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: Medical Mysteries Description: A collection of traditional Sherlock Holmes stories that must somehow connect to the theme of “medical mystery”. This could include Holmes investigating a crime committed at Bart’s hospital, having a nurse as a client, or figuring out the cause of a strange illness killing off some of London’s wealthiest citizens. The topic is quite broad on purpose and we invite authors to be creative with their submissions. This anthology is in collaboration with Dr. Ed Chan who is raising awareness of lung disease caused by Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria, a very difficult-to-treat (often times incurable) and increasingly prevalent form of pneumonia (related to tuberculosis) caused by microorganisms that are acquired from our home and outdoor environments. A portion of the proceeds raised from the book will go to help fund research work on this disease to the Denver Research Institute, one of several non-profit (501c3) organizations mandated by the U.S. Congress to help orchestrate research relevant for military veterans. DRI is affiliated with the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. NONE of the proceeds will go for Dr. Chan's salary. Guidelines: a 5,000 - 10,000 word pastiche (okay to go over or under some) that is canonically accurate (i.e. Holmes and Watson should be the Holmes and Watson we encounter in Doyle’s writings) and connects to the medical theme of the anthology. Authors may submit multiple stories to the anthology. Rights: All authors shall retain the rights to their submitted work outside of the anthology and may reprint their submission one year after the anthology’s publication date. Payment: Authors shall receive $100 for each accepted submission and...

Deadline: February 15th, 2022 Payment: 5 cents per word Theme: horror/dark fiction QUARTERLY PRINT MAGAZINE   Breakdown of content:   8 fiction pieces (approximate word lengths) – 1x 5000, 1x 3000, 1x 2500, 2x 1500, 3x 500 3-5 non-fiction pieces – 1 article, 1-2 briefs, 1 interview and/or review – Fiction:   We are looking for horror/dark fiction pieces between 500-5000 words firm. Common sense when submitting please. We do not accept stories that involve the sexual abuse/exploitation of minors direct or implied. We are not looking for pure shock value. All components of your story should have merit. Gore for gore’s sake is not what we are looking for.   Our pay rates 5 cents per word All payments are made in US funds via PayPal.   We accept submissions during the following reading periods , with an expected response time of up to 16 weeks. This way we are able to accommodate all the submissions we receive. If you have not heard back from us after 16 weeks, please feel free to send us an update query.   WINTER ISSUE: August 15 – November 15   SPRING ISSUE: November 16 – February 15   SUMMER ISSUE: February 16 – May 15   FALL ISSUE: May 16 – August 15   All submissions must be sent via e-mail to: [email protected] as an attached word document with the word “Fiction Submission – STORY TITLE” in the subject line. Please also include if you wish your story considered for both the quarterly print and the website publication. Note compensation rates are different for website so be certain.   ***VERY IMPORTANT: Stories embedded in the body of an email will go unread.***       MANUSCRIPT FORMATTING: 12 point standard font standard margins left side of header: name, contact info right side of header: word count top of first page:...

Submission Window: February 1st-15th, 2022 Payment: 1 winner each month will win $10 Canadian Theme: A story at exactly 50-words If you’d like to have a 50-word story that you wrote featured on FiftyWordStories.com, first make sure that you understand exactly what a 50-word story is, and then read the submission requirements below closely. Submissions System Each month, submissions will be open between days 1 and 15 of that month. Any stories received on days 16 to 31 of a month will be deleted, but can be resubmitted the following month. You may only submit one story per month. From the stories received in those 15 days, the best stories will be selected to be published that same month. Only enough stories will be selected to publish two stories per weekday. There is no payment associated with stories. However, each month a “Story of the Month” is selected, and receives a prize of $10 Canadian. Stories that were not selected will not be published, will not roll over into the following month, and cannot be resubmitted in following months. Authors will be notified whether their story has been selected or not once all stories from the month’s submissions have been reviewed. How to Submit Please email your submission to [email protected]. Paste the story into the body of the email. Please include a title, your name, and a brief third-person bio. Feel free to include a link to your website! If you are submitting a story related to a specific date or holiday, please include that information in the Subject line of your submission. You can also send your story in using the form at the bottom of this page. Tips and Guides Looking for help with writing microfiction? Check out Bob Thurber’s Anatomy of a Microfiction page. Terms and Conditions Please keep the content of your submissions appropriate for...

Deadline: February 20th, 2022 Payment: $3 Theme: Science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and dark fantasy that elevate the gay community and its supporters Thank you for your interest in submitting work to our gay fantasy arts & literary journal! ​ No entry fee is required, and all rights in the story remain the property of the author or artist. All types of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and dark fantasy are welcome. ​ We accept submissions on a rolling basis. We are a quarterly publication publishing 4 times a year; Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. For our inaugural publication, please submit your works by February 20th, 2022. ​ Before submitting to us please keep in mind that we are devoted to gay fantasy. Your work should strongly reflect that. We are interested in work that elevates dreams and fairy tales in the gay community and its supporters. We're looking for original works of magic and fantasy. Even in darkness, hope can exist. We want to be transported to new worlds or fascinating new versions of our own! When considering submitting to us please ensure the work meets the above criteria. ​ All entries must be in English and original works. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters or another person’s universe, without written permission, will not be accepted. Submissions may not have been previously published in professional media or anywhere accessible online without a friend request or password. This includes personal blogs. ​ Fiction: We welcome fiction, 5,000 words or less. Submit as a Word document only. No PDFs. For flash fiction and shorter pieces, you can submit up to five stories - all in one document. Each story should start on a new page. Formatting should be in 12-point Times New Roman, Double-spaced.  Please include a short bio. No multiple...

Deadline: February 20th, 2022 Payment: $25 Theme: Themes around the Dead and Reanimated. Skywatcher Press is excited to launch our themed biannual anthology series UNLEASHED featuring top notch fiction by new and established authors.  We are seeking stories across the wide possibilities of the horror landscape. Our goal is to terrify readers, make their skin crawl, and keep them on the edge of their seats.    This anthology series is released biannually, so if your story doesn't get chosen, keep trying! Stories can be up to 10,000 words, and we will make exceptions for longer.  Once selected, pay will be $25 per story. We are eagerly awaiting your most twisted, nightmarish creations!  2022 Spring Release! Seeking themes around the Dead and Reanimated. Submission DEADLINE is February 20, 2022 HOW TO SUBMIT For consideration, please send submissions in .doc format to [email protected] All submissions must be original works of fiction, and we are seeking First Print Rights. If you have any doubt about professional manuscript formatting, here is a handy dandy guide to manuscript formatting: How to Properly Format Your Manuscript Via: SkyWatcher Press.