Events

Deadline: December 15th, 2022 Payment: $50 Theme: Fiction and creative nonfiction, as long if they are compressed in some way The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts is looking for, as you might guess, "compressed creative arts." We accept fiction and creative nonfiction, as long if they are compressed in some way. Work is published weekly, without labels, and the labels here only exist to help us determine its best readers. Our response time is generally 1-5 days. Also, our acceptance rate is currently about 2% of submissions. We pay writers $50 per accepted piece and signed contract. If you've been previously published by the press, please wait a year until submitting again. Thanks. The  reader for your submission is, during this round of  submissions, the managing editor. Please be sure to submit in the correct category; we've been receiving several fiction submissions in the creative nonfiction category. For all submitters, we aren't as concerned with labels—hint fiction, prose poetry, micro fiction, flash fiction, and so on—as we are with what compression means to you. In other words, what form "compression" takes in each artist's work will be up to each individual. However, we don't publish erotica or work with strong, graphic sexual content. In short, we want to fall in love with your work. That might happen in the way we've fallen in love with work we've previously published, or it might happen in a way we have yet to experience. Maybe reading that other work will help in knowing whether you should send your work to us, but in truth, such a thing might not be discoverable. Here are things that matter: Please do not include a cover letter as part of the manuscript document. Please include, as part of your cover letter on Submittable, a brief bio. Also, in the cover letter, let us know why you feel this piece works for a journal obsessed with...

Deadline: December 15th, 2022 Payment: US 4¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $4, maximum $25 Theme: Frankenstein Eye to the Telescope 47, Frankenstein, will be edited by R. Thursday. After more than 200 years, the shadow of Dr. Frankenstein and his creature continues to loom large over science fiction, and it’s not difficult to understand why, especially considering the questions it raises: What does it mean to be a person, or a monster? How much of our actions are our own choice and how much is the influence of others? How do we develop our own identity while maintaining a connection to the past? What responsibilities do we owe each other and other beings? What is the price for progress and how far is too far? These and other concerns lie well within the purview of not just philosophers, but poets! There is so much to explore, from the original text by spec-lit’s fairy gothmother Mary Shelley, to the numerous translations to screens large and small; from the creature as stand-in for multiple identities to the evolution of the mad doctor archetype; from the (stolen) heart-breakingly tragic, to the incredibly goofy. I am looking for poems that tell me what this story, these characters, that myth means to you as a poet in 202X. What truths does it help you access, what angles stand out most strongly? I’m looking for persona poems (what DID Justine think about all this before…well, you know), deep dive essays with clever line breaks, and speculative ‘What Ifs?’ Poems in forms traditional, freestyle, or experimental, but always well crafted. Any depiction or version of the story is fair game, as is the historical background in which the original story was written (that’s right, send me those Romantics hot takes). Follow the Creature's example: be fearless, and therefore, powerful. Submission Guidelines...

Deadline: December 15th 2022 Payment: Royalties Theme: Pick a name — or a personification — from ANY mythology that 1. is represented in that culture’s constellations and 2. is represented in that culture’s mythopoetic or fantastic mythos. Then write forward from that. The Of Gods and Globes anthology started with a few of us and was so successful, it has expanded to include many more. Juliet Marillier’s story in volume I was nominated for an Aurelius award. Kaaron Warren’s story in volume II won the Ditmar award. We’re gearing up for volume III now with help from fellow writer, editor, and friend of the site Emily Munro. Submit here. We’re looking for stories for the third installment Of Gods and Globes. Pick a name — or a personification — from ANY mythology that is represented in that culture’s constellations and is represented in that culture’s mythopoetic or fantastic mythos. Then write forward from that. A story based on “Jupiter” counts — both a planet and a god. A story based on “Nimrod” counts — both a constellation and a mythic hunter. A story based on planet PSR B1257+12 B does not count. A story based on the character Amarok does not count, unless there’s some sort of constellation or heavenly body the editors remain ignorant about (completely possible). Bonus points for metaphysical or philosophical hinting and musing (think Dostoevsky and Tolkien, not Plato and Nietzsche), though not required. Bonus points for exclusive submissions, though simultaneous accepted. Bonus points for prior publication and an active readership, but not required. When in doubt, read the last two volumes. Payment as per usual is on a split royalty basis with the authors. The first volume paid competitive rates over the long haul. Wordcount: under 7,500 highly preferred, under 10,000 accepted, 15,000 absolute outer limit — anything over that will be auto-rejected. Submissions close: December 15 2022 Submit here.   (If for some reason the...

Deadline: December 26th, 2022 Payment: Contributors copy and $5 per page Theme: Poetry involving the fifth element & highest point of the pentacle: Spirit. #Spirit embodies the aether / the quintessence. White Stag Publishing is closing out the #ELEMENTSERIES with the fifth element & highest point of the pentacle: Spirit. #Spirit embodies the aether / the quintessence. It is the ethereal space & what dwells within it; divine beings, spirits & the Fae, even the supra natural. Humans attempt to access the Spirit through various mediums & divinatory practices: through clairvoyance & psychic awareness, lucid dreaming & astral projection, tarot & scrying (to name a few). Some also believe it can be accessed through prayer or only after death, when our souls leave our body to join the great expanse. It is engrained in all cultures, in various ways throughout the world; through magic & science, myth & fable. Spirit moves the pious, inspires artists & dreamers, brings magic to our terrestrial realm. For this anthology, we are looking for poetry that explores the ethereal realm through various mediums whether religious / spiritual, through clairvoyance / meditation, science, & the imagination. We want theology, mysticism & magick, alchemy, explore the ancient mysteries. We want work that goes beyond our sphere & into the void, translating the unknown. Send us your séances, your rituals, your communions with the gods, show us the creatures that lurk in the night (the ones we don’t already know about), tell us of your travels through space & time. We want poetry that is evocative of the otherworldly. Be bold & dare to go beyond. A GUIDE TO PROFFERING: Please send no more than 8 pages of poetry in a word doc or pdf to [email protected] with SPIRIT in the subject line. We highly recommend you...

Tentative Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 40% royalties for net eBook sales and 20% on paperback sales Theme: Dark Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Suspense, Fantasy, or Thriller. The submission window will remain open until at least the end of 2022. Our goal is to remain open on a permanent basis, but we will close from time to time if too many projects are accepted. We don’t want authors to wait two or three years before their book is published. Our slush readers are standing by, and all we’ll require upon submission is: A one or two page, detailed synopsis (which includes any twists as well as the ending) An author bio The first three chapters of your novel or novella (no collections, short stories, or poetry at this time). Series welcome. Please use the modern Shunn format for your manuscript. Only one submission per author at a time. Simultaneous subs (to other publishers) are allowed, but please inform us of that upon submission. Be sure to let us know if and when your book is accepted for publication elsewhere. No previously published works. This includes self-published titles. Email your submissions to [email protected] (Karen Runge will manage the account and get back to you to confirm your submission) What we’re looking for: Length: 30,000 to 95,000 words Genre: Dark Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Suspense, Fantasy, or Thriller. Subgenres/Tropes: We love them all, although we’re more interested in dark, suspenseful fiction than just outright horror. Our readers want to go on an emotional rollercoaster of fear, fright, sadness, joy, loss, and the beauty behind every character’s story. What we’re not looking for: Romance/Erotica (although they can certainly be used in subplots) Anthology pitches Short stories Short story collections Poetry Screenplays Young Adult Submission guidelines: The subject of your email should be “Open subs 2022.” Again, we...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $10 Theme: A complete story in any genre What are we looking for? Good flash fiction is like a freeze frame—a snapshot of a real story about real characters. The word count is low, so many of the details are left to the reader to fill in, but they’re there. Flash fiction is neither a vignette nor a character sketch. Something must happen, and there must be an ending, whether explicit or implied. So first and foremost, we want a story. A complete, interesting story. 1000 words or less, any genre, no content restrictions. We want your science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, drama, literary works, satire, bizarre fiction, or anything else you can come up with or mix together. The more original, the better. The weirder, the better. The best way to find out what we’re looking for is to read what we’ve already published! Check out our current volume, free to read at https://freezeframefiction.com/. What are we NOT looking for? We are 100% okay with explicit content, so long as it serves a purpose to the story and/or characters. Profanity for the sake of profanity—or the same thing for sex, violence, or gore—does not impress us. Also, animal cruelty. Please just send that somewhere else. We do not publish fan-fiction, i.e., stories based in worlds or using characters created by other authors. All content must be original. The following things might be accepted, but will be a very hard sell: stories involving vampires, zombies, or werecreatures (read an exception here) pure romance with no other significant elements the now-ubiquitous young adult paranormal romance military fiction or stories of battles or wars stories with a religious message or theme We’re also pretty tired of reading about straight cis white guys, honestly. We get it; they’re everywhere. Give us some diversity,...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 1c/word for accepted fiction. Half this for reprints, $100 (negotiable) for the cover illustration Theme: A sci-fi retelling of the first half of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), as it was told by the Grimm Bros. (Specific details below) Submissions are now open for Project Briar Rose (working title) from Manawaker Studio, edited by CB Droege. Project Briar Rose is an anthology focused on sci-fi stories about specific character traits. This volume will contain short stories only, though we will also accept submissions for cover art. Some details The book will be a sci-fi retelling of the first half of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), as it was told by the Grimm Bros. In Galilean Space, a Spincity administrator is bringing a new Android online. It is his plan that this android, codenamed Briar Rose and in a mechanical body resembling a young woman, will succeed him one day in running the city. He invites the most accomplished AI experts from 12 of the spincity’s 13 districts to a dinner party in celebration of Briar Rose; leaving out the expert from the 13th district because she is an unpleasant person. At the dinner, the experts, all women, each approach the android in turn, and program her with a personality trait that she will need to be a good person, and eventually also a good administrator of the city. As they do this, they each tell a story about a person who succeeded, thrived, or overcame adversity due to possessing this trait. When they are finished, the 13th expert shows up uninvited, imbues the android with one unpleasant trait, and tells a story in which such a trait would be needed. There will be a bit more, but that’s the context you’ll need to submit. The stories I want thirteen stories from thirteen different...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: Writers based in the UK - Payment will be 20GBP regardless of story length, and a print copy of the anthology after the release date. Writers based elsewhere – Payment will be the equivalent of 25GBP. Theme: Short stories that combine metal music and horror The strong link between heavy music and horror has been well documented.  From the dark and often grotesque imagery used on album covers to the aggressive and visceral attitude the music genre produces.  Take a look at the artwork on the cover of most Cannibal Corpse albums or Iron Maiden’s monstrous mascot, Eddie.  The 1986 horror movie ‘Trick or Treat’ starred Gene Simmons and the prince of darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, and, speaking of Black Sabbath, how many more metal bands have taken their names from horror movies? What we want: For our debut anthology, ‘Heavy Metal Nightmares’, we are looking for original short stories, from 2K words to 7K words max, that combine metal music and horror.  As long as the heavy music theme is used, let your imagination do the rest. Works slightly under 2K words or slightly over 7K words may still be considered. We require five months exclusive print and digital rights and you will retain copyright ownership of your works. What we don’t want: We won’t accept reprints or simultaneous submissions. We don’t want stories about established bands or real people; it needs to be fully fictional, although mentioning band names here and there in your story is acceptable. We don’t want to read anything detailing animal cruelty, harm to children, gratuitous sex or any sort of prejudice. We won’t accept flash fiction or poetry. Format: The anthology will be released in paperback print and ebook formats and sold via Amazon. How to submit: Send your manuscript as an...

Submission Window: November 1st through December 31st 2022 Payment: $0.03 per word and a contributors copy Theme: Horror stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost Tales from the Clergy: Stories Inspired by Ghost “Tales from the Clergy” is a horror anthology of stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost to be release by our October Nights Press imprint. Forming in 2006, Ghost exploded onto the Swedish rock scene with their debut album, Opus Eponymous. Their follow-up albums: Infestissumam, Meliora, Prequelle, and Impera would all go on to produce numerous hit singles, awards, and metal/pop songs sung loud by adoring fans at their concerts, which they have dubbed rituals. Ghost is known for having an eccentric on-stage presence with group members concealing their identities with costumes and the lead singer adorning the vestments of a demonic anti-Pope. Ghost relies heavily on themes of horror movies from the 70s and 80s, while also embracing the satanic panic from the late 80s. Although a relatively new band, Ghost has a large catalog of songs to choose from. Creativity is key and I recommend exploring some of their lesser-known tracks. Submitting a story based on “Square Hammer” or “Cirice” may pit you amongst others who did the same, and I really want variety with this anthology. As such, only one story per song will be accepted. We are looking to accept 15 stories. Authors will be paid $0.03 per word, with a cap at 5,000 words. Stories should be 3,000 – 5,000 words in length. Payment will also include a copy of the e-book and one (1) paperback copy. Payment will be issued at least five (5) days after acceptance of the signed contract, and books distributed one (1) week after publication. This is a horror anthology, so all genres of horror are welcomed....

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $500 first place, $300 second place, $200 third place. All three stories will also be published by Story Unlikely. Theme: Stories of any genre up to 4500 words OUR ANNUAL SHORT STORY CONTEST OPENS OCTOBER 1ST FOR SUBMISSIONS, WITH UPDATED GUIDELINES, INCLUDING DOUBLING THE PRIZE PACKAGE AND WORD LENGTH, AND YEAH, GETTING YOUR STORY PROFESSIONALLY ILLUSTRATED!! Contest guidelines below. READ CAREFULLY. Failure to do so may result in disqualification! Story Guidelines: The short story contest is open to everyone with a brain (this is more restrictive than you think). Don't be fooled by our promo illustration, there are no restrictions on genre: fantasy, sci fi, memoir, fiction/nonfiction, etc - we don't care as long as it's a good story. The story itself cannot exceed 2,250 4,500 words. What do I win? A $500 $1,000 prize package will be divvied up like so: $500 first place, $300 second place, $200 third place. The winning story will be featured on Story Unlikely's website. All three placing stories will be published in the monthly issue, and all three will illustrated by our crackpot team of digital editors!Don't forget about the honorable mentions! That's right, you honorable little losers, you. Is that harsh? It's supposed to be a compliment. Anyway, we do NOT notify honorable mentions ahead of time, because we're lazy busy, so very, very lazy busy. Rather, we announce them in the monthly issue along with the winning story, which you need to sign up for in order to be eligible to enter. If your name appears on this list of honorables, you'll be prompted to contact us and we'll send you a fancy, shcmancy certificate for proof that you, indeed, almost won a writing contest. But not quite. When can I submit? The submission period runs from October 1st through December 31st. Our reading period is January through March. When will...