Events

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...