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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...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: Poetry - $15 USD, Flash - $20 USD, Short Fiction - $40 USD Theme: Road trip/travel horror Note: All entries must have a Utah connection, either on the part of the author or the story itself Timber Ghost Press is proud to present No Exit: A Collection of Utah Horror. With the help of the Utah Horror Writers*, Timber Ghost Press is excited to be publishing the 11th collection of Utah horror. We are seeking well-crafted stories and poems that fit the theme of road trip/travel horror. For this anthology, all entries must have a Utah connection, either on the part of the author or the story itself (it is called Utah horror for a reason). The stories will be evaluated in a blind read by three judges and must receive at least two ”yes” votes to be accepted. Therefore, when submitting, please ensure that there is no identifying information in the story itself. We anticipate an October 2025 release. Accepted authors will receive payment according to the pay scale below, plus a contributor's copy of the anthology. Deadline: October 31st, 2024 11:59 pm MDT  The Following Categories are Open for Submission: Poetry Flash Fiction: 1000 words or less Short Fiction: 1001-5000 words Payment: Poetry - $15 USD Flash - $20 USD Short Fiction - $40 USD What We Do Not Want: Timber Ghost Press may outright reject stories that contain the following: ​​Pedophilia\Rape\Child Molestation Animal Abuse Extreme Violence or Gore Just for the Sake of It ​ Multiple or Simultaneous Submissions: You may submit up to three poems and/or once in each category. For example, you may submit three poems, a piece of flash fiction, and a short story if you like. Regarding simultaneous submissions, we don't mind as long as you let us know if your...

Deadline: October 31st, 2024 Payment: Over 300 words: £0.015 per word. Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. Theme: Tell Me When It's Over Note: Reprints Welcome Tell Me When It's Over This theme is all about endings—be they personal or global. Whether it’s the quiet end of a relationship or the loud bang of an apocalypse, we’re looking for pieces that deal with finality. What happens when it’s all falling apart? How do we face or avoid the end, or prepare for the aftermath? Current Deadline: October 31st, 2024 What are we looking for?​ Currently, we are working on our 1st Season based on planned episodes, but we also accept rolling submissions. ​          We prioritize: ​ Originality and depth Fresh & Unique perspectives Craftsmanship Meaningful interpretations of submission themes (tip: avoid being too literal) Suitable for audio ​​ ​We encourage submissions that allow us to explore new worlds—whether that’s through speculative landscapes, imaginative settings, or narratives that break free from the constraints of reality. Help us escape the everyday! What to Submit: Our main focus is on speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery, weird, slipstream), but we embrace a variety of genres and formats, including non-fiction. ​ ​ Short Stories/Scripts: Up to 15 mins or 3000 words. Poetry/Flash Fiction: Up to 5 mins or 500 words. Songs/Music/Other: Approx 1.30 - 5 mins ​ ​ dystopian urban fantasy weird fiction slipstream speculative afro-futurism​ gothic ​ ​​​ Cosmic horror Lovecraftian horror folk tales retellings mythpunk magical realism surreal Our umbrella focus is the following: ​ fantasy sci-fi horror weird ​                          This includes all sub-genres, such as: ​ Compensation:  Over 300 words: £0.015 per word.  Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. Rights: If previously unpublished, we claim...

Submission Window: October 1 - 14 Members of marginalised groups only, October 15 - 31 General submissions. Payment: £0.02 per word for each piece accepted, with a minimum £20 payment. £50 for selected artwork Theme: Speculative stories about our inner lives; our thoughts, our emotions, our perceptions, our dreams. Inner Worlds is a quarterly digital zine of speculative stories about our inner lives; our thoughts, our emotions, our perceptions, our dreams. We aim to publish works which use elements from science fiction, fantasy, or horror to illuminate the different ways that we experience our selves and our world. That might mean finding a metaphor to express a feeling, or a setting which reflects how your brain works sometimes, or turning a trope on its head to explore a different perspective. We have a specific interest in sharing: stories of neurodiversity experiences of psychological struggle or distress, madness, and extreme states the voices and perspectives of marginalised groups. We'll walk with you in the dark places. But we want your humour, joy, and wonder too. "Can you promise me I'll be happy?" "No, man. Absolutely not. But I can promise that you won't be alone." -Russian Doll, Season One "Ariadne" Who we are At the moment it's just me, Sarah. As a writer, a champion daydreamer, and as someone with lived experience of complex trauma, I'm fascinated by our inner worlds. If you are too and you'd like to get involved in some way, please get in touch at ourinnerworldsprotonmail.com. Support Inner Worlds 1) Send us your words! We're not a pro rate paying market at this time, but we promise to treat all submitted stories with care. 2) Subscribe! There are a few different subscription levels available and it all helps cover the costs and make the magazine more sustainable. 3) Follow...

Deadline: November 1st, 2024 Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction, $10 per poem, $25 for artwork, $50 for cover art Theme: Rituals Note: Reprints Welcome NonBinary Review is currently open for submissions on the theme of RITUALS. Often, when we think of rituals, we think of robed, hooded figures standing around a large symbol of power etched into the floor, trying to summon a deity who will grant them their every desire. At least, that's what Hollywood would have us believe. But the truth is that much of our lives is dictated by rituals. The Brushing of the Teeth, The Making of the Coffee, The Feeding of the Pets, The After-Work Drinks, The Watching of the Baking Show - we all have aspects of our lives where we insist on things being done just so, turning something otherwise mundane into a ritual. Rituals can be comforting, or they can be confining. They can help us make sense of our habits, and they can look strange to outside observers. We want the best speculative takes on ritual - weird rituals, unexpected rituals, little-known rituals. We want to hear not just how rituals are enacted, but where they come from, how they get started, and what unintended consequences happen as a result. Fiction: All submissions must have a clear relationship to our theme, and be double-spaced in 12pt Times New Roman or they will be rejected. NonBinary Review  pays 1¢ per word for prose with a limit of 3000 words. Poetry: Submitters may include up to THREE poems per submission, but each must be a separate file. NonBinary Review pays a $10 flat fee for poetry. Artwork: All submissions must have a clear relationship to our theme and be submitted as a jpg., .png., .tiff., or .psd file of 300dpi or greater (accepted pieces must...