Events

Deadline: May 31st, 2016 Payment: $25 plus one contributor’s copy The Concept: Let’s go to the circus Circuses are supposed to be places of joy and wonder, but they are also full of clowns and many people find clowns distinctly creepy. Circuses come into town and disappear after a brief stay, leaving behind nothing but a memory of the magic. They are homes for misfits, bearded ladies and contortionists who might be shunned in the outside world. What better environment than a circus for a story of magic and wonder that leaves you wondering if it ever happened. Give us your best wonderful, dark, or fantastic story about the circus. What we don’t want to see: Gratuitous anything – violence, sex, profanity, doesn’t matter. If it is not integral to the story and it’s not advancing the plot or character development, we don’t want to see blood, gore, or sex just for shock value’s sake (this goes for language too). We are not opposed to violence, sex, or profanity – as long as it belongs in the story and it’s not just there to shock and titillate. Some things would be a very hard sell for us, like rape or torture of any sort, and torture of children or animals will get an immediate rejection. Think of how far we’re willing to go based on the well known movie rating system – if it would qualify for a PG, PG-13, or R rating, we’ll look at it. If it would be NC-17 or up, we’ll have to pass, thank you. Word Count: We’re looking for stories that fall in the 3,000 to 10,000 word range. We will consider looking at stories outside this range, but they need to be just too good for us to pass up. You have a...

Deadline: May 31, 2016 Payment: CAN 6 cents per word advance against royalties and contributor's copy A proposal for an science fiction anthology Where the Stars Rise: Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories (working title) is out.  All original short speculative fiction is welcome for submission.  The anthology editors are Lucas K. Law & Derwin Mak. This speculative fiction anthology contains original stories to celebrate Asian diversity, featuring an Asian main character, Asian setting and/or some amount of Asian elements, by authors with an Asian heritage. Asian countries as those defined by United Nations in Wikipedia. Authors do not need to reside in Asia to participate in this anthology. (Image via Shutterstock) It welcomes translated story from other languages to English (no English reprints, please).  Stories to celebrate character diversity (ethnic, age, walks of life/socio-economics, sexuality, etc.). We leave the question as to what determine Asian theme open so not to restrict creativity. No stereotypes or clichéd portrayal of cultures or stories based purely on showing the strangeness or exoticism of a culture. No erotica. Cross-genre is encouraged. This anthology is geared towards Young Adult and Adult. Project Objectives: • A portion of Laksa Media’s net revenue from this anthology will go directly to support Kids Help Phone. • Laksa Media will donate CAN$500 upon the publication of this anthology to Kids Help Phone. Submission Guidelines: Length: <7,000 words File Format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf only Use Submittable to submit your story for this anthology (DO NOT USE the Laksa Media online submission form). Submittable opens on December 1, 2015. No reprints: No simultaneous submissions: No multiple submissions. The anthology will have a balance between science fiction and fantasy, with at least 50% science fiction. However, anthology editors tend to receive more fantasy than science fiction submissions. Therefore, it encourages more science fiction stories of...

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: $.06/word Much like the award-winning anthology Steampunk World, Steampunk Universe will be a multicultural anthology of steampunk stories. But this time, the anthology will focus on characters with exceptionalities.* This call for submissions is aimed particularly at marginalized writers, especially those who are identify as members of a minority, LGBTQ, or living with exceptionality. Whether or not you qualify and feel this call for submission is appropriate for your work is at your discretion. Stories are due by June 1, 2016 to [email protected]. Ideally, decisions will be made by July 1, and the anthology will be crowdfunded shortly thereafter. Writers will be paid $.06/word for original stories. I’m not looking for reprints at this time. Deadline extensions will not be granted. Your story should be submitted in Standard Manuscript Format (please check and double-check that your name and email address are on the first page!) as an email attachment in .doc, .docx or .rtf format. The subject of your message should read . If your submission doesn’t conform to these specifications it may be deleted unread. What I’m looking for: Your story should take place in a non-Western culture. I’d love to have a variety of stories that take place in the diverse cultures of Central/South America, Asia, and Africa. Your story should contain a character with at least one exceptionality. It should be a major element of the story, providing the character with extra challenges but maybe also special insight or abilities. I want to explore how steampunk technology changes the lives of people with exceptionalities, for better or for worse. I’d love to see characters who are also members of other marginalized groups (such as LGBTQ characters). Your story should contain steampunk elements. I get a lot of submissions with steampunk exoskeletons and...

Deadline: Just 1st, 2016 Payment: $25 + contributor's copy. New York’s Hudson Valley is an enchanted region. Starting in the Adirondacks and Lake Tear in the Clouds–the source of the Hudson River–and following the river south through New York State until reaching Manhattan and the Atlantic Ocean 315 miles later, the region is home to centuries of myths and legends. Everyone that has ever settled here has added to the lore of the land, from the Algonquin People, to the early Dutch settlers, to the greedy industrialists of the 19th Century. The river runs through Albany, the Catskill Mountains, and Sleepy Hollow. It was one of the major battle fronts of the French and Indian War in the 1750s and the American Revolutionary War twenty-five years later. It spawned the renown Hudson River School art movement founded by Thomas Cole. It is rich with history, much of it dark and macabre.        We want original, supernatural horror stories set within the Hudson Valley Region within the State of New York (please note that New York City is NOT considered a part of the Hudson Valley). The time period for your story is up to you–past, present, future, alternate history–but it must take place whole or in part within the Hudson Valley. Hudson Valley is a real place, with a real history, so please respect the reality of the setting. Scare us, creep us out, give us the shivers, make us laugh. Be Gothic, modern, Lovecraftian, Victorian, Steampunk, whatever. Just set your story in the Hudson Valley. RULES: Any & all submissions must be set in & around New York’s Hudson Valley. No gratuitous sex, violence, or profanity No adult content of any kind. If there is sex in your story, it must be important to the story– and...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $25 CAN and a contributor's copy The Stars at my Door? Yes – we think this is a suitable title for an anthology that celebrates the optimistic science fiction of yesteryear. So you are looking for Olde Worlde writing? Not at all (unless that is your thing). We just want stories that embrace the enthusiasm and optimism of ‘old school’ science fiction – stories that aren’t afraid to dream big, get a little weird, not bothered too much with being scientifically accurate, and still have a bit of a sting in the tail. What should I be looking at to get a flavor of the sort of subs you are looking for? Well, this anthology was born out of the publisher’s love for the short writing of Fredric Brown and Harry Harrison among others, specifically Brown’s extraordinary short stories to be found in ‘Nightmares and Geezenstacks’ and Harrison’s amazing tales based around the use of a ‘matter transmitter’ in ‘One Step from Earth’. Aside from these, you should delve into the authors that sprung up during the ‘Golden Age’, folks like Heinlein, Brackett, Vance, E.E. Smith, Pohl, Bradbury, and anything John W. Cambell greenlit before he became too immersed in realism. Think Captain Video, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, with a dash of Verne. That doesn’t mean we just want period pieces – your story can still be contemporary if you so desire, but it will be much harder to shrug off the shackles of modern cynicism and realist goals… What should my story be about? The sky’s the limit, however, we would prefer stories that deal with exploration, new discoveries, a yearning to reach beyond the stars. Meeting our preferred topic is half the battle. The nitty-gritty We are looking for stories around the 5000-7000...

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: Contributor's Copy In 2013, GLAHW Member, Ken MacGregor had a brilliant idea for a Special Auction Prize at the annual Monster Mash for Literacy Bash – raffle off the opportunity for the winner’s name to become the sole theme of a future Anthology. Several brave souls went into the hat and one emerged victorious. Thus, Recurring Nightmares was born. We have now opened this anthology to all writers in the Sci-Fi, Horror, Dark Fantasy genre. We however always encourage new members, sojoin us, won’t you? The theme for Recurring Nightmares III (2016) is David’s and Peggy’s Nightmares. Every story must contain both characters names and a chicken. Deadline is June 1, 2016 with a publication date of August/September 2016, with cover art by  Steven J Bejma. Please submit all stories to [email protected] Quick and dirty Submission Guidelines (from Ken, the Head Editor and Creator of Recurring Nightmares) There is no  specific theme for 2016, but every story must have a chicken. Word count is 2,500-5,000 firm – if you exceed 5,000, I will mercilessly cut what I want to get it under. Two significant characters must be named “David” and “Peggy”, though they do not have to be the protagonists. There needs to be a chicken in the story. Please follow standard manuscript format (http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html) with the exception of adding an extra apace after a period – don’t do that. I hate that. The sooner you get in your submissions, the more time I have to edit them and work with you to make them the best they can be, so earlier is better. Submissions received after March 1 will not be eligible for consideration. I’m a hard-ass on deadlines. Deal with it. I look forward to reading your submissions. Thanks. Payment is 1 Contributor Copy and...

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: 2 contributor's copies Title: Deadline Premise:  On the dark net, the backdoor of the internet where the most deplorable go to sate their diabolical needs, there is a website designed for serial killers. They post their expressions of sadism, download images that make most peoples’ stomachs turn, and they form a network of others like themselves. A game has begun. The ringleader, who’s known only as Dark_Inside, has proposed a challenge and only the most elite of predators will be successful. A target’s name is given out with only their picture. The predator must find them, kill them, and then bring their “trinkets” to a designated meeting place on a certain date. The winner will be selected from those that arrive by the “dead”line. ​ Background:  Each person writing to submit will choose a well-known/documented serial killer. You may not use their real name. You will give clues to who the serial killer is by their online name, method of killing, etc. Compensation: All profits will go to Houston Area Women’s Shelter which serves the community of families who suffer from crisis and abuse. http://www.hawc.org/ Contributors will receive 2 paperback copies. Publisher: Stitched Smile Publications in collaboration with Monique Happy of Monique Happy Editorial Services Requirements:  3-5k words Deadline:  June 1, 2016 by midnight CST Winners will be ANNOUNCED no later than August 15th 2016 on Stitched Smile Publications Facebook and Monique’s Facebook. You must LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to each so that you’re up to date on the selection process!https://www.facebook.com/MoniqueHappyEditorialServices https://www.facebook.com/stitchedsmilepublications Via: Stiched Smile Publications.

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: $10 and contributor's copy FunDead Publications is currently seeking submissions for an upcoming anthology of chilling Christmas tales. Title TBA. We are looking for stories in the vein of Dickens, or ‘Between the Lights’ by E.F. Benson, or ‘The Kit-Bag’ by Algernon Blackwood. Ghosts and legends are encouraged, historical fiction is preferable for this collection. Instructions: Send your submission to [email protected] for consideration, but please read our guidelines below! Submission Guidelines: Submit by June 1, 2016 with a rough release date of November 20, 2016 Word Count: 1,000-6,000 Content Requirements: Your story must be set around the holidays, specifically Christmas or winter solstice. The time-period and content is your choice, but we are hoping to keep the them set in times-gone-by! Historical fiction, especially gothic in nature, will have higher chance for printing. Channel your inner Charles Dickens! Payment: Accepted submissions will be awarded payment in the way of $10 upon printing. It may not be much, but we are a small and humble press just getting our start and it’s all we can offer at this time besides a little social media promotion and beyond. If your submission is accepted, you will also receive a printed copy of the anthology! Anyone wishing for extra copies to distribute to family and friends (or to sell on their own) will pay the flat, wholesale price plus shipping. Format: Format should be in standard manuscript format and submitted as .doc, .docx, or PDF. Unfortunately, we cannot accept reprints at this time. Please include a brief cover letter introducing yourself along with your submission. Response Time: Please be aware that it may be eight to ten weeks before you receive a response from FunDead Publications. Diversity Statement: We at FunDead Publications believe diversity is what makes fiction wonderful...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $35 per story ($25 per reprint) Notes: Reprints Allowed Creepy Campfire Quarterly Publication (CCQ) Tales of EXTREME Horror Welcome to the Campfire $35 per story ($25 per reprint) Submissions are open for a limited time: April 1 – June 1 We are looking for more EXTREME horror submissions this time around. The stranger, the sicker, the more extreme and disturbing, all the better. Welcome to the newest, most innovative horror quarterly publication on the planet! Creepy Campfire Stories (for Grownups) began as a stand-alone anthology, launched on May 13, 2015. The response from horror writers across the globe was phenomenal. In less than four months, we received over 220 submissions from all over the globe, from the UK, including London, Ireland, Scotland & Wales; Italy; Belgrade, Serbia; Germany; Poland; Australia; New Zealand; Western Cape, South Africa; The United States; and Canada! The quality of the stories streaming in was so exceptional that we were able to fill a full, 65,000 word anthology with absolutely amazing and high quality horror stories in less than two months! In fact, we had to close our submissions early, moving our end date back from September 13, to July 13! Closing our anthology's submissions so much earlier than originally planned, however, left many authors shut out. It soon became clear to us here at EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) Publishing, that there were just far too many quality horror writers out there to fit into one single anthology. We next landed upon making the Creepy Campfire Stories (for Grownups) brand an annual publication, every Fall/October, but as submissions to our original anthology continued to stream in, and the quality of the stories continued to astound us, we quickly realized that even an annual publication still wouldn't fully accommodate the high number of...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $15 Note: Poetry Market Submissions Before you submit to Goblin Fruit, there are a few things you might find useful to know; for instance, the submission guidelines. If any question you have has not been addressed below, feel free to query at goblin.fruitgmailcom, and please do read our Frequently Implied Questions for additional information. What is it we want? We want poetry that we can call "of the fantastical", poetry that treats mythic, surreal, fantasy and folkloric themes, or approaches other themes in a fantastical way. Re-write a fairytale, ponder an old story, consider history from an unusual perspective — really, it's up to you, so long as the fantastical element is there. Since what qualifies as "the fantastical" is easily debatable, however, here's what we're not interested in: science fiction poetry (it's not you, it's us), horror for horror's sake, and poetry that's self-consciously gothic. We have no prejudice against traditional poetic forms, rhyme, or meter. We'd like to stay that way, so please let the form serve the poem, not the other way around. Prose poems will be harder to sell, mainly because so many of them straddle the flash fiction line. How much do we pay? Beginning in January 2016 we will be paying $15.00 USD on publication for original, unpublished poems, and $5.00 for solicited reprints. If you'd like to submit a poem that has been published elsewhere, please query first with the poem's title, where it was originally published and when. We purchase first North American serial rights and first Worldwide Electronic rights for three months; after that rights revert to the author, although we do request permission to keep the poem in our archives indefinitely. When can I submit? We are accepting submissions during the following times: April 9th...