Events

Deadline: July 5, 2018 Payment: 5 cents per word and 2 contributor's copies We will be accepting submissions from June 5, 2018 until July 5, 2018 from authors who have never sold a story to the magazine before. If you've already had a story accepted for publication in the magazine, please wait for the next reading period. Thank you for your understanding. PLEASE only send your very best original work. No trunk stories, no rejects from theme anthologies, no reprints of any kind. ONE SUBMISSION PER AUTHOR—make it count! Guidelines: Well written horror, dark mystery, and suspense short stories up to 5,000 words. Originals, no reprints. We want tales that are powerful and emotional—creepy, chilling, disturbing, and moody. Suspense/mystery/crime tales with a horror element are always welcome. Both supernatural and psychological stories are fine. Most common reasons for rejection: Lack of power, lack of originality, slow pacing, poor writing, boring themes, all gore and no heart. Read the magazine, see what type of fiction we are publishing—please don’t submit with a blind eye! Multiple Submissions? Please only send ONE story. Payment: Professional rates, minimum of five cents per word, plus two contributor copies. Payable within 30 days of publication. Up to 5,000 words; maximum payment of $250. Response Time: Up to four months. Submission Window: June 5, 2018 until July 5, 2018 Via: Cemetery Dance's Submittable.

Deadline: July 6th, 2018 Payment: Royalties Dark Rainbow Vol. 1 is the first book of an LGBT dark erotica series edited by Andrew Robertson. The anthology will be released by award-winning New York publisher Riverdale Avenue Books. Dark Rainbow will explore a wicked hunger within the LGBT sphere with exciting short stories that thrill the reader and all of their senses, but also send shivers down their spine. Send us the type of horrific treats that can only come with a queer protagonist, and tricks that have a lasting effect on the reader…a werebear who longs for more than a full moon can offer, a polyamorous necromancer, a witch who has plans for a different type of coven, a vampire who can’t let go of their favorite same-sex snack, a voodoo tale of zombies with a hunger for bisexual brains… We are looking for stories that cover all sexualities and have an exciting, horrific edge. Blood and guts should be served with a sexy side course. There are several authors confirmed, so we are looking to complete the anthology with some stimulating new voices. We welcome anything in the horror-erotica realm but no incest, no underage sex, no dubious consent, and be careful with age play. Horror should be relevant to the plot. Splatterpunk and extreme gore won’t be considered for this anthology. Payment is a pro rata share of epub and print royalties, a pdf and a print copy of the book. All authors will receive an acknowledgement and response within four weeks. Please inquire about reprints. Original, unpublished work is highly preferred. All submissions should; · Be submitted as a Word doc · Be between 2500-8000 words · Be proofread · Follow the Shunn Manuscript format · Use Times New Roman 12 point and underline italics · Use...

Deadline: July 10th, 2018 Payment: $100 Independent Legions Publishing is seeking original horror stories in English for the new anthology MONSTERS OF ANY KIND, edited by Alessandro Manzetti and Daniele Bonfanti, to be published in October 2018 in print and digital editions. Cover art by Wendy Saber Core. We’re looking for horror stories containing at least one non-human monster/creature (and not vampires, ghosts, werewolves, zombies). Unusual creatures will be particularly appreciated. All subgenres and forms of speculative fiction are welcome. Word Count: We are open to stories of 3,500-5,000 words. Submissions Close: July 10, 2018 Pay Rate: We pay $100 for each original story. We buy first exclusive English-language rights for three years. We do not accept multiple or simultaneous submissions, nor do we accept unsolicited reprints. Submissions should follow standard manuscript format (12 pt Times New Roman or Courier fonts, 1” margins all around, line spacing 1½ or 2 spaces). It must be in .doc or .docx format or it will not be considered. Your name and contact information must be at the top of the first page of the story. Page numbers with author’s last name and/or partial story name on subsequent pages would be appreciated. Cover letter is optional, but if you do include one, please add a short bio (up to 200 words). Response time is currently within four weeks. After that, if you haven’t heard from us, please query. We will not be sending confirmations of receipt. To submit a story, go to our story submission form below. To submit your story via email, put “SUBMISSION – MONSTERS OF ANY KIND” in the subject line and send to:[email protected]  Via: Independent Legions.

Deadline: July 14th, 2018 Payment: 5 cents per word, minimum $50 STATUS: After 13 years, Shimmer will be closing at the end of 2018. We will be accepting submissions through July 14. After that, the doors are closed and not even ruby slippers will get you inside. Follow the guidelines, eh? We do not accept simultaneous submissions. If your story is at another market, do not send it to us.  Shimmer publishes speculative fiction — science fiction, fantasy, a dash of literary horror. Shimmer aspires to publish excellent fiction across lines of race, income, nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, geography, and culture, and therefore encourages submissions of diverse stories from diverse authors. This includes, but is not limited to: people of color, LBGTQIA, women, the impoverished, the elderly, and those with disabilities. We are not interested in acquiring fiction that denigrates or perpetuates stereotypes of the above groups. We encourage authors of all backgrounds to write stories that include characters and settings as diverse and wondrous as the people and places of the world we live in. Every story sent to us should be well-researched, respectful, and conscientious. What to send us: Unusual and beautifully-written speculative fiction stories Full plots and strong characters Contemporary fantasy, sometimes SF Unusual stories with a fluid and distinctive voice Odd, unclassifiable stories Hard Sells: Mermaids Devils Vampires Stories about writers Stories that open with someone waking up Sword and sorcery Hard SF Holiday stories Space opera Paranormal romance Slasher/body-mod horror No: Stories featuring Nazis as heroes Rape Multiple submissions  (one story at a time) Simultaneous submissions (if your story is at another market, do not also send it to us) Reprints Poetry Unsolicited rewrites Stories that have been on your blog Stories that have been on your Patreon Fan fiction Novels Collections Length: Up to 7500 words If your story is longer...

Deadline: July 15th, 2018 Payment: 2 cents a word and royalties A new title in the B Cubed world of Alternatives: Announcing Alternative Theology for the Religious Right. Open call for the upcoming B Cubed Press anthology: “Alternative Theology for the Religious Right” A re-mastering of core biblical themes that will help justify, or perhaps even expose, modern evangelical theology. Humor and good will are key. A sharp wit and a sharper pen is the objective. We’re taking fiction, poems, essays. This is unabashedly critical look at the often Hypocritical deviation of the religious right from their biblical and moral base. This will be a disturbing read for some. 250 to 5000 words. Pays 2 cents a word and a share on publication. Queries encouraged. Edited by Bob Brown and Irene Radford. Submissions Accepted March 1, 2018 through July 15, 2018. This is not for the Faint of Heart. All submissions use “Alternative Theology” in the title. E Mail submissions to [email protected]. Up to three subs, use manuscript format, simultaneous okay. Via: B Cubed Press.

Deadline: July 15th, 2018 Payment: $20 per story Please don't query us about your story submission. We don't have the manpower to answer such queries. An editor will email you back as soon as possible with the decision about your story. This can take a few days, or, up to three months. We make every effort to get back to authors in a timely manner but we get a lot of submissions so sometimes it's not possible. A note on our editorial policy: before publication we may edit the story for length or readability. However, we always remain true to the spirit of the story. Issues are published at the end of February, May, August, and November. We reserve the right to shift publication date slightly, as necessary. We have reading periods for each issue, though we never close to submissions. February closes January 15 May closes April 15 August closes July 15 November closes October 15 Please do not submit the same story more than once, and please submit only one story at a time. We consider any story between 250 and 7000 words with speculative fiction elements. We prefer science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre, but we're willing to push the limits of traditional forms of these genres. We do not consider poetry, stories with over-the-top sex or violence, serials, novels, fan fiction, or non-fiction. We don't accept multiple submissions; in other words, only submit one story at a time and wait for a response before submitting another. We accept simultaneous submissions as long as you let us know up front and tell us as soon as it's accepted elsewhere. We do not publish reprints, including anything that has appeared on a website. We pay $20 for each story we publish. We buy first-printing world exclusive rights for...

Deadline: July 15th, 2018 Payment: $20 and a contributor's copy Colors in Darkness Anthology: Deadly Bargain Open Submissions: April 15 – July 15, 2018 Theme: Our second horror/dark fantasy anthology will be based upon items purchased from a shady dealer. You may have seen him outside your office in the business district with a table stand or in your neighborhood selling items from inside his van. Perhaps he was just walking by and selling items retrieved from inside his coat. Jewelry, electronics, clothing, toiletries, cleaning supplies and even food—The man always has a bargain for his customers…a deadly bargain, as the salesman is not what he seems! Description of the Dealer: The dealer’s name can vary depending on which nationalities or environments he encounters; however, his appearance needs to be the same throughout the book. The dealer is about approximately five-foot eight, has olive skin and dreadlocks. He always looks overdressed, wearing several layers of mismatched clothing. He is handsome in an exotic way yet no one can place his nationality. He has almond shaped eyes that could appear Asian, but a broad nose and full lips that lean more toward African ancestry. The appearance of freckles dots his cheeks and he possesses coal black eyes. Submission Guidelines: What We Want For the second Colors in Darkness anthology, we are seeking, thirteen well-written, diverse tales of horror, paranormal and dark fantasy. Each story should mention some interaction with the ‘Dealer.’ Stories can range from subtle paranormal to terrifying horror and can take place at any point in history. Submissions ▪ Submit your work to ( [email protected] ) with ‘CID Dealer: Story Title_Your Last Name’ in the subject line. Attach your story as a DOC or DOCX file. Submissions sent in the body of the email will not be read. ▪ Include...

Deadline: July 15th, 2018 Payment: $5 At Sanitarium, we’re dedicated to bringing audiences the best in horror from around the world. We believe horror should be fresh, bold, and diverse. We aim to publish seasoned professionals alongside new voices, and we encourage authors to take creative risks with their work. Sanitarium is an inclusionary publishing space, and for this reason we ask that all authors submitting work adhere to our guidelines in order to facilitate our blind submission system. Due to the high volume of work we receive, submissions that don’t follow the respective guidelines will be rejected. Additionally, work that is sent outside the posted deadline, or set reading windows, will not be considered for publication. SANITARIUM MAGAZINE Sanitarium Magazine is now open for submissions! Offered in both print and digital editions, Sanitarium Magazine is a quarterly publication—released every September, December, March, and June—dedicated to bringing readers the best in short-form horror. We’re looking for work that chills readers to the bone, makes us think the impossible is all too possible, and leaves a lasting impression. We want characters we can relate to, care about, see ourselves in, and obsess over. Authors are encouraged to submit works which fall under any form of horror and supernatural fiction (including but not limited to body horror, psychological horror, stories of the paranormal, dystopian works, and “creature features”). Body horror, psychological horror, and pieces dealing with the supernatural or paranormal are all encouraged. While we encourage writers to take risks and push the limits of literary horror, we ask that creators be mindful while doing so. Work that’s homophobic, transphobic, racist, ableist, or discriminatory will not be considered for publication. Additionally, works depicting and/or glorifying child abuse, animal cruelty, explicit sex acts, sexual assault and rape, or excessive violence towards women will be rejected for publication. Sanitarium Magazine accepts submissions...

Deadline: July 15th, 2018 Payment: Royalties Announcing call for submissions for Real American Horror: Texas All Submissions should meet this criteria: Works: short stories and flash fiction Genre and theme: Horror and dark fiction based on true events in Texas from people in Texas or that have lived in Texas. Deadline: July 15th Format: Attach the .RTF, .DOC, or .DOCX Word Count 5k – 7k words approx. Payment: 60% of net earnings divided evenly among the authors. Multiple Submissions okay. Submit a brief bio, we don’t care if you have no work history, give us a brief bio of yourself. Send submission to [email protected] Via: Deadman's Tome.

Deadline: July 15th, 2018 Payment: $20 US and a contributor's copy Colors in Darkness Anthology: Deadly Bargain Open Submissions: April 15 – July 15, 2018 Theme: Our second horror/dark fantasy anthology will be based upon items purchased from a shady dealer. You may have seen him outside your office in the business district with a table stand or in your neighborhood selling items from inside his van. Perhaps he was just walking by and selling items retrieved from inside his coat. Jewelry, electronics, clothing, toiletries, cleaning supplies and even food—The man always has a bargain for his customers…a deadly bargain, as the salesman is not what he seems! Description of the Dealer: The dealer’s name can vary depending on which nationalities or environments he encounters; however, his appearance needs to be the same throughout the book. The dealer is about approximately five-foot eight, has olive skin and dreadlocks. He always looks overdressed, wearing several layers of mismatched clothing. He is handsome in an exotic way yet no one can place his nationality. He has almond shaped eyes that could appear Asian, but a broad nose and full lips that lean more toward African ancestry. The appearance of freckles dots his cheeks and he possesses coal black eyes. Submission Guidelines: What We Want For the second Colors in Darkness anthology, we are seeking, thirteen well-written, diverse tales of horror, paranormal and dark fantasy. Each story should mention some interaction with the ‘Dealer.’ Stories can range from subtle paranormal to terrifying horror and can take place at any point in history. Submissions ▪ Submit your work to ( [email protected] ) with ‘CID Dealer: Story Title_Your Last Name’ in the subject line. Attach your story as a DOC or DOCX file. Submissions sent in the body of the email will not be read. ▪...