Events

Submission Window: November 1st - December 17th, 2023 Payment:£20 per accepted story Theme: Self-contained unpublished sci-fi, fantasy and horror stories of between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Fanatical is currently OPEN for submissions. We are looking for unpublished sci-fi, fantasy and horror stories of between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Please only submit one story at a time and don't submit if it's already submitted somewhere else. All stories should be self-contained, no "to be continued". Recurring characters across multiple stories will be considered, as long as each story is a solid read in its own right. If you've already been published in an issue of Fanatical you are free to submit again, but we may hold your submission over so as not to publish the same author in back to back issues. Fanatical will pay £20 per accepted story, paid upon publication. We pay via Paypal. Upon acceptance, authors retain rights to the story but we ask they don't publish/submit it anywhere else before it is published in Fanatical. These stories should be inspired by/based on tabletop games - roleplaying games, board games, miniature wargames. Though Fanatical may take it's name from the concept of fan fiction, we're not looking to get sued here.   A story about an adventuring party consisting of a dwarf, an elf, a human and a halfling going into a dungeon to fight a dragon is fine. A story specifically set in a copyright protected world of Dungeons & Dragons, with reference to its locations and characters is not. A story about a genetically engineered super-soldier in power armour fighting aliens in the far future is fine. A story about a Space Marine fighting Xenos in the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000 is not. Rest assured the editors at Fanatical will work with you to ensure your stories meet our criteria in this regard.   Authors should be...

Deadline: December 17th, 2023 Payment: 9 cents per word Theme: Science-fiction, fantasy and horror, inspired by classic pulp magazines, starring LGBTQIA+ heroes and villains. IWTTO! is seeking classic pulp adventures centring non-traditionally masculine queer heroes and villains. If you’ve ever found yourself reading Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Robert E. Howard or Fritz Leiber, and just wanted it to be more sodding gay then this anthology is for you. Whether fantasy, science-fiction or horror, we want to prove that hetero himbos don’t hold a monopoly on giant swords. We want out and proud thrill-rides starring queers who don’t give a frack what society says. Smash systems, kiss boys, be gay do crime. Concept: Pulp-inspired science fiction, fantasy and horror that explores or subverts classic genre tropes through queer protagonists and villains, particularly those who are non-traditionally masculine. What we’re looking for: Stories that take full advantage of pulp excess (“more is more”), and that have queerness at their core. The Editors take a broad definition of queer and we want to see stories that speak to our own community. We love our LGBTQIA+ heroes AND villains, and are just as eager for queer rage blood baths as we are for Flash-Gordon-style space opera. Bring us your femboy starship captains, bring us to trans berserkers fuelled by queer rage, bring us your literal demon twinks. Most of all, bring us stories that make you shriek... “I Want That Twink OBLITERATED!” Guidelines: ● We are seeking original science fiction, fantasy and horror stories written in English. This is an inclusive LGBTQIA+ anthology from a queer press and we want stories that uphold that ethos. ● Instructions: All stories should be submitted through our online form as a .doc or .docx file. If for any reason you are unable to use a Google login...

Deadline: December 18th, 2023 Payment: $20 CAD Theme: Science Fiction & Fantasy stories with the theme of: Strange Clocks & Different Calendars. We are accepting submissions for our upcoming Funemployment Quarterly ‘Timeless Volume‘ of short fiction. The prompt for the upcoming anthology is: Strange Clocks & Different Calendars. Think the schism between Gregorian & Julian calendars, the attempt of the French revolution to start their own, the Soviet days of the week, what a calendar would look like if the elves lived millennia, how time would be kept on a space station in the void, internal & external clocks, circadian rhythms, hourglasses filled with enchanted grains, secret societies with secret timepieces, the subjectivity of a second, punching in, clocking out, we can’t wait to see what you & ourselves come up with… The submission deadline for the upcoming anthology is 11:59PM, Pacific Standard Time, on December 18th, 2023. Here are our rules/guidelines for submissions: Length should be one thousand to five thousand words. Broad canvas to paint on! We only accept previously unpublished stories, in English. All stories should be original. No fan fiction or tales set in existing fictional landscapes. Taste is subjective and the complete discretion of the editors. We’re very open-minded people, but nothing that’s going to require a scouring with brain bleach, please. Nothing that glorifies sexual assault, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, vortexes, any of that. There’s a difference between themes and glorification. You know what we’re talking about, cut it out. If you disagree, alt-f4, thx. Payment and Rights Accepted works shall be paid $20 in Canadian currency, through Paypal. If required, other payment methods can likely be arranged, just let us know. If accepted for publication, we purchase exclusive rights for first publication for both the internet and the anthology. These rights exist for...

Deadline: December 20th 2023 Payment: £100 plus a contributors copy Theme: This is an open call to writers of Horror and Weird fiction. We are now accepting submissions for our first collection of short stories, an anthology of Folk Horror tales.  Deadline for submissions is December 20th 2023.  Please submit your short story, with your name and the title of the story  (maximum 10,000 words) to our editor Victoria Sharpe at [email protected] as a word doc/or PDF file format Please include a covering letter with brief synopsis of the story,  and any relevant links /short biography. If the story has been previously published please forward details. ​ *If your story is selected for publication we will be in touch but unfortunately cannot offer criticism or guidance on individual submissions. We are a passionate micro-publishing press with a team of only three people. We produce high quality,  small, limited edition print runs. All authors of the stories selected via the open call will be paid a flat rate of £100 plus a contributors copy of the limited edition.  ​ Via: Nepenthe Press.

Deadline: December 25th, 2023 Payment: (All in CAD) $100 per interview, $200 per essay, $100 per review, $150 per work of fiction, $35 per poem (or page, capped at $120 for poems running four pages or more), $50+ per experimental or hybrid work, at an increasing scale depending on the nature of the piece Theme: Any genre, though best to see previously published work for a feel for the magazine. Feel encouraged to push boundaries, play with form, and explore genre elements. Consider reading the fiction in our last few issues to familiarize yourself with work we've published. Please do not submit stories over 10,000 words, flash fiction (under 1,000 words), or novel excerpts. Please only send one story at a time. Note that all submissions must be previously unpublished and that we will not publish the same author more than once per year. We are especially interested in work by LGBTQ2S+ writers, BIPOC writers, and writing from other marginalized folks. --- Please Note: All Austin Clarke Prize for Literary Excellence entries must be accompanied by a payment of $20; however, this category is free of charge! You also have the option of giving The Ex-Puritan a tip of $3, should you wish to contribute to the overall costs of running the magazine. But thanks for your submission regardless! If submissions have been disabled on this category, it's because we've reached our monthly limit. We can only accept a limited number of no-fee submissions each month. You can either submit to one of our fee submissions categories or wait until we reopen on the 1st of the next month. All of our submissions are considered equally. Open until Dec 25th A premier Canadian literary magazine, publishing the best in new writing. We award the annual Austin Clarke Prizes in fiction...

Deadline: December 27th, 2023 Payment: 10 cents per word Theme: short stories, fairy tales, flash fiction, and novellas of 500-10,000 words Moonstruck Books will publish an anthology of dark fiction titled Nightmare Diaries in Spring 2025. We are seeking short stories, fairy tales, flash fiction, and novellas of 500-10,000 words. Payment is $0.10 per word. Deadline: December 27, 2023. Please follow our general submission guidelines. Send your work (one submission per author, please) to [email protected] and include the word “Anthology” in the subject line. The golden rule of publishing Please know that we receive hundreds of submissions. Due to our small size, commitment to excellence, and discerning acquisition process, we must reject most of the manuscripts we read. We understand that the submission process can be grueling and discouraging. With this in mind, we try to be as respectful as possible toward authors and their creative efforts, offering kindness and professionalism. Not sure if your work fits on our shelf? Browse the shop here. What does “non-traditional” mean? We define “non-traditional” broadly. We believe that speculative fiction, horror, fantasy, and science fiction are innately diverse and represent visions of many possible futures. With this in mind, we seek to work with authors of unique personal experiences and perspectives. To us, “non-traditional” can mean: Creating boundary-pushing fiction that questions the dominant cultural narrative, however the individual defines that narrative; Unpublished or otherwise uncredited, and/or having a small social media following; Belonging to a historically marginalized group and/or identifying as lesbian or gay, queer, transgender or nonbinary; Black, Indigenous, Latinx, people of color (BIPOC); blue collar writers, self-supporting writers, anti-commercial writers, and people from non-affluent backgrounds; people who live with chronic illness and other disabilities; and other individual experiences which are not traditionally centered in mainstream publishing; Originating from a rural, agricultural,...

Submission Window: December 1st - 30th, 2023 Payment: ¢1 per word CAD Theme: Horror that includes a wand, ideally in the realm of tarot or tarot-inspired meaning of the word Note: The end date might be later, I'm seeing an end date of December 30th, 31st, and January 7th on the site. I'd stick with the 30th to be on the safe side. Thank you for submitting to our Tarot Inspired Anthology Series! This particular call is for the WAND We are looking for great stories of horror in all sub-genres. The best thing about anthologies is the mix of voices and styles. Although this anthology does represent the tarot suits, it does not mean your story has to contain the tarot element to be considered. Use the overriding 'theme' to weave your story. Within tarot card meanings, The Tarot suit of Wands -- sometimes called Rods, Staves, or Staffs -- represents the energy of movement, creativity, and invention. Wands represent ideas and innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit. They are often related to your career or your sense of purpose in the world, but because of their connection to charm and desire, they can deliver strong love guidance, too. The suit of Wands is connected to the spring season and the Fire element, so it carries many active messages of boldness, ambition, drive, competitiveness, and initiative. Whenever a Wands card appears, actions are being taken or suggested, and change is in the works. Wands are powerful and passionate cards that can urge you to make a bold move, or warn you when you're moving too fast. The more esoteric Tarot decks reveal the connection between the Wands and the life force, also known as Qi, Kundalini, or Prana -- the animating energy that fills every living thing with vitality, without which...

Deadline: December 31st, 2023 Payment: $10 Theme: Stories that peel back the layers of the literary process to reveal the psychological horrors writers face daily. Scott McGregor and Harriet Everend are teaming up to compile a new anthology, Writer’s Retreat: Tales of Writing and Madness under January Embers Press. Beneath the polished pages of every story lies a world shrouded in shadows—a world where the act of creation transforms into psychological madness fraught with terror. "Writers Retreat: Tales of Writing and Madness" is an anthology seeking to peel back the layers of the literary process to reveal the psychological horrors writers face daily. From the dreaded writer’s block to the malevolent spirits of rejection, this collection delves into the darkest corners of the creative mind, where the lines between reality and imagination blur. Think stories surrounding the psychological monster of writer’s block; fans who stalk their favourite authors to dangerous heights; newbie authors who make deals with cosmic overlords to get their work published; best-selling authors who secretly plagiarize material through witchcraft; editors who receive death threats from ghosts who were previously rejected. This anthology seeks to present the different facets of torment faced by those who dare shape their ideas into words with the wielding of a pen. The mundane nuisances of the writing world—plagiarism, pressure from fans, and incessant self-doubt—are what woven into narratives of chilling intensity, elevated by the infusion of supernatural elements and the exploration of the twisted depths of human nature. Genre: Writing-themed Horror Length: Short Stories - 5000 Words Max Poetry - 2 Pages Maximum Format: .DOC, .DOCX, PFD Can submit multiple entries, but only one of your pieces will be selected to allow as many names as possible. Please email final draft submissions with title to [email protected]

Payment: Modest advance + Industry standard royalties Theme: New Weird Horror-based that might exist OUTSIDE THE BOX. You can find some general information about what we look for in NOVELS and NOVELLAS below. But we’re also interested to hear about any projects that fall under the graphic novel/comics umbrella, and anything New Weird Horror-based that might exist OUTSIDE THE BOX. SUBMIT YOUR PITCHES HERE. PLEASE FILL OUT ALL SECTIONS. GENERAL INFO ON TENEBROUS PRESS’ NOVEL AND NOVELLA TERMS: Word Count: 20,000-up Payment: Modest advance + Industry standard royalties Reprints: No Simultaneous Submissions: Yes Target Age Group: Mature Audiences Rights: World English first rights in print, electronic, and ebook, and a three-year exclusivity period. All copyright belongs to the author. Response times: 2-3 months. All submissions will be responded to. Important Reminder: - Please only pitch work that is complete or well on its way to completion; if we request the manuscript and it takes longer than a month to reach us, we may no longer be able to consider it! - In the interest of giving everyone a fair chance, please only pitch ONE work, and allow for THREE months between pitches. - If you have something strange to pitch that doesn't fit into this form, tell us about it at [email protected] - Your query letter should include a one-paragraph pitch. - Length: Book-length projects, including novellas, novels, themed collections, and other - Genre: all kinds of Weird Horror - Reprints: No - Simultaneous Submissions: Yes - Target Age Group: Mature Audiences Via: Tenebrous Press.

Deadline: August 31st, 2023 Payment: 6 cents per word Theme: speculative fiction stories about neurodivergent characters, written by neurodivergent writers "Are you neurodivergent? If so, this is a call for you. Divergent Realms is a speculative fiction anthology about neurodivergent characters, written by neurodivergent writers. I’m looking for speculative fiction stories from 2,000 to 5,000 words. Fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and subgenres thereof will all be considered, but keep it PG-13. Violence and swearing and the like should be kept to a minimum and should only be included if you feel like they’re necessary to the story. To submit, you must be neurodivergent, and your story must feature neurodivergence in a significant way. If you’re confused about the term “neurodivergent” or whether it applies to you, it is a word used to describe people whose brains operate differently from what is considered “typical.” Types of neurodivergence include autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, dyslexia, down syndrome, PTSD, anxiety disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and MANY MORE. I can’t possibly list everything that might qualify—if you think you fit, let me know why in your cover letter. ALL forms of neurodivergence will be accepted. I will be paying $0.06 a word and will retain exclusive rights for six months after publication. After that, you are free to do with your story as you wish. I am not accepting reprints, simultaneous submissions, or multiple submissions. Please send stories as a .doc or .docx attachment to [email protected]. Stories should be in standard manuscript format as shown in this link: https://www.shunn.net/format/story/ In the body of your email, include a cover letter with a brief bio and description of how neurodivergence applies to you. You do not need to send proof of a diagnosis. Self-diagnosis is perfectly acceptable. PLEASE NOTE that any submissions lacking a cover letter will...