Events

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 Note that all submissions must be previously unpublished and that we will not publish the same author more than once per year.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...

Deadline: December 31st, 2023 Payment: $5 USD per 1000 words Theme: Looking forward with a positive outlook. Solarpunk, cyberpunk, etc! Back by popular demand! A new anthology in the spirit of looking forward with a positive outlook. Solarpunk, cyberpunk, other planets, alternate worlds that might be nearly lost through our own hubris; futuristic fantasy and speculative-fiction stories of all kinds that are hopeful and leave us with the idea that despite the doom and gloom in the universe, things can possibly work out if we strive to make life better, even if in a small way. Send us your stories! Deadline: December 31, 2023. GENERAL BUT IMPORTANT INFORMATION Please read prior to submitting! NOTE: We are currently only accepting short stories for the anthologies and cannot accept full-length novel manuscripts at this time. ** Please put the anthology you're submitting to in the subject line of the email.** Payment for accepted stories will be $5 USD per 1000 words for all current anthologies (excepting contests). Payments occur via PayPal, so please have a PayPal account into which we can pay you. We will also provide you with a digital copy (epub and pdf) of the finished manuscript. We're looking for speculative fiction across all anthologies (unless otherwise specified). That includes everything from high fantasy to hard scifi and anything in between. We do accept reprints, simultaneous submissions, and multiple submissions, though these will slow down our response time. Story lengths should be anywhere from flash-length to about 15k words, but we have at times made exceptions. We know a story is complete when it's complete, and arbitrary word count requirements are not always helpful. If you have an amazing story that exceeds 15k words, let us know. We may be able to make special accommodations. :) With regard to copyright, we...

Deadline: December 31st, 2023 Payment: 5 cents per word Theme: A tale delivered from a character who stepped through a door and found themselves someplace unexpected. On their journey, they will notice a book called Midnight Labyrinth. No requirement to read or interact with it; it just needs to appear. Genre-bending is welcome! Sci-fi, steampunk, horror, fantasy, etc. Grendel Press accepts short story submissions that fit into our chosen genres of Dark Fantasy, Horror, and Romance. We will develop themes for each genre as submissions accumulate. Unpublished short stories must be 2,500-7,000 words and if approved, will be featured in our anthologies consisting of approximately ~65,000 words each. Approved stories will be published in English ebook, and print with a possibility for audiobook. If approved, you will be notified when the anthology has received the perfect combination of stories to publish, and it’s expected publication date. Uncanny & Unearthly Tales (Vol 2) – The Midnight Labyrinth Submission Period: August 1st, 2023 – December 31st, 2023 (Midnight CST) Each story should feature a tale delivered from a character who stepped through a door and found themselves someplace unexpected. On their journey, they will notice a book called Midnight Labyrinth. No requirement to read or interact with it; it just needs to appear. Genre-bending is welcome! Sci-fi, steampunk, horror, fantasy, etc. Compensation     We pay .05 per word in exchange for rights to publish your original stories in a seasonal anthology. No reprints, these stories must be unpublished elsewhere. We may be running multiple themed anthologies at a time, so feel free to submit one story per theme only. Exclusivity Terms & Author Rights Upon payment, GrendelPress gains the right to publish your story in our seasonal theme anthology exclusively for one year from the date of publication. You retain the rights...

Deadline: December 31st, 2023 Payment: $10 per accepted poem, 1c/word ($5 minimum.) for accepted fiction ($15 per page for graphic narrative fiction), $20 per accepted piece of non-narrative internal visual art,. Half of above for reprints, $100 (negotiable) for the cover illustration Theme: stories about the future which feature rodents NOTE: This is not the cover art; this is just a cool picture we made with MidJourney. A human artist will make the real cover. Submissions are now open for Rattus Futura: An Anthology of Future Rodents (working title) from Manawaker Studio, edited by CB Droege. This book serves as a sequel to the previous anthology Felis Futura. Rattus Futura is an anthology focused on stories about the future which feature rodents. This volume will contain stories, poetry, and visual art. THEME Submitted works should be of any genre, as long as the work depicts a world that is noticeably in the future. Hard and Soft Sci-fi, (Post-)apocalyptic, Solarpunk, Slipstream, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Alternate (future) History, Supernatural, Retro-futurism etc. are all fine names for genres that often take place in the future, but your story doesn’t have to fit into one of those. In fact, if it manages to miss all of those labels, we may be even more interested to see it (unless it thus falls into what we specifically don’t want (see next paragraph)). All works must also prominently feature at least one rodent. It does not have to be a rodent of the genus Rattus. Other members of the rodent family, like mice and beavers, are also acceptable, as are non-biological minks, metaphorical hamsters, robots with the acronym S.Q.R.L., and so on. We are not looking for gore horror nor erotic romance. Works that contain some horror elements or some romantic elements are fine, but we would like the book to remain accessible to young adults and squeamish...

Submission Window: December 1st - 31st, 2023 Payment: 8 cents per word and a contributors copy Theme: Stories about places where weird things happen Editors Sheree Renée Thomas and Lesley Conner are looking for stories about places where weird things happen. Places that have strange histories, their own traditions and customs, their own dangers. These can be based off real folk tales or old wives tales - think the Mothman in Point Pleasant, WV - or ones that you come up with all on your own. But your story should tell of someone going to one of these places - either intentionally or they just stumble across it - and what happens when they encounter the frightening/strange thing that is in or occurs in that location. Depending on the Map of Lost Places Kickstarter funding level, we expect to fill the anthology with eight to twelve original stories selected from an open reading period. The Kickstarter will launch on October 10 - click here to be notified as soon as it happens! In order to avoid duplicates in the open submission call, locations already chosen by the featured authors are listed below. This list will be updated as the authors make their decisions, so be sure to check back! Monroe, GA Underwater cave in the Caribbean Sea The Forbidden City in Beijing, China Central Pennsylvania Arkabutla Lake in Coldwater, Mississippi Open call begins: December 1, 2023 Open call ends: December 31st, 2023 Word Count: Up to 5000 Payment: 8 cents a word (up to 5000) + copy of anthology in soft cover Rights: First English language rights (soft cover, hard cover, ebook, digital) Sim-subs: Yes Multi-subs: No Format: Docx, Doc, or RTF using Shunn Manuscript Guidelines Apex Book Company and its editors welcome and encourage submissions from writers of all races, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression,...