Events

Taking Submissions: Fear’s Accomplice Volume 2

Tim McLean Writing Projects

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Payment: £5 Theme: All styles or horror, likes the types of tales you'd see in Tales from the Crypt, Twilight Zone, and similar There is no theme. As long as your story is in the horror genre, I'm interested. Check out Fear's Accomplice Volume 1 or Fear's Accomplice: Halloween to get an idea of style. Think of Tales from the Crypt, Twighlight Zone, and similar. I want variation. Don't be afraid of violence or strong language, though. You're free to write any style of horror you choose. Zombies, werewolves, vampires, etc, are more than welcome, but they are something of a hard sell. Make it unique or interesting. Word count: 2,000 - 5,000 words. Longer stories are OK but 2,000 really is the minimum. Original stories only please. Reprints will not be accepted. Do not submit stories written or assisted by AI. As a supporter of independent art, I have zero tolerance for stories created by artificial intelligence. Stories will be exclusive to the publication for a period of six months after release. Payment: Contributors will receive £5 per accepted story, regardless of length. The book will feature one story per author. Payment will be made by PayPal only. Contributors must nominate a suitable email address as part of the contract. I aim to read and respond to submissions within one month of the end of the submission period. It may take longer if I get a large number of submissions. Feel free to query any time from July 2024. This call is open until 1 June 2024. Email submissions and questions to [email protected] Via: Tim McLean Writing Projects .

Contest: Weird Wide Web 2024 Fiction Competition

Weird Wide Web

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Prizes: FIRST PLACE: $75. SECOND PLACE: $50. THIRD PLACE: $25, FOURTH PLACE: $10 Theme: Dark speculative prose Note: Reprints allowed FIRST PLACE: $75 SECOND PLACE: $50 THIRD PLACE: $25 FOURTH PLACE: $10 Each winning story will be featured on Weird Wide Web with its own direct URL link. What We Are Looking For: Fiction between 1K - 4K words in the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres.   This is a great place for REPRINTS. Unpublished stories are fine, but REPRINTS ARE WELCOME. Just send your best!   Submission Guidelines:   *DOC, DOCX, RTF, or ODT files only *Black 12 pt Times New Roman font *Stories with glaring misspellings and grammatical errors won't stand a chance against tightly written pieces. Double check for obvious errors before sending! *Include story title AND author name in the file name *Attach your file with the subject line "WRITING CONTEST - STORY TITLE" and send it to: [email protected]     We will accept submissions from April 15th - June 1st. Winners will be announced (hopefully) in July, but if we receive a HUGE amount of stories, by August.     Good luck! Thanks for reading! Via: Weird Wide Web.

Taking Submissions: Ruth’s and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel

Celestial Echo Press

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Payment: 1 cent per word for original stories or a flat $10 for reprints, Theme: Time Travel! Travel through time with us! Ruth’s and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel is the third anthology from Celestial Echo Press. The theme for this anthology is time travel. We’re looking for stories that will take readers on a journey through time, from the Wild West to the future in outer space, from humor to horror. All genres accepted, except erotica. Send us well-written stories that make us believe time travel is real. Give us new, fresh stories. All stories that do not contain a time travel element will be rejected immediately. We want to read great stories and can’t wait to read your submission! We invited seven authors, and have 13 slots available. We may reserve one slot for an author who submits a great story and has not previously been published. We want to encourage, and we support, new authors. Guidelines are as follows: We will not accept any stories that have been created by AI, nor any that have used AI to assist in penning the story. Word count must be between 500 and 4000 words. Story must be submitted in Word, 12-pt font. Your story must focus on the time travel theme. Simultaneous submissions are not allowed. Submissions will be open from May 7, 2024 through June 1, 2024. Multiple submissions are allowed and encouraged. We will accept reprints. There is no reading fee. Payment will be 1 cent per word for original stories or a flat $10 for reprints, and will be paid upon publication. Authors also will receive one electronic copy of the anthology. Payment will be made via PayPal only,  in United States Dollars.  We anticipate a quick acceptance/rejection timeframe, hopefully within 30 days after...

Taking Submissions: The Fires of Retribution

Three Ravens Publishing P.O. Box 851, Chickamauga, GA, United States

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Payment: Royalties Theme: Dragons and the struggle between mankind and dragonkind Genre: Speculative Fiction Theme: A collection of stories dealing with DRAGONS! Concept: We’re looking for a story that shows the struggle between man and beast. These aren’t Pete’s Dragon; these are vicious killers who would just as soon eat you as look at you. Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000 (standard word count) Publishing by: TBD Edited by: JR Handley & Bayonet Books Anchor Author: James M Ward Due Date: June 1, 2024 Email Submissions to: [email protected] with “The Fires of Retribution” in the subject line Payment: Stories selected for publication in the upcoming Anthology(ies), will receive a percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors. We are looking for amazing stories from any genre that are fun to read and will take us on an adventure of epic proportions. Please download our standards template by clicking here ***NOTE*** We publish genre fiction with aspects of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. If your work does not include one of these aspects, we are less likely to pick up the title unless it is of exceptional quality.   What we are NOT currently accepting: Poetry Single-author collections of short stories. Hard and fast rules of what not to send: Fan-fiction: Just simply don’t. It will be immediately deleted or tossed into the recycle bin. Gratuitous Sexuality: (i.e. smut, softcore porn) (Please, we know that there is a market out there for stories in this genre, but it’s not for us. Contact our affiliate, Tanglewood press for submissions in this genre at tanglewoodromance (at) gmail.com Gratuitous Abuse/Violence: While we at Three Ravens Publishing understand that graphic situations can alter or otherwise move the plot forward in ways that the reader may not expect when properly used, these elements should not, however, be the primary focus of the story. (i.e. torture...

Taking Submissions: Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores June 2024 (Early Listing)

Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores

Submission Window: June 1st - 2nd, 2024 Payment: 8 cents per word for original, 2 cents for reprints, For artwork: $10 for the non-exclusive right to use each image, for as long as the site is online.  If we publish a print collection we will pay a pro-rata share for each image used. Theme: Well written original work in science fiction, fantasy, myth, legend, fairy tales, and eldritch, in written, podcast, video, and/or graphic story form, and from around the world. Note: Reprints welcome     Submissions Schedule We have a new submissions schedule as of June 1, 2020: The first and second day of every month, 12 am of the 1st to 12 am of the 3rd, E.S.T. Only one submission per person. For reading impaired individuals, our submissions manager and ‘forget password’ have a captcha compatible with screen readers. We pay 8¢ per word for new fiction, 2¢ per word for fiction reprints, 2 – 6¢ per word for new fact-based work, 1- 4¢ per word for reprinted fact articles. For new poetry, we pay $1 a line, reprints would be 50¢ a line, up to 40 lines. We’ll look at longer poems but that would be a hard sell, and words over 40 lines would be paid at 6¢ per word. We began The Kepler Award to recognize and encourage writers of excellent science fiction and fantasy stories that creatively extrapolate on known science in constructive and exciting ways. You can learn about The Kepler Award here. You can read a copy of our standard contract here.   It can be varied as needed to include the rights of translators, voice actors, etc. Writers Guidelines We accept new work as well as reprints, prose and poetry, anywhere from 1000 word flash fiction on up, but all else being equal,...

Taking Submissions: A Coup Of Owls Autumn 2024 Issue (Early Listing)

A Coup Of Owls

Submission Window: June 1st – 7th, 2024 Payment: Drabbles and Flash – £5, Short Stories 1001 to 4000 words – £10, Short Stories 4001 to 8000 words – £15 Theme: ​We do not have set issue themes but feel free to be inspired by the season, seasonal occasions and events. Note: Only publishes creators from under represented and/or marginalized communities. We’re looking for stories you’ve poured your soul into but haven’t been able to find the right home for. We’re looking for stories that make us feel something. Warmth, love, melancholy, rage. We want it all. All genres, styles and themes will be considered and we especially love stories that are outside the box in their telling. Ambiguous endings? Non-linear storytelling? Antagonist’s point-of-view? A story told in just one scene? We love it all. Quarterly Online Anthology Submission Schedule: June 1st – 7th (Autumn Issue) or until we reach 70 submissions September 1st – 7th (Winter Issue) or until we reach 70 submissions December 1st – 7th (Spring Issue) or until we reach 70 submissions March 1st – 7th (Summer Issue) or until we reach 70 submissions ​we do not have set issue themes but feel free to be inspired by the season, seasonal occasions and events. We are unlikely to publish stories with seasonal events out of season – for example a story set in the Winter isn’t likely to make it into our Summer issue even if we adore it. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES – ONLINE ONLY These are the guidelines for our Quarterly Online Anthology. For more information on print anthologies go to Print Anthologies How to submit: Please submit via the form at the bottom of this page. If you have any problems using the form please email us for assistance. Who should submit: Please ONLY SUBMIT IF: you are aged 18 or over you belong...

Taking Submissions: Flash on the Fly Contest – 48 Hour Window!

Death Knell Press

Deadline: June 10 at 9:00AM EDT Prize: $50 Theme: 500-1,000 word aquatic fiction horror story FLASH ON THE FLY A HORROR WRITING CONTEST 48-HOUR SUBMISSION WINDOW IS NOW OPEN! Submissions are open now, Saturday June 8 at 9:00AM EDT and will close in 48 hours on Monday June 10 at 9:00AM EDT. No submissions will be accepted before or after the open window. Theme: AQUATIC HORROR (any subgenres of horror are permitted) Write a horror flash fiction story, 500-1000 words (FIRM LIMITS) that fits the theme "AQUATIC HORROR". We are open to any interpretation of the theme. Please keep reading for full guidelines! (Please note: "Flash on the Fly" means flash fiction written quickly & without much preparation. It does not mean flash fiction about The Fly.) Stories should be previously unpublished, written in standard manuscript format, and sent as a .docx file attachment. Name your .docx file with your story title and your last name, then attach it to the email. In the subject box, type: YOUR STORY TITLE, YOUR LAST NAME. Send to [email protected] Stories will be judged on adherence to the theme, quality of storytelling, and originality. Given the speedy nature of this challenge, minimal judging will be based on minor spelling errors and typos. We will aim to select a winner within 4 weeks of the closing deadline and will announce the winner publicly on our website and across social media. Due to the fast turnaround of this contest, only the author of the winning story will receive a response. The author of the winning story will receive $50.00 USD via PayPal (other payment arrangements within reason can be made if necessary) Publisher will receive rights to publish the story on our website. Author will retain all rights to their story. Please review this sample publishing...

Taking Submissions: Dracula Beyond Stoker Issue #5

DBS Press

Submission Window: May 1st - June 15th, 2024 Payment: Contributors copies, 5 cents per word for original work, $55 for reprints, undisclosed sum for cover artwork Theme: Lucy’s Suitors - Quincey, Jack, and/or Arthur Issue 5: Lucy’s Suitors - Quincey, Jack, and/or Arthur (To be published November, 2024) Quincey was a cowboy who may or may not have been in cahoots with the count. Seward was a drug addicted custodian of a lunatic asylum. And Arthur was there, too! Let’s read some stories of these men - together, individually, in combination - before, during, and after the events of the novel. Did Quincey survive as the undead? How did Jack treat his other patients? When the dust settled, did Holmwood completely break down? Stoker tells us these three men adventured together prior. What might that look like? Currently this is planned as a single book, but quantity and quality may dictate a book for each man. Submissions open May 1, 2024-June 15, 2024. Submissions received earlier will be read and considered but will not be responded to until the window opens. We like stories that feel like they could be canon, but we also enjoy fun alternate takes and pastiche. Prequels, sequels, updates, divergent timelines - unleash your creative powers of darkness and show us something exciting. As with every publication the best way to get a feel for what we like is to read what we’ve put out in the past. Stories should be 1500-5000 words. Poetry will be considered, but is not necessarily sought (We are hoping to have an all poetry issue sometime in the future). Compensation will be .05/word plus contributor’s copies. Reprints will be considered. Reprints should be at least 10 years old. Compensation is $55. Simultaneous submissions accepted, but please notify us immediately if...

Taking Submissions: Eye to the Telescope #53

Eye to the Telescope

Deadline: June 15th, 2024 Payment: US 4¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $4, maximum $25 Theme: Strange Mixology Eye to the Telescope 53, Strange Mixology, will be edited by Gretchen Tessmer. As your fearless bartender, I'm looking for cosmic concoctions, time-twisted tinctures and charmed potions. Give me something with a kicker, the green fairy's secret spells, the sweet sap of the old woods and the moonshine of mermaids, alien aperitifs and speakeasies in space. All spirits welcome, even the ones that don't come in glass bottles. Feel free to interpret the theme broadly but make sure there's a spec element.Give me your old-fashioned verse and cosmopolitan compositions, pink squirrels, bee's knees, gimlets and juleps, juniper berries, elderflowers, the marriage vows of Old Tom Collins and Bloody Mary. Garnish with kaleidoscopic umbrellas and a twisty straw. In Poetry Veritas. Sláinte. Submission Guidelines SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Use the form at  to submit. (If link ever is not working, please refer to the actual post at the bottom of this page in case it was updated.) Please submit 1–3 unpublished poems in English (ideally, attached as .docx or .txt) and include a short bio. Translations from other languages are acceptable with the permission of the original poet (unless public domain). Inquiries only to [email protected] with “ETTT” in the subject line. Deadline: June 15. The issue will appear on July 15, 2024. Payment and rights Accepted poems will be paid for at the following rate: US 4¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $4, maximum $25. Payment is on publication. The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association normally uses PayPal to pay poets, but can also send checks. Eye to the Telescope is an online publication. Therefore, First Electronic Rights (for original unpublished poems) are being sought. Who can submit? Any human writing speculative poetry. Please no AI-generated works or AI-human collaborations. What...

Taking Submissions: Dracula Beyond Stoker Issue 5

Dracula Beyond Stoker Press

Deadline: June 15th, 2024 Payment: 5 cents per word and a contributors copy Theme: Lucy’s Suitors - Quincey, Jack, and/or Arthur (To be published November, 2024) Issue 5: Lucy’s Suitors - Quincey, Jack, and/or Arthur (To be published November, 2024) Quincey was a cowboy who may or may not have been in cahoots with the count. Seward was a drug addicted custodian of a lunatic asylum. And Arthur was there, too! Let’s read some stories of these men - together, individually, in combination - before, during, and after the events of the novel. Did Quincey survive as the undead? How did Jack treat his other patients? When the dust settled, did Holmwood completely break down? Stoker tells us these three men adventured together prior. What might that look like? Currently this is planned as a single book, but quantity and quality may dictate a book for each man. Submissions open May 1, 2024-June 15, 2024. We like stories that feel like they could be canon, but we also enjoy fun alternate takes and pastiche. Prequels, sequels, updates, divergent timelines - unleash your creative powers of darkness and show us something exciting. As with every publication the best way to get a feel for what we like is to read what we’ve put out in the past. Stories should be 1500-5000 words. Poetry will be considered, but is not necessarily sought (We are hoping to have an all poetry issue sometime in the future). Compensation will be .05/word plus contributor’s copies. Reprints will be considered. Reprints should be at least 10 years old. Compensation is $55. Simultaneous submissions accepted, but please notify us immediately if accepted elsewhere. Some stories may be chosen for the website, but not the publication. Please adhere to the Shunn format - https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/ Please only send .doc,...