Events

Submission Window: June 1st - 30th, 2025 Payment: $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue Theme: Any genre, short story Mission = Revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful. Payout = Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Wait, you mean if this substack gets thousands of subscribers, the winner would get thousands of dollars? Yes! The New Yorker pays roughly $7,500 per story and I sincerely hope to go way past that. What does the timeline look like? Submit stories by the end of the month, winner to be announced on the 15th. There is ONE story that wins and receives the full payout. Where do I send submissions? [email protected] What are the rules for submitting? 1. No Fees 2. Send in Microsoft Word or Google Doc form 3. Any genre 4. 6- 10,000 words. Yes, just 6 words, like Hemingway's famous 6-word story "For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn." 5. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. 6. Acknowledge Distribution Rights on this Substack - You can still sell your story elsewhere but we need to be able to save and publish it here. The goal is to create a library for subscribers. 7. Only the winner will be published and rights will only transfer for the winning story. What do I get for subscribing? One beautiful story every month. The complete library. The joy of supporting artists and doing something interesting. What if I can’t pay right now? That’s ok! If you publish a blurb about this site on your website, blog, or social media, I will send you one full story of your choosing. Best of all, it is...

Submission Window: June 15th-30th, 2025 Payment: 1 cent per word Theme: Merry and monstrous, cozy and cosmic tales about Krampus This fall, Underland Press will explore the cosmic horror inherent in the holiday season with Kozy Krampus, a collection of stories merry and monstrous, cozy and cosmic. The gothic nightmares and horrific haunts of our forebears persist in our fever-fueled dreams. Some monsters are never vanquished; they merely find new shapes. Slip into the dark shadows behind the million flickering holiday lights. Stare down the prehistoric fruit log in which lurks something truly eldritch and batrachian. Hark to the songs sung after midnight by carolers with extra-long tongues and extra-sharp teeth. This is the holiday season with the masks ripped off. Remember: not all gifts are good, and if you open it, you have to keep it . . .  The reading period for Kozy Krampus will be June 15th to June 30th. Stories should run less than 5,000 words. Poetry should run more than a few lines. Pay rate with be $0.01/word, along with standard industry contract terms. Stories should be sent in a .doc or .rtf format to [email protected]. Stories that arrive prior to the reading period will be ignored until the reading period begins. As this reading period is short and succinct, we ask that you not send simultaneous submissions. Via: Underland Press.

Submission Window: June 1st - 30th, 2025 Payment: Stories under 5,000 words will receive $10. Stories up to 10,000 words will be serialized over 2 months and will receive $20 Theme: Speculative Fiction that fits the vibe of unreality, suggest reading previous work from the publisher before submitting Note: Reprints are acceptable if the story is not freely available online Our Ko-fi minizine for subscribers Submissions for this call will be OPENING for the month of June 2025. The Pink Hydra is starting a Ko-fi minizine! This is a way to build a subscriber base and steady income without sacrificing our commitment to accessible fiction. Starting July, every ‘off’ month when we’re not publishing The Pink Hydra, we will post a new, exclusive short story on our Ko-fi, paired with a piece of classical artwork, and accompanied by short reviews of stories or books The Pink Hydra loves. For this eclectic mix of classic and new elements, the minizine will be known as Something Old, Something New. Length: Your story must be a minimum of 1,500 words long. We will read stories of up to 10,000 words, with the possibility of serializing them. However, we will give preference to stories which fit in one issue and are less than 5,000 words long. Simultaneous submissions: Allowed and welcome. Let us know at the submissions email if you need to withdraw a story. Multiple submissions: Only send one story at a time, and please send only one story per open submission period. We aim to get back to you within a month of receipt. Reprints: For this project, we will prefer originals, but reprints are acceptable if the story is not freely available online. Rights: If accepted, we require exclusive digital-only rights to the story for a month after publication. For original stories, we ask for First World Rights, which means you can’t publish the...

Deadline: July 1st, 2025 Payment: Royalties Theme: Creature feature horror comedies that have redneck heroes After the success of the previous Trailer Park anthologies, we’ve decided to bring it back for another release of fun Creature Feature Horror. Stories should be original creature-feature, horror-comedy with the same feel as The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Shaun of the Dead, or Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. And of course, our heroes winning the day in all of their redneck glory. The added challenge this year, should you choose to accept it, volume 5 submissions should have a “Creep Killer Clown” twist to it.   Not sure what we’re looking for? Think Pennywise, Killer Clowns from Outerspace, or John Wayne Gacy.   Genre: Horror Comedy / Creature Feature Word Count: 5,000 – 10,000 Opening Essay by: TBD Edited by: William Joseph Roberts Anchor Author: TBD Due Date: July 1, 2025 Email submissions to: threeravenspublishing @ gmail dot com with “Trailer Park” 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. (***SPECIAL NOTE***) Due to a high volume of submissions, we are currently closed to all new unsolicited novel submissions. We will open a window for new authors/manuscripts during the month of December. The only way to bypass this is to catch one of us at a conference or seminar listed on the Three Ravens calendar, and pitch your story to us then.   Otherwise, the rules are below. 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...

Deadline: July 1st, 2025 Payment: short story, $25; nonfiction/essay, $25, short-short piece under 1000 words, $10; poem, $10; artwork/photography, $25 for cover, $10 for interior page display. Theme: I Wish I'd Said That Upcoming premises (target themes) and deadlines for submission : The Lost Sock (March 1, 2025) ALL SHORT STORIES, ESSAYS, POEMS, PHOTOGRAPHS and ART MUST RELATE TO ONE OF THE PREMISES SPECIFIED ABOVE. NOTE: Previously published pieces are welcome, provided that the submission fits the theme and that the author owns the copyright. The premise (target theme) must be an integral part of the story, not necessarily the central theme but not merely incidental. NOTE: Stories longer than 20 double-spaced typewritten pages will not be considered. Indicate premise (target theme) on title page. Be sure to Indicate target theme in cover letter or on first page of manuscript. Include self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with each submission. Rejected manuscripts unaccompanied by an SASE will not be returned. Response time: 3 months after premise deadline. NO READER'S FEE. Mail to: THEMA, Box 8747, Metairie, LA 70011-8747. Outside the US: email [email protected] On acceptance for publication, we will pay the following amount: short story, $25; nonfiction/essay, $25, short-short piece under 1000 words, $10; poem, $10; artwork/photography, $25 for cover, $10 for interior page display. Copyright reverts to author after publication. THEMA isn't for everyone. To find out why, click here. New to submitting manuscripts to journals? Click here to download a PDF file of a few basic guidelines. Unlike many publishers, we prefer works submitted by the authors themselves, without the involvement of an agent. Be sure to indicate premise and include SASE for each submission.  BE SURE to include a separate SASE for each premise. No handwritten manuscripts will be considered. NOTE: We do not accept e-mailed submissions EXCEPT from authors who live outside the U.S. For those living...

Deadline: July 1st, 2025 Payment: $100 or higher depending on Kickstartr Theme: Short stories that explore the theme of pest control in creative, unexpected, and engaging ways. We’re seeking original short stories that explore the theme of pest control in creative, unexpected, and engaging ways. However, don’t be misled by the title—this is not a shared-universe project, nor does your story have to be set in space or on an alien world. Your tale can take place anywhere—on a starship, in a medieval village, deep in the jungle, or even within the microcosm of a single human body. The crucial element is the struggle against some form of infestation, nuisance, or destructive force. Your protagonist might be a seasoned exterminator, a desperate homeowner battling an alien infestation, or even the pest itself, trying to survive against overwhelming odds. We welcome a wide range of tones, from serious and thought-provoking explorations of ethical dilemmas to lighthearted, comedic takes on interstellar vermin problems. Whether your story leans toward hard science fiction, space opera, fantasy, horror, or slipstream, as long as it aligns with the pest control theme, we want to see it! Submission Details Payment: We are committed to paying our contributors. Stories will start at $100 per piece, with higher payments depending on the success of our Kickstarter campaign. Funding: This anthology is being supported through a crowdfunding effort to ensure we can fairly compensate authors and produce a high-quality collection. Competition: We expect a high volume of submissions, so while we encourage everyone to send in their best work, please note that even excellent stories may not make the final cut. Kickstarter: The earliest stories will also get their authors listed in our Kickstarter. How to Submit Confirm your interest then send us your best “Pest Control” story via email to [email protected] and [email protected]. And show us your take on this unique theme! Whether you’re crafting a thrilling...

Deadline: July 1st, 2025 Payment: One cent U.S. per word ($2 minimum) Theme: Fantastic Fiction You really NEED to read the description below. The Cafe Irreal is a quarterly webzine that presents a kind of fantastic fiction infrequently published in English. This fiction, which we would describe as irreal, resembles the work of writers such as Franz Kafka, Kobo Abe, Clarice Lispector and Jorge Luis Borges. As a type of fiction it rejects the tendency to portray people and places realistically and the need for a full resolution to the story; instead, it shows us a reality constantly being undermined. Therefore, we're interested in stories by writers who write about what they don't know, take us places we couldn't possibly go, and don't try to make us care about the characters. We would also suggest you take a look at the current issue, archives, and theory (especially the essay, "What is irrealism?") pages on this web site. We accept unsolicited fiction up to 2,000 words in length. Translations are welcome. There is no minimum length. We accept only electronic submissions via e-mail at [email protected]. We cannot, due to the various computer viruses and worms, accept attachments anymore, so please paste your story into the body of the e-mail. Also include your name, address, e-mail address, and a short bio in the text of the submission; please put the word "submission" in the subject heading of the e-mail to ensure that your submission doesn't get lost among all the spam. We pay an honorarium of one cent U.S. per word ($2 minimum) to buy first-time internet rights (the story will then be archived). Payment is made upon publication. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DON'T ACCEPT SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS and are only interested in reprints in unusual cases (e.g., the story has appeared in print but...

Deadline: July 1st, 2025 Payment: $50 for accepted story, $25 for accepted artwork Theme: Stories/art about America's slide toward authoritarianism - how you feel about it, what you think we can do, what form can and should resistance take, etc. The International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) issues a call for literary (poetry; short story and essay) and visual responses (submitted as hi-resolution jpegs) to this unique American moment - how you feel about it, what you think we can do, what form can and should resistance take, etc. Work will be judged on quality, relevancy to the topic, and adherence to the IHRAM values: Beauty as a fundamental creative value; sincerity and vulnerability of presentation; opening doorways of engagement and celebrating diversity. How do you feel about it? IHRAM PRESS WANTS TO KNOW!! Submit here Submission Guidelines Submission window open through July 1, 2025 Final decisions by August 1, 2025 We are interested in reviewing and publishing the following for this book: Poetry (you may submit up to 3 pieces) Short stories (2500 words or less - one per author) Essays (2500 words or less - one per author) Visual Art (submitted as 300 dpi jpegs; you may submit up to 3 pieces) Please submit your work along with the following required information: Your full name and/or pen/artist name. Your country of residence. A brief third-person bio (roughly 100 words). If your bio includes references of your past work, feel free to provide links! A brief foreword to your piece (between 300-500 words), explaining your inspiration for creating it, background information, explanation of key characters, and any other key insight for the reader. *If your piece is accepted, we will request a high-resolution author photograph. However, authors are not required to provide photographs of themselves and are always welcome to...

Submission Window: July 1st - 7th, 2025 Payment: 8 cents per word Theme: Science fiction stories under 300 words in length We open from the 1st-7th of each month, beginning April 2025. What we want: Anomaly is interested in science fiction stories under 300 words in length, for publication on their Patreon, with the right to collect stories into a future anthology. We're looking for dark and disruptive stories that have strong emotional resonance. We like stories that stick with us after reading, that get us thinking about the twisted use of technologies, the way the world may be, or how characters might react to an evolving technological future. What we're asking for: First rights with 90 days of exclusivity after publication, and the nonexclusive right to republish the story in a future anthology that collects Anomaly stories, with permission from the authors. Compensation: .08 per word for original fiction and an electronic copy of any future anthology. Submission Guidelines: Please attach your file to this form in .doc/.docx format. Use Times New Roman 12 point font with Shunn standard manuscript format. Stories must be 300 words or less. No simultaneous submissions. No multiple submissions. No stories written with AI. No reprints at this time. If you need any further assistance, please email us at [email protected]. SUBMIT HERE Via: Anomaly's Patreon.

Submission Window: July 1st - 7th, 2025 Payment: Flash (400-1500 word) $10, Shorts (1,501-8,000) $20, Black and white Artwork: $10 Theme: Rage We are pro-simultaneous submissions for all categories. Get your work out there with publications you love, and withdraw at any time for any reason. We try to respond as quickly as possible, but we do have lives, a family, and jobs outside of Fraidy Cat. We appreciate your understanding as we give our time, attention, and grace to all aspects to the best of our abilities. Fraidy Cat Press is proud to present Fraidy Cat Quarterly, published four times annually in print and ebook formats. Volume 7: Rage General submissions: July 1,2025 – July 7, 2025 Extended window for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Palestinian authors: July 1, 2025 – July 14, 2025 Publishing in September 2025 What To Submit Fraidy Cat Press loves all things horror – from the eerie, creeping terror of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”’s systematic violence to the unhinged tilt of Laird Barron’s “The Imago Sequence” and everything in between. We want your stories that go bump in the night, your stories that creak like an intruding foot on the staircase, your best writing that screeches through the calm darkness. Put simply, Fraidy Cat Press is interested in: Horror (and its related genre mashups and sub-genres) Wordcount Fraidy Cat Press is seeking: Flash fiction (400-1,500 words long, $10 per accepted piece) Short stories (1,501-8,000 words long, $20 per accepted piece) Black and white artwork ($10 per accepted piece) When To Submit We open for a limited weeklong period four times annually. Space in our quarterlies are limited. We reserve the right to close to submissions early if we are flooded. Submit early to be sure your story will be considered. How To Submit Your...