Events

Deadline: July 14, 2025 Payment: $5 Theme: Splatterpunk and extreme horror stories This is your last chance to get into “The Best of Carnage House Year Two!” But to have a shot at making our second Best of… anthology, you first need to get into Issue #8 of the Carnage House e-zine, which is open for submissions through July 14. We are looking for splatterpunk and extreme horror stories that run the gamut from humorous to gore to smut. Be creative, be wild, be plot-driven with solid character, but most of all, DO NOT be boring—save that for your English Lit survey class. If you can do all this stuff, you can make a whole $5.00 USD and don't spend it all in one place. We want solid, entertaining writing that evokes feelings. Carnage House is a splatter friendly web ’zine—so nothing against cozy, but cozy, we’re not. We invite LGBTQIA and BIPOC themes, and we encourage authors from diverse backgrounds to submit to us. Hard NOs: NO sex with children, NO sexualization of children, and NO child rape. We won’t publish anything supporting a racist, transphobic, or homophobic agenda, so don’t try it. No stories written by AI; all work must be 100 percent original. Our description includes the words “splatter” and “friendly” for a reason. We love splatter, and we’re super friendly. Carnage House is about supporting writers and entertaining readers, and we’re dedicated to both in equal measure. We look forward to reading your work in all its splattertastic glory. High-quality gory smut is fine. Like gore, sex has to serve a purpose. If you want to write a piece about a cowboy who discovers one of the prostitutes at the local brothel has a vagina that opens to another dimension filled with blood clot monsters and...

Submission Window: March 1st - July 15th, 2025 Payment: Short Stories: $20, Poetry: $10 Theme: An issue dedicated to hope. Solar-punk, hope-punk, envisioning a better future. Fantasy that explores hope and grace. Spring 2025 Call for Submissions: MYTHO-ANARCHISM An issue dedicated to hope. Solar-punk, hope-punk, envisioning a better future. Fantasy that explores hope and grace. Submissions open March 1, 2025 Closes July 15, 2025, or when full Published Autumn Equinox, 2025 We are on Submissions Grinder and Duotrope Submission Guidelines: https://societyforritualarts.com/rw/2024-spring/submission-guidelines/ “Hard times are coming, when we’ll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope. We’ll need writers who can remember freedom — poets, visionaries — realists of a larger reality.”  -UK LeGuin, speaks given at National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Short stories: 7,000 word limit. Poetry: under 40 lines. Payment: Short Stories up to 7,000 word (hard limit) $20. No multiple submissions. Simultaneous submissions are OK, but let us know if you’ve placed your story elsewhere. We do not publish dribbles or flash fiction at this time. Poetry: $10 per poem, 40 line hard limit. You may submit up to 5 poems at one time in a single submission. NO blind submissions. Submissions of poetry without your name and contact info on the manuscript will be deleted unread. Use modern standard Shunn manuscript format only. Anything not in this format will be deleted unread. Here is a nice article about formatting: “Proper Manuscript Format” now comes in two distinct flavors Please query for submissions in other media (video, music files, other audio). [email protected]. We have established reading periods for each issue: May (for Autumn) and September (for Spring). Authors are notified within a few days of when the reading...

Deadline: July 15th, 2025 Payment: $20 per story or artwork Theme: Electric Spec prefers science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre, but we're willing to push the limits of traditional forms of these genres. Fiction Submission Guidelinessubmissions at electricspec (dot) comIssues 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 We do not consider stories or art created, or partially created, by A.I. We consider stories 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 four months. Payment will be made shortly after publication using PayPal. We encourage our authors to establish a PayPal account if they don't already have one. We prefer to read submissions in traditional manuscript format. This means indented paragraphs instead of left justification, and Courier or Times New Roman font in 12 pt, double-spaced. Also, please include the title, your name, address, and word length on the first page of your story. To submit your story...

Deadline: July 15th, 2025 Payment: $25 usd Theme: Scifi, speculative fiction, fantasy, not horror that showcases Gen-X Theme:Gen X (Gen X characters and/or themes and/or culture should figure prominently within the story in ways that distinctly identify them as Gen X and/or that have an easily identifiable Gen X “vibe”).We’re especially interested in unique, unexpected takes on the Gen X experience from original points of view. Deadline: July 15, 2025. Submissions are considered on a rolling basis, meaning that acceptance/rejection decisions are made as submissions come in. Authors can generally expect an initial response to their submission within 1-2 weeks. Anthology Release Date: Late 2025-Early 2026 Genres and categories accepted: Literary, Romance, Sci-Fi & Spec Fic, Mystery, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, Historical Fiction, Humor/Satire, Paranormal, Magical Realism, and others. No horror (spooky is okay), gratuitous violence, erotica, of use of “F-bombs,” please. No essays, CNF, poetry, or anything that isn’t fiction. No AI-generated or AI-assisted stories. All submissions should be original, human-created stories that have never been published or performed/read elsewhere (including, but not limited to, social media, a personal blog or website, live or recorded event, etc.). Reader Demographic: YA to adult (approximately ages 14-100) Word count: Between 1,500-2,000 words Payment for accepted submissions: $25 USD (via PayPal) upon completion of edits. Additional Notes: We are most interested in stories that encompass a complete, compelling narrative arc including an interesting/unexpected hook and/or twist and/or reversal and/or “aha!” moment for the reader. Original, eye-catching phrasing is always a plus as well. A standard, short fiction publishing agreement will be sent to each author upon acceptance. RIGHTS: The publishing agreement grants to Altitude Press Exclusive First World Electronic and Print Rights for three (3) months following date of publication; Non-Exclusive Internet Archival Rights for an indefinite time, in order to include published works, and excerpts of published works,...

Submission Window: June 15th - July 15th, 2025 Payment: $25 Theme: All subgenres of horror (dark fantasy, sci-fi, noir all accepted as long as horror plays a central role). SLUGGER is the creative effort of two horror writer pals. Send us:  In general, we are open to all subgenres of horror (dark fantasy, sci-fi, noir all accepted as long as horror plays a central role). Body horror tickles our fancy the most if we had to pick a subgenre, but SLUGGER will be open to all horror stories. We love subversive and transgressive fiction. Anything that fits the punk ethos is likely to get our attention. Stories can be speculative or not. Our guidelines may change over time, but we are open to the full spectrum of genre to literary fiction, conventional storytelling to experimental, and plot driven to vibes only. Do NOT send us: Bigotry (racism, sexism, genderism, ableism, fatphobia, homophobia, transphobia, you get the idea). It’s fine to explore these topics, especially when a horrible character gets what’s coming to them. But hate for the sake of hate will not be accepted. Exploitive sexual violence. Erotica/graphic sexual content. Classic tropes such as vampires, werewolves, etc. are not a hard sell, but the story needs to stand out. No fanfiction. The Details: Word count: 1,000-4,000 Simultaneous submissions: YES. If your piece is accepted elsewhere, please email us at [email protected] so that we can congratulate you and withdraw your story from consideration. Multiple submissions: NO. Please only submit one story per submission period. Reprints: NO. Original fiction only please. Use of artificial intelligence: ABSOLUTELY NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Payment: $25 per accepted story. We hope to increase payment to writers depending upon the success of SLUGGER. Each story will have an original black and white illustration designed by a university student....

Submission Window: July 1st - 15th, 2025 Payment: Short Story-2,500 words or less. $0.015 USD per word/$37.50 USD max, Poems-less than 200 words $10, Flash Fiction-less than a 1,000 words $0.015 USD per word/$15 USD max Theme: Monkey's Paw/Answered Prayers The Last Girls Club Magazine is a quarterly feminist horror magazine that publishes international short stories and poems from the female gaze. It is an homage to the scary comics and zines of the late 20th century. This season's theme is Monkey's Paw/Answered Prayers. You've got everything you ever wanted and it's awful. More tears have been shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones. Show us the folly of wishes. Terrify us with consequences. Keep us up at night dreading a knock on the door or an envelope in the mail. No more than two fiction stories per author per submission period. Fiction is limited to 2,500 words or less. Authors are paid $0.015 USD per word upon acceptance ($37.50 USD max). Flash fiction is limited to under 1,000 words. Authors are paid $0.015 USD per word upon acceptance ($15 USD max). No more than three poems per poet. Poems are limited to 200 words or less for each poem. Poets are paid $10 USD upon acceptance. I prefer to use PayPal to pay authors, but will work with authors where PayPal is not available. Nonfiction columns will must be pitched to editor in chief before submission. Email your idea to [email protected] The Last Girls Club Magazine is a quarterly feminist horror magazine that publishes international short stories and poems from the female gaze. It is an homage to the scary comics and zines of the late 20th century. Please check on the website for the theme in detail. Submissions will be accepted from Jan 1-15, April 1-15, July 1-15, Oct 1-15. Final...

Submission Window: Jun 16-30, 2025. Extended Period for authors who are BIPOC, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other marginalized communities, Jul 1-15 Payment: $50 advance on novellas, $75 advance on novels, 50% net royalties on all eBooks and 30% net royalties on paperback books Theme: Horror Novels and Novellas Submission are Open Jun 16-30, 2025 Extended Period for authors who are BIPOC, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other marginalized communities, Jul 1-15 What We Want Timber Ghost Press is looking to publish high-quality ​horror fiction to include cosmic horror, weird horror, sci-fi/horror, gothic, and contemporary. We especially love cosmic horror, wilderness horror, stories that fill you with creeping dread. We are looking for both new and seasoned authors. If you have never published before, we want to hear from you. If you're a seasoned spinner of dark tales, we want to hear from you. Basically, we want to hear from you. We would love to see more subs from marginalized communities including but not limited to, LGTBQIA+, BIPOC, First Nations, Asian/Pacific Islander, etc.  We are currently looking for novels/novellas that fall into the following horror categories (We are currently not seeking single-author collections or novelettes this time around): Hauntings Possession Cosmic Horror Weird Horror Sci-Fi/Horror Old West/Horror Wilderness Horror Survival Horror Strange/Liminal Spaces Timber Ghost Press is NOT looking for or interested in stories that contain: Child abuse/pedophilia Gore/extreme violence just for the shock factor We are not interested in fantasy or slashers Absolutely no AI-generated stories Novels must be over 50k+ words. Novellas must be between 25-50k words. If your manuscript falls a little outside of these limits, that is okay; just let us know in your submission email. Simultaneous submissions are okay, please just let us know if it is accepted elsewhere. We do not accept multiple submissions, nor do we...

Deadline: July 20th, 2025 Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Theme: Love where time itself is conquered (time travel, time bending, etc) We’re seeking short stories for our brand-new Romantic Fantasy series, a paid market for new and established writers. We're looking for tales featuring strong-willed, independent women who are resilient, perhaps flawed or possess hidden powers, secrets or royal bloodlines. Such protagonists would not be defined solely by their love interests but grow through emotionally charged journeys. Friendships and love interests might be brooding, mysterious or dangerously alluring. Relationships might emphasize deep emotional connections, with lyrical, romantic scenes central to each character’s arc. Ideal submissions will weave emotional tension such as longing, betrayal and love into epic fantasy worlds depicting prophecies, injustice and conflict. We welcome stories that explore moral dilemmas or sacrifices tied to love and duty, and will look out for richly imagined settings, from fae realms and alternate worlds to magical kingdoms, complete with unique magic systems, mythical creatures, royal courts and epic quests. Romance should be integral to the plot, with other elements such as slow-burn attraction, enemies who become lovers, forbidden love or fated matches. If you’re ready to immerse readers in unforgettable adventures where love and fantasy collide, we’d love to read your story. Read on for more tips on the specific titles… A Breath of Time Lost loves, love discovered, love unreachable unless Time itself is conquered, these and many other time-bending, time traveling, time feasting themes can spark your imagination for stories of alternate history, of ancient forests returning to haunt the present and great adventures through dreams and timeless mountain tops, all with hearts beating to the rhythm of romance. Let's see where your stories take us! Please note: Without wishing to...

Deadline: July 20th, 2025 Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Theme: Love stories between dragons and humans (Dragon lords, princesses, etc) We’re seeking short stories for our brand-new Romantic Fantasy series, a paid market for new and established writers. We're looking for tales featuring strong-willed, independent women who are resilient, perhaps flawed or possess hidden powers, secrets or royal bloodlines. Such protagonists would not be defined solely by their love interests but grow through emotionally charged journeys. Friendships and love interests might be brooding, mysterious or dangerously alluring. Relationships might emphasize deep emotional connections, with lyrical, romantic scenes central to each character’s arc. Ideal submissions will weave emotional tension such as longing, betrayal and love into epic fantasy worlds depicting prophecies, injustice and conflict. We welcome stories that explore moral dilemmas or sacrifices tied to love and duty, and will look out for richly imagined settings, from fae realms and alternate worlds to magical kingdoms, complete with unique magic systems, mythical creatures, royal courts and epic quests. Romance should be integral to the plot, with other elements such as slow-burn attraction, enemies who become lovers, forbidden love or fated matches. If you’re ready to immerse readers in unforgettable adventures where love and fantasy collide, we’d love to read your story. Read on for more tips on the specific titles… Of Love & Dragons Dragons may be fierce but they are symbols of great power, and the bond between human and dragon, once forged can never be broken. Or can it? Can romance deal a deathly trail of vows abandoned, or forgotten, can realms beyond our time conjure tales of Dragon Lords and warrior princesses, of great rivalries and oceans yearning with desire and determination, can you tempt the ancient ways into new meanings, and new stories....

Submission Window: July 7th-21st, 2025 Payment: 10 cents per word Theme: Science fiction, fantasy, horror (everything must have a speculative element, even horror). Submissions will be open from July 7-21, 2025! Please do not query about when our next submission window will be. When we know when our next submission window will be, the first place we mark it is here. So if it is not noted here, then we do not know yet. David Steffen is the editor, who you may also know from reading The Long List Anthology series or from the Submission Grinder, which you can use to find markets for your writing and track your submissions.  Diabolical Plots is a SFWA-qualifying market, so if you have a personal goal to join SFWA, making a sale here would help you toward that goal. If you have already read our guidelines and are ready to submit, you can SUBMIT HERE. FICTION Accessibility Note:  We recognize our submission form may not be accessible to all users. Please send us a message at our contact form or email editordiabolicalplotscom and we will make sure you can submit your story. Genres:  science fiction, fantasy, horror (everything must have a speculative element, even horror). Word count:  3500 words or less.  This is a firm limit.  If you submit a longer story, it will be rejected unread and that will count as a submission.  Do not query to ask permission to submit something longer–the answer will be no. Pay rate: 10 cents per word.  Paying by PayPal is preferred by us, but we can mail a US bank check if you live in the US, and if you live somewhere where neither of these things are options, we are exploring other options.  We don’t want unavailability of payment apps for you to be a deterrent to you submitting! Multiple submissions:  No.  In the past, Diabolical Plots accepted...