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Deadline: May 1st, 2016 Payment: $25usd and a contributor's copy It's time to let the monsters loose! We're looking for stories of monsters, either classical or spawned from your own imagination, fighting other monsters. Make the scale as grand or as simple as you like, however there must be a clear winner at the end - one of your creatures must die! Nothing says you have to pit a single monster against another. Get creative, make this a fight for the ages! Go campy or serious; just make sure you're not infringing on the copyright or trademark of others. And please, no fan fiction that points directly to a specific pre-defined trope. A descendant of Van Helsing versus a werewolf or a vampire won't make the cut for this one. It's time to get your game face on and craft a tale worthy of a Monster Brawl! Deadline: May 1, 2016 Word Count: 4,000 - 8,000 words All submissions MUST be submitted to: [email protected] Reading & Evaluation Period: Two to three months after close of the deadline NO REPRINTS WILL BE CONSIDERED Payment: Each story selected for inclusion will receive a one-time payment of $25US plus one print copy of the book. As per our standard guidelines, there will be no stories containing pedophilia, or graphic rape accepted. Anthology Submission guidelines:Submission Deadline - May 1, 2016Word Count: 4,000 - 8,000 words. Payment: $25US per story selected for inclusion, plus one print copy of the book. Copyright: First time worldwide copyright for a period of one year after publication. Reprints will NOT be considered. Graphic gore should be kept to a minimum unless it is integral to the story; absolutely no pedophilia, overtly descriptive and graphic rape scenes will be considered. Only previously unpublished stories may be submitted. Upon acceptance into...

Deadline: May 1, 2016, Payment: 3 cents / word In this SF/F anthology, we’re looking for stories of everyday trauma survival -- from a barmaid on an intergalactic space station who was abandoned by her parents, to a farmer’s son bullied by his peers, who withstands and resists their abuse. We also welcome stories with a war setting, such as stories about veterans and refugees. The key component for all of these stories is how relatively ordinary characters survive and thrive, given the traumatic experiences they’ve had. Note: we aren’t necessarily looking for happily ever after. Trauma survival rarely ends in happily ever after, though it can, and hopefully will, end in closure and a coming to terms. We’re soliciting speculative fiction up to 10,000 words, though we prefer 4000 – 8000. Payment is 3 cents / word for print and electronic rights, to be published by Lethe Press. You need not be a trauma survivor yourself to submit. Simultaneous submissions are fine. Send up to 3 submissions as attached files (.doc, .docx, or .rtf format) to [email protected] with the subject line: SURVIVOR SUB . Questions should also go to JJ Pionke at that address. Submissions close May 1, 2016, but will be considered on a rolling basis. *** About the Editors: JJ Pionke is a librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who focuses his research on disability, including mental health, in the library. He is a long time reader of science fiction and fantasy as it has been a safety net in which to emotionally shelter. He has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder stemming from severe bullying in many forms throughout his life. Mary Anne Mohanraj is the author of Bodies in Motion and The Stars Change, founder of Strange Horizons and director of The Speculative Literature Foundation....

sunset view with palms in Santa monica, California. concept about traveling and usa Deadline: May 1st, 2016 Payment: $0.06 per word Take a journey up Highway 99. Stop off just north of Bakersfield where a young woman stands on the edge of Woollomes Avenue, looking apprehensive, debating if she should cross. She’s been dead for decades but the residents see her often enough that she’s become a stable fixture of the scenery, as normal as the billboards that line the Highway. Follow that Highway further and you’ll encounter another roadside obscurity. John Muir’s conservationist efforts have inspired people across the world. Commemorating him via celebration wasn’t enough for the small town of Lemon Cove. To honor the champion of the wilderness, some Californians have constructed a massive wooden sculpture of his head that sits just the road, staring to the horizon, to the vastness of Yosemite. Time for one more stop on your trek up 99? How about visiting the underground city below Old Sacramento buried when the town decided to simply raise the roads and start fresh. The storefronts still stand and some swear that the dead have migrated to roam the alleyways of a town that’s been forgotten by the tourists walking above. You have a choice, from here. On up 99, to the brutally-sharp rubble and claustrophobic caves of the Lava Beds National Monument, to the silent, deserted ghost towns and high-mountain deserts of Modoc, the extinct volcanoes and wildlands around Lassen. Head back around to 80, through the Donner Pass–be sure to go in winter, and take some friends with you. Or you can leave 99 and take 50. 50, the notorious mountain highway. Blocked in winter by snow, in spring by mudslides, in summer and autumn by wildfires. Stop off in Placerville, where an effigy...

Deadline: May 21st, 2016 Payment: $55 in advance and royalties We’re excited to open this anthology for submissions, and we can’t wait to see what dark goodness you’ve cooked up. Submissions to this anthology must contain monsters being monsters, meaning no sparkly vampires or monsters with hearts of gold. Your monsters should be terrorizing and keep us up at night. Acceptable submissions for consideration include both short stories (2,500–5,000 words) and novellas (10,000–49,000 words). Raven International Publishing will receive submissions until May 21st. Please submit using the online form below. Additional details: No writer’s fee for submissions The author will receive $55 in advance, plus royals quarterly, for his or her accepted short story/novella Only submissions with first rights available can be accepted Publisher has first year exclusive rights for accepted submissions The story you submit must be your own work for which you hold the rights When you submit your work you will receive an email, asking to confirm that you submitted. When you confirm you will be taken to a thank you page, this is how you will know your work has been received How to submit your work: Fill in your name (on this page) Fill in your best email address In the subject put your story title Write a short cover letter with a paragraph about your story, and a paragraph about you Copy and paste the cover letter and your story into the box labeled Your Message Hit send Check your email for a response from us  with the subject: Please Confirm your Submission to Raven International Publishing When you receive the email click the link to confirm Your story will not be submitted until you click confirm in the email Email [email protected] with any additional questions Via: Raven International Publishing.

Deadline: May 1st, 2015 Payment: $20 per story What we are looking for: It's an old trope, the skeptic who moves into the haunted house only to eventually start to believe in the supernatural about the time a ghost tears his life apart. This is the story we are looking for but just because it is a trope doesn't mean it can't be unique. It doesn't have to be a haunted house,  there's a whole world of cryptids out there just waiting to attack unsuspecting documentary teams in the woods. We are looking for stories that are Dark Comedy, not a parody or spoof. You must scare us & make us laugh, not one or the other. Pay $20 per story Word Count 5000-7500 words Anticipated Release Date 07/2016Additional Stipulations: No reprints. No simultaneous submissions. We will hold all rights to reprints for one year from the date of publication.Must be able to return the signed contract (if accepted) within 15 days of receipt.) Payment for accepted submissions will be made within 15 days of receipt of signed contract. If you have an amazing story under 5k words that you believe will fit, we can consider  it for publication. However, if the story is accepted pay will be lower than the $20 listed above. Failure to follow the following guidelines will result in immediate disqualification of the work. Word document Courier font size 12 Double spaced Include a cover letter in the body of the email with a description of the story, if it has been previously published, a short bio (under 50 words) and one website where readers can find more of your work. We may accept simultaneous submissions, each anthology is different, We may accept reprints, each anthology is different. Send submissions to [email protected] with the anthology name in the subject field. Payments are made via Paypal Via: Disquieted...

Deadline: May 1, 2016 Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction (all U.S. dollars) and contributor's copy Summer: By the fifteenth month of the drought, the lake no longer held her secrets. Due date: May 1, 2016 We love the fact that writers around the world are inspired by our first lines, and we know that not every story will be sent to us. However, we ask that you do not submit stories starting with our first lines to other journals (or post them online on public sites) until we've notified you as to our decision (usually two to three weeks after the deadline). When the entire premise of the publication revolves around one sentence, we don't want it to look as if we stole that sentence from another writer. If you have questions, feel free to drop us a line. (Also, we understand that writers may add our first line to a story they are currently working on or have already completed, and that's cool. But please do not add our first line to a previously published story and submit it to us. We do not accept previously published stories, even if they have been repurposed for our first lines.) One more thing while I've got you here: Writers compete against one another for magazine space, so, technically, every literary magazine is running a contest. There are, however, literary magazines that run traditional contests, where they charge entry fees and rank the winners. We do not - nor will we ever - charge a submission fee, nor do we rank our stories in order of importance. Occasionally, we run contests to help come up with new first lines, or we run fun, gimmicky competitions for free stuff, but the actual journal...

Deadline: May 1st, 2016 Payment: 3 cents per word and 2 copies of the book. Author and Editor Scott David Aniolowski is currently reading for his latest anthology, Intimate the Nature of the Phantasms: Queering the Cthulhu Mythos, a collection of Cthulhu Mythos tales told from an LGBT point of view, for Lethe Press. H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos has become a genre unto itself, with tales spanning every conceivable setting: gothic horror, splatterpunk, cyberpunk, steampunk, sci fi, dreamy, Gaslight horror, avant-garde, experimental, erotica, fantasy, sword and sorcery, historic, and anything else imaginable, and more! Similarly, submissions for this anthology are open to any and all settings and genres, but told with a LGBT sense of self. What does that mean? You tell me. It does not mean, necessarily, strictly sex. If your tale is an erotic tale fine, but don’t feel compelled to include sex just to satisfy the theme; there is so much more to the LGBT community! The one firm rule for submissions is that they must be Cthulhu Mythos stories. Please do not feel obliged to slavishly mimic Lovecraft or use just his creations. There are dozens of other wonderful authors and hundreds of stories from which to choose gods, monsters, blasphemous books and haunted settings: Ramsey Campbell’s work is wonderfully British and full of urban decay and sci fi themes; Clark Ashton Smith’s milieu is very dreamy and exotic; Robert E. Howard is known for his pulpy action and sword and sorcery tales, etc. And there are so many more great authors to inspire, or devise your own dark gods, unspeakable horrors, and sanity-sapping tomes. Seeking works up to 6,000 words. Tell me the story you need to tell but don’t bloat it out just for word count – if your story is only 2,500 words...

Deadline: May 1, 2016 Payment: 0.013 cents per word and 5 contributor's copies An open invitation for all authors to submit short story works of horror for review and possible inclusion in a new horror anthology to be published by Raven's Head Press this summer. Seven stories will be chosen for inclusion. Please contact Michael Hudson at [email protected] Works must be 7500 words or less. Subject matter is to be supernatural/horror/noir in theme. The book will be aimed for adults but we will not accept any blatant adult content. If the work is in Italian, editor Michael Hudson will handle the English translation. Proposed title: Death Dances In the Moonlight Payment will be semi-professional at 0.013 cents per word. Writer will receive five copies of the trade paperback plus any additional copies as cost plus shipping as needed. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2016 5:00PM EST. If approved final work due June 04/2016. Have fun! Via: Raven's Head Press.

https://youtu.be/D1Lb9HZwJyY Deadline: May 4, 2016 Payment: $15 I had started the submission process last year, but I’m opening it again. “Tap into the fear that is trapped in those Appalachian hills, focusing more on the Pennsylvania/West Virginia area. You never know what you’ll find in the surrounding areas.” I’m looking for horror and its different subgenres here. I want the stories to contrast greatly. The word count would be between 5,000-15,000.  My plan is to have lucky number 13 stories. This horror anthology is focused on Appalachia in the United States. Stories based outside of PA and WV will be considered as well. You do not have to write fiction based on local folklore, but if you do, please let me know. It will pay $15 and you’ll have the option of buying extra copies at cost and selling it on your own. We would only retain rights for 6 months before they would revert back to you and you can publish it elsewhere. It’s untitled as of yet. Publication is slated for October 2016. It’ll print through my PenPaperPad imprint with Book Genesis designing it for us. The due date for your short story is May 4, 2016. You can submit no more than 2. Please email submissions to [email protected] as a .doc attachment. Subject: HORROR SUBMISSIONS  Send your submissions and let’s make something scary as hell together. Via: Tamara Woods.

Deadline: May 15th, 2016 Payment: $0.06/word and two contributor's copies Note 1: Not strictly horror but obviously reading the guidelines some themes could work. Note 2: You will need to click through to the page to submit. We’re looking for stories that: Have a main character that a middle grade reader (ages 9-12) can identify with; Show a diverse set of real characters; Are well written, fun to read and encourage a love of reading science fiction; Tell of adventure, space, science.  Give us rockets, robots and alien encounters, and we’re pretty happy. Steampunk, time travel, weird west and alternate history are all fine. Are between 3,000 and 6,000 words. We’re especially looking for stories: Of adventure!  We love a good dystopia as much as the next robot, but remember – this is the young explorer’s adventure guide. Where the main character is of a population that has traditionally been under-represented in science fiction, e.g. girls, people of color, differently abled people; Where the main character has agency, exercises it, and isn’t just along for the ride.   We’re not interested in: Stories where the female characters primarily exist to be rescued or as a prize for the males; Stories where the primary plot or subplot is romantic in nature; Stories with graphic violence or any form of sexual activity; Stories about the first girl to do X, surprising everyone; Stories that depict any ethnicity or gender as universally bad or stupid. Please note:  although we’re aware kids have a wide and varied vocabulary, we’d prefer not to have swearing in the stories. If your story has swearing, please rephrase before submitting. Submission deadline, mechanics and planned schedule Anthology will be open for submissions from January 15– May 15, 2016, with a reading period of June and July 2016. While we prefer...

Deadline: May 15, 2016 Payment: $25 Anthology Editor: Carrol Fix Word Count: 3,000 – 8,000 Deadline: May 15, 2016  Authors receive token payment of $25. Please read our Submission Guidelines before submitting. Submit using the Submission Form. Humankind has forded the immense stream of space between stars and reached our neighbors. The Milky Way Galaxy lies waiting to be explored. What will we discover on hospitable planets circling new stars? Will we find almost familiar moons, asteroids, planetary rings, and, possibly, never before seen astronomical formations? The sky is no longer the limit for soaring imaginations. Visions V stories take place somewhere…anywhere…in the Milky Way Galaxy. Anything to do with planets, stars, and aliens is fair game. No limitations, as long as the subject and action take place outside our Solar System and within the Milky Way. Originality is paramount. If you are using an old Star Trek-like concept, it better have a new twist or something that makes it stand out. We get lots of similar stories with a standard theme, so if yours is like one we already have, we will think twice before accepting yours. Impress us. Via: Lillycat Publishers.

Deadline: May 15th, 2016 Payment: $25 USD "Toxic" The world can be a dangerous place, not just from the obvious, but also from the most seemingly innocent. From despots who silence entire nations with deadly gas, to the tiniest creatures which can kill with a single sting or bite, this anthology is centered around the theme of poisons, toxins, and anything, well...toxic. The goal for this publication will be to collect ten unique stories, each using a different real life substance (they must actually exist). Note: submissions will be open from now until 5/15/2016 GUIDELINES: Blood and violence are fine but no splatter fest, use your own judgment Sex is permissible but only if its integral to the story, please do not send adult content The idea is to make the story interesting, a good and engaging plot is necessary Submissions must be from 2000-5000 words and edited properly Do not contact me about the progress of your submission, my goal is to go through all work received and respond in turn All submissions must be attached via doc, docx, or rtf Again, please review your work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. before submitting All submissions should be sent to ([email protected]) for consideration Do not send multiple submissions The word "submission" should be included in the subject line Please do not submit reprints All toxic substances and effects used in the stories must actually exist. In other words, a serial killer should not be using an imaginary poison to kill their victims, nor should how their victim suffer be unrealistic, try and match the poison to its real world effects Please include your name, address, and title in the top right corner along with your name Copyright: All those who submit their work are granting Migla Press non-exclusive rights primarily for editing and archiving purposes. Those who are selected...

Deadline: May 20th, 2016 Payment: $50, also if sales reach a certain threshold there will be royalties The Twelve Days of Christmas. Everyone knows the song. And at some point, everyone has thought, "Man that must have gotten really disconcerting getting all those things from their 'love'. There must be an easier way..." And so we are making one: a way for people to give all these things to their love without the logistical nightmare. The Patchwork Raven is calling for story submissions for an anthology based on the twelve gifts given in the well-known Christmas song. We're hoping to have it available for this Christmas, which is why submissions are only open for a month. But I am a writer, I know what it's like - writers thrive on deadlines right? I am looking for interesting stories with one of the following titles: Twelve Drummers Drumming Eleven Pipers Piping Ten Lords a-Leaping Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a-Milking Seven Swans a-Swimming Six Geese a-Laying Five Gold Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves A Partridge in a Pear Tree That is almost as much guidance as I am willing to give. They can be any genre, and the more twisty and surprising the connection to the title, the more likely I am to pick it. Those of you who have worked with me before will know that I love a story that surprises me. I also love stories in diverse voices. Show me a poly lesbian paladin. A female Indian noir detective. A trans Kenyan doctor living in Wellington. A bodybuilder who loves needlework. Challenge the usual boundaries. Write beautiful prose. But most of all, tell me a good tale. I am looking for ONE story for each title. I may, over time, keep a tally...

Deadline: May 30th 2016 Payment: A signing bonus not to be held against royalties, plus a net royalty on all sales. As part of our first anniversary celebrations, we are launching a brand new initiative. Without further ado, we unveil… The Book Smugglers Publishing Novella Initiative Starting in 2017, we are looking at publishing four Speculative Fiction novellas per year, alongside our short stories, anthologies, and other works. General Information: We’re looking for original novellas from all around the world as long as they are written in English. Our goal is to publish four novellas in 2017, and each novella will be accompanied by one original piece of artwork from an artist commissioned by us separately. What We’re Looking For: DIVERSITY. We want to read and publish novellas that reflect the diverse world we live in, about and from traditionally underrepresented perspectives. We more than welcome stories featuring LGBTQIA characters: PLEASE SEND THEM TO US. It should go without saying that we’d hope for a respectful and responsible approach to creating diverse worlds and characters. Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult audience submissions are welcome. Good speculative fiction is ageless! We are VERY keen on receiving Speculative Fiction stories within the Romance, Horror, and Science Fiction genres (or stories with strong romantic, horror, or sci-fi elements). Creativity & Subversion. We love subversive stories. We want you to challenge the status quo with your characters, story telling technique, and themes. Guidelines for Submission: We are looking for original speculative fiction, between 17,500 and 40,000 words long. These SFF offerings must be previously unpublished in English; we will consider works that were originally published in other languages now in English, provided that the author has the right to sell the English language edition. We do accept multiple submissions as well as simultaneous...

Deadline: May 31st, 2016 Payment: $500 and 25 contributors copies. What kind of stories is One Story looking for? One Story is seeking literary fiction. Because of our format, we can only accept stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone. Does One Story pay money? Yes. One Story is offering $500 and 25 contributors copies for First Serial North American rights. All rights will revert to the author upon publication. Does One Story accept previously published material? One Story is looking for previously unpublished material. However, if a story has been published in print outside of North America, it will be considered. No stories previously published online will be accepted. Does One Story accept simultaneous submissions? Yes, but please notify us immediately if your submission is accepted for publication elsewhere. What file types can I submit? We accept PDF, RTF, and TXT files that are less than 500KB. Please include the story title and all writer contact info on the first page of the submitted file. Will you send me comments on my story? No. One Story receives close to 100 submissions each week. Please understand that we do not have time to comment on individual stories. Can I change the story I submitted with an updated draft? No. Do you consider translations? Yes. Please include the name of the original author and language, as well as the name of the translator on the first page of your submission. How do I submit to One Story? We have an automated system for you to send us your work. It will securely send our editors your story and email you...

Deadline: May 31st, 2016 Payment: CAN 6 cents per word. The payment is an advance against royalties. A contributor’s copy is included. Note: Author must have an Asian heritage Proposed Anthology Title: Where the Stars Rise (working title) Proposed Sub-Title: Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories Proposed Series Title: Laksa Anthology Series: Speculative Fiction Genre: All original short speculative fiction Anthology Editors: Lucas K. Law & Derwin Mak Theme: This speculative fiction anthology contains original stories to celebrate Asian diversity, featuring an Asian main character, Asian setting and/or some amount of Asian elements, by authors with an Asian heritage. We consider Asian countries as those defined by United Nations in Wikipedia.  Authors do not need to reside in Asia to participate in this anthology. We welcome translated story from other languages to English (no English reprints, please). Proposed Anthology: We are looking for stories to celebrate character diversity (ethnic, age, walks of life/socio-economics, sexuality, etc.). We leave the question as to what determine Asian theme open so not to restrict creativity. No stereotypes or clichéd portrayal of cultures or stories based purely on showing the strangeness or exoticism of a culture. No erotica. Cross-genre is encouraged. This anthology is geared towards Young Adult and Adult. Project Objectives: • A portion of Laksa Media’s net revenue from this anthology will go directly to support Kids Help Phone. • Laksa Media will donate CAN$500 upon the publication of this anthology to Kids Help Phone. Submission Guidelines: Length: <7,000 words File Format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf only Use Submittable to submit your story for this anthology (DO NOT USE the Laksa Media online submission form).  Submittable opens on December 1, 2015. No reprints: No simultaneous submissions: No multiple submissions. We want to have a balance between science fiction and fantasy, with at least...

Deadline: May 31st, 2016 Payment: 5¢ a word Before submitting to SpeckLit, please read the submission details below carefully, then fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page to let us know a bit about yourself. Do not send us your submissions directly. We want to get to you know you first. Include your pen name, website, Twitter, and a link to your most recently published work (if you have one) in your initial contact. Fiction:  We are suckers for plot. If it ain’t got plot, it ain’t a story. We want each piece to have the feeling of a beginning, a middle, and an end (or inciting incident, attempt(s) to fix it, and climax). All fiction must be original. There are lots of places for fanfic – this isn’t one of them. And finally, of course, it also has to be speculative – fantasy, science fiction, myth fairy tale, dark fantasy, etc… – but no erotica and no gore. A well-placed swear word, the recognition that we are sexual beings, and off-camera violence are all okay, but within limits, eh? Besides, with the focus on plot, there’s no time to get all graphic. Titles do not count as part of the 100 words, and after your drabble, add a bit of an explanation of how you got there from the topic (but remember to keep it short!). Non-fiction: We also publish drabble-length reviews of spec-fic containing media – books, movies, video games, comics, TV shows (or even specific outstanding episodes of TV shows), etc… Make sure your reviews are non-nasty (negative reviews are fine, but be nice!), and of course, spoiler free. Again, you don’t have much space, so get to the point. Your hundred words do not need to include the title, author, director, stars,...

Deadline: $25 and a contributor's copy Payment: May 31, 2016 Level Best Books Submissions for 2016 are OPEN! Who’s won the Derringer, Macavity,  Anthony,  Agatha, Blanchard and Robert L. Fish Awards? Level Best Short Story Authors, that’s who! Level Best Books is an independent publishing cooperative devoted to publishing literature we enjoy and want to share with other readers.  The cooperative has published thirteen anthologies in the Best New England Crime Stories series, including Stone Cold (2013) and Rogue Wave (2014) and Red Dawn (2015).  The collection is published each fall and launched at the New England mystery conference Crime Bake. Authors whose work is selected receive $25 and one free copy of the anthology. Starting January 1, 2016 we will be accepting submissions for our fourteenth anthology. The submission requirements and procedures have changed from previous years, so please read our Guidelines carefully before submitting. Guidelines Stories must be set in New England* or be written by a New England author in the following genres: mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, and horror. (No torture/killing of children or animals). Stories must not exceed 5,000 words. Stories must be previously unpublished in print or electronically, including self-published works (to include author websites). Stories from both published and unpublished authors will be considered. The Level Best editors will consider up to two stories from the same author in the same submission year. Stories submitted once previously, and not published in the interim, are welcome, especially those that have been revised. New England stories are set in the six New England* states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. If you have questions about whether your story qualifies, please query before submitting. *Please note: this is a change from previous years. Authors do not need to reside in New England to be considered for the anthology. How...

Deadline: May 31, 2016 Payment: $25 plus one contributor’s copy Circuses are supposed to be places of joy and wonder, but they are also full of clowns and many people find clowns distinctly creepy. Circuses come into town and disappear after a brief stay, leaving behind nothing but a memory of the magic. They are homes for misfits, bearded ladies and contortionists who might be shunned in the outside world. What better environment than a circus for a story of magic and wonder that leaves you wondering if it ever happened. Give us your best wonderful, dark, or fantastic story about the circus. What we don’t want to see: Gratuitous anything – violence, sex, profanity, doesn’t matter. If it is not integral to the story and it’s not advancing the plot or character development, we don’t want to see blood, gore, or sex just for shock value’s sake (this goes for language too). We are not opposed to violence, sex, or profanity – as long as it belongs in the story and it’s not just there to shock and titillate. Some things would be a very hard sell for us, like rape or torture of any sort, and torture of children or animals will get an immediate rejection. Think of how far we’re willing to go based on the well known movie rating system – if it would qualify for a PG, PG-13, or R rating, we’ll look at it. If it would be NC-17 or up, we’ll have to pass, thank you. Word Count: We’re looking for stories that fall in the 3,000 to 10,000 word range. We will consider looking at stories outside this range, but they need to be just too good for us to pass up. You have a much better chance if you keep the...

Deadline: May 31st, 2016 Payment: $25 plus one contributor’s copy The Concept: Let’s go to the circus Circuses are supposed to be places of joy and wonder, but they are also full of clowns and many people find clowns distinctly creepy. Circuses come into town and disappear after a brief stay, leaving behind nothing but a memory of the magic. They are homes for misfits, bearded ladies and contortionists who might be shunned in the outside world. What better environment than a circus for a story of magic and wonder that leaves you wondering if it ever happened. Give us your best wonderful, dark, or fantastic story about the circus. What we don’t want to see: Gratuitous anything – violence, sex, profanity, doesn’t matter. If it is not integral to the story and it’s not advancing the plot or character development, we don’t want to see blood, gore, or sex just for shock value’s sake (this goes for language too). We are not opposed to violence, sex, or profanity – as long as it belongs in the story and it’s not just there to shock and titillate. Some things would be a very hard sell for us, like rape or torture of any sort, and torture of children or animals will get an immediate rejection. Think of how far we’re willing to go based on the well known movie rating system – if it would qualify for a PG, PG-13, or R rating, we’ll look at it. If it would be NC-17 or up, we’ll have to pass, thank you. Word Count: We’re looking for stories that fall in the 3,000 to 10,000 word range. We will consider looking at stories outside this range, but they need to be just too good for us to pass up. You have a...

Deadline: May 31, 2016 Payment: CAN 6 cents per word advance against royalties and contributor's copy A proposal for an science fiction anthology Where the Stars Rise: Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories (working title) is out.  All original short speculative fiction is welcome for submission.  The anthology editors are Lucas K. Law & Derwin Mak. This speculative fiction anthology contains original stories to celebrate Asian diversity, featuring an Asian main character, Asian setting and/or some amount of Asian elements, by authors with an Asian heritage. Asian countries as those defined by United Nations in Wikipedia. Authors do not need to reside in Asia to participate in this anthology. (Image via Shutterstock) It welcomes translated story from other languages to English (no English reprints, please).  Stories to celebrate character diversity (ethnic, age, walks of life/socio-economics, sexuality, etc.). We leave the question as to what determine Asian theme open so not to restrict creativity. No stereotypes or clichéd portrayal of cultures or stories based purely on showing the strangeness or exoticism of a culture. No erotica. Cross-genre is encouraged. This anthology is geared towards Young Adult and Adult. Project Objectives: • A portion of Laksa Media’s net revenue from this anthology will go directly to support Kids Help Phone. • Laksa Media will donate CAN$500 upon the publication of this anthology to Kids Help Phone. Submission Guidelines: Length: <7,000 words File Format: .doc, .docx, or .rtf only Use Submittable to submit your story for this anthology (DO NOT USE the Laksa Media online submission form). Submittable opens on December 1, 2015. No reprints: No simultaneous submissions: No multiple submissions. The anthology will have a balance between science fiction and fantasy, with at least 50% science fiction. However, anthology editors tend to receive more fantasy than science fiction submissions. Therefore, it encourages more science fiction stories of...

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: $.06/word Much like the award-winning anthology Steampunk World, Steampunk Universe will be a multicultural anthology of steampunk stories. But this time, the anthology will focus on characters with exceptionalities.* This call for submissions is aimed particularly at marginalized writers, especially those who are identify as members of a minority, LGBTQ, or living with exceptionality. Whether or not you qualify and feel this call for submission is appropriate for your work is at your discretion. Stories are due by June 1, 2016 to [email protected]. Ideally, decisions will be made by July 1, and the anthology will be crowdfunded shortly thereafter. Writers will be paid $.06/word for original stories. I’m not looking for reprints at this time. Deadline extensions will not be granted. Your story should be submitted in Standard Manuscript Format (please check and double-check that your name and email address are on the first page!) as an email attachment in .doc, .docx or .rtf format. The subject of your message should read . If your submission doesn’t conform to these specifications it may be deleted unread. What I’m looking for: Your story should take place in a non-Western culture. I’d love to have a variety of stories that take place in the diverse cultures of Central/South America, Asia, and Africa. Your story should contain a character with at least one exceptionality. It should be a major element of the story, providing the character with extra challenges but maybe also special insight or abilities. I want to explore how steampunk technology changes the lives of people with exceptionalities, for better or for worse. I’d love to see characters who are also members of other marginalized groups (such as LGBTQ characters). Your story should contain steampunk elements. I get a lot of submissions with steampunk exoskeletons and...

Deadline: Just 1st, 2016 Payment: $25 + contributor's copy. New York’s Hudson Valley is an enchanted region. Starting in the Adirondacks and Lake Tear in the Clouds–the source of the Hudson River–and following the river south through New York State until reaching Manhattan and the Atlantic Ocean 315 miles later, the region is home to centuries of myths and legends. Everyone that has ever settled here has added to the lore of the land, from the Algonquin People, to the early Dutch settlers, to the greedy industrialists of the 19th Century. The river runs through Albany, the Catskill Mountains, and Sleepy Hollow. It was one of the major battle fronts of the French and Indian War in the 1750s and the American Revolutionary War twenty-five years later. It spawned the renown Hudson River School art movement founded by Thomas Cole. It is rich with history, much of it dark and macabre.        We want original, supernatural horror stories set within the Hudson Valley Region within the State of New York (please note that New York City is NOT considered a part of the Hudson Valley). The time period for your story is up to you–past, present, future, alternate history–but it must take place whole or in part within the Hudson Valley. Hudson Valley is a real place, with a real history, so please respect the reality of the setting. Scare us, creep us out, give us the shivers, make us laugh. Be Gothic, modern, Lovecraftian, Victorian, Steampunk, whatever. Just set your story in the Hudson Valley. RULES: Any & all submissions must be set in & around New York’s Hudson Valley. No gratuitous sex, violence, or profanity No adult content of any kind. If there is sex in your story, it must be important to the story– and...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $25 CAN and a contributor's copy The Stars at my Door? Yes – we think this is a suitable title for an anthology that celebrates the optimistic science fiction of yesteryear. So you are looking for Olde Worlde writing? Not at all (unless that is your thing). We just want stories that embrace the enthusiasm and optimism of ‘old school’ science fiction – stories that aren’t afraid to dream big, get a little weird, not bothered too much with being scientifically accurate, and still have a bit of a sting in the tail. What should I be looking at to get a flavor of the sort of subs you are looking for? Well, this anthology was born out of the publisher’s love for the short writing of Fredric Brown and Harry Harrison among others, specifically Brown’s extraordinary short stories to be found in ‘Nightmares and Geezenstacks’ and Harrison’s amazing tales based around the use of a ‘matter transmitter’ in ‘One Step from Earth’. Aside from these, you should delve into the authors that sprung up during the ‘Golden Age’, folks like Heinlein, Brackett, Vance, E.E. Smith, Pohl, Bradbury, and anything John W. Cambell greenlit before he became too immersed in realism. Think Captain Video, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, with a dash of Verne. That doesn’t mean we just want period pieces – your story can still be contemporary if you so desire, but it will be much harder to shrug off the shackles of modern cynicism and realist goals… What should my story be about? The sky’s the limit, however, we would prefer stories that deal with exploration, new discoveries, a yearning to reach beyond the stars. Meeting our preferred topic is half the battle. The nitty-gritty We are looking for stories around the 5000-7000...

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: Contributor's Copy In 2013, GLAHW Member, Ken MacGregor had a brilliant idea for a Special Auction Prize at the annual Monster Mash for Literacy Bash – raffle off the opportunity for the winner’s name to become the sole theme of a future Anthology. Several brave souls went into the hat and one emerged victorious. Thus, Recurring Nightmares was born. We have now opened this anthology to all writers in the Sci-Fi, Horror, Dark Fantasy genre. We however always encourage new members, sojoin us, won’t you? The theme for Recurring Nightmares III (2016) is David’s and Peggy’s Nightmares. Every story must contain both characters names and a chicken. Deadline is June 1, 2016 with a publication date of August/September 2016, with cover art by  Steven J Bejma. Please submit all stories to [email protected] Quick and dirty Submission Guidelines (from Ken, the Head Editor and Creator of Recurring Nightmares) There is no  specific theme for 2016, but every story must have a chicken. Word count is 2,500-5,000 firm – if you exceed 5,000, I will mercilessly cut what I want to get it under. Two significant characters must be named “David” and “Peggy”, though they do not have to be the protagonists. There needs to be a chicken in the story. Please follow standard manuscript format (http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html) with the exception of adding an extra apace after a period – don’t do that. I hate that. The sooner you get in your submissions, the more time I have to edit them and work with you to make them the best they can be, so earlier is better. Submissions received after March 1 will not be eligible for consideration. I’m a hard-ass on deadlines. Deal with it. I look forward to reading your submissions. Thanks. Payment is 1 Contributor Copy and...

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: 2 contributor's copies Title: Deadline Premise:  On the dark net, the backdoor of the internet where the most deplorable go to sate their diabolical needs, there is a website designed for serial killers. They post their expressions of sadism, download images that make most peoples’ stomachs turn, and they form a network of others like themselves. A game has begun. The ringleader, who’s known only as Dark_Inside, has proposed a challenge and only the most elite of predators will be successful. A target’s name is given out with only their picture. The predator must find them, kill them, and then bring their “trinkets” to a designated meeting place on a certain date. The winner will be selected from those that arrive by the “dead”line. ​ Background:  Each person writing to submit will choose a well-known/documented serial killer. You may not use their real name. You will give clues to who the serial killer is by their online name, method of killing, etc. Compensation: All profits will go to Houston Area Women’s Shelter which serves the community of families who suffer from crisis and abuse. http://www.hawc.org/ Contributors will receive 2 paperback copies. Publisher: Stitched Smile Publications in collaboration with Monique Happy of Monique Happy Editorial Services Requirements:  3-5k words Deadline:  June 1, 2016 by midnight CST Winners will be ANNOUNCED no later than August 15th 2016 on Stitched Smile Publications Facebook and Monique’s Facebook. You must LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to each so that you’re up to date on the selection process!https://www.facebook.com/MoniqueHappyEditorialServices https://www.facebook.com/stitchedsmilepublications Via: Stiched Smile Publications.

Deadline: June 1, 2016 Payment: $10 and contributor's copy FunDead Publications is currently seeking submissions for an upcoming anthology of chilling Christmas tales. Title TBA. We are looking for stories in the vein of Dickens, or ‘Between the Lights’ by E.F. Benson, or ‘The Kit-Bag’ by Algernon Blackwood. Ghosts and legends are encouraged, historical fiction is preferable for this collection. Instructions: Send your submission to [email protected] for consideration, but please read our guidelines below! Submission Guidelines: Submit by June 1, 2016 with a rough release date of November 20, 2016 Word Count: 1,000-6,000 Content Requirements: Your story must be set around the holidays, specifically Christmas or winter solstice. The time-period and content is your choice, but we are hoping to keep the them set in times-gone-by! Historical fiction, especially gothic in nature, will have higher chance for printing. Channel your inner Charles Dickens! Payment: Accepted submissions will be awarded payment in the way of $10 upon printing. It may not be much, but we are a small and humble press just getting our start and it’s all we can offer at this time besides a little social media promotion and beyond. If your submission is accepted, you will also receive a printed copy of the anthology! Anyone wishing for extra copies to distribute to family and friends (or to sell on their own) will pay the flat, wholesale price plus shipping. Format: Format should be in standard manuscript format and submitted as .doc, .docx, or PDF. Unfortunately, we cannot accept reprints at this time. Please include a brief cover letter introducing yourself along with your submission. Response Time: Please be aware that it may be eight to ten weeks before you receive a response from FunDead Publications. Diversity Statement: We at FunDead Publications believe diversity is what makes fiction wonderful...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $35 per story ($25 per reprint) Notes: Reprints Allowed Creepy Campfire Quarterly Publication (CCQ) Tales of EXTREME Horror Welcome to the Campfire $35 per story ($25 per reprint) Submissions are open for a limited time: April 1 – June 1 We are looking for more EXTREME horror submissions this time around. The stranger, the sicker, the more extreme and disturbing, all the better. Welcome to the newest, most innovative horror quarterly publication on the planet! Creepy Campfire Stories (for Grownups) began as a stand-alone anthology, launched on May 13, 2015. The response from horror writers across the globe was phenomenal. In less than four months, we received over 220 submissions from all over the globe, from the UK, including London, Ireland, Scotland & Wales; Italy; Belgrade, Serbia; Germany; Poland; Australia; New Zealand; Western Cape, South Africa; The United States; and Canada! The quality of the stories streaming in was so exceptional that we were able to fill a full, 65,000 word anthology with absolutely amazing and high quality horror stories in less than two months! In fact, we had to close our submissions early, moving our end date back from September 13, to July 13! Closing our anthology's submissions so much earlier than originally planned, however, left many authors shut out. It soon became clear to us here at EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) Publishing, that there were just far too many quality horror writers out there to fit into one single anthology. We next landed upon making the Creepy Campfire Stories (for Grownups) brand an annual publication, every Fall/October, but as submissions to our original anthology continued to stream in, and the quality of the stories continued to astound us, we quickly realized that even an annual publication still wouldn't fully accommodate the high number of...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $15 Note: Poetry Market Submissions Before you submit to Goblin Fruit, there are a few things you might find useful to know; for instance, the submission guidelines. If any question you have has not been addressed below, feel free to query at goblin.fruitgmailcom, and please do read our Frequently Implied Questions for additional information. What is it we want? We want poetry that we can call "of the fantastical", poetry that treats mythic, surreal, fantasy and folkloric themes, or approaches other themes in a fantastical way. Re-write a fairytale, ponder an old story, consider history from an unusual perspective — really, it's up to you, so long as the fantastical element is there. Since what qualifies as "the fantastical" is easily debatable, however, here's what we're not interested in: science fiction poetry (it's not you, it's us), horror for horror's sake, and poetry that's self-consciously gothic. We have no prejudice against traditional poetic forms, rhyme, or meter. We'd like to stay that way, so please let the form serve the poem, not the other way around. Prose poems will be harder to sell, mainly because so many of them straddle the flash fiction line. How much do we pay? Beginning in January 2016 we will be paying $15.00 USD on publication for original, unpublished poems, and $5.00 for solicited reprints. If you'd like to submit a poem that has been published elsewhere, please query first with the poem's title, where it was originally published and when. We purchase first North American serial rights and first Worldwide Electronic rights for three months; after that rights revert to the author, although we do request permission to keep the poem in our archives indefinitely. When can I submit? We are accepting submissions during the following times: April 9th...

Deadline: June 1st, 2016 Payment: $30USD + a contributor’s cop The Society Pages is a new anthology produced by Scratchpost Press. We intend to release the anthology each year in September. Each issue of the anthology will feature 10 – 20 pieces from 2,000 to 8,000 words. I am currently OPEN for submissions. My preliminary reading period for submitted works will be through 1st May – 30th June I will close for new material on the 1st of June. If you need more time to prepare your piece you need to get in touch with me before the reading period opens. This will make both our lives easier. The Society Pages is a collection of short stories exploring civilized furry society. How does this work? What makes a society constructed of so many different species function? Who are the winners in society? Who loses out for the ‘betterment’ of the whole? Has society divided along diet? How does the rule of law cross these barriers? Genre and style are open to the author, but I would prefer these pieces to be story-driven. Character explorations are possible but something needs to happen. Erotica is possible  if tasteful and in moderation, outright brutality is not. This is about CIVILIZED society. Feral is not permitted. Kids in adult works are also not permitted. Aliens, humans etc are okay, but this is not about them. For a good example of anthros and humans mixing consider the series Bojack Horseman. Prospective Authors need to submit a query to the email address listed on my profile. This should include an introduction and a pitch for your piece. This can consist of an outline, an idea, or a synopsis. I will not appreciate having a complete work to proofread upon first contact. Send this query to: [email protected]...

Deadline: June 4th 2016 Payment: 6 cents USD for fiction, flat rates of $50 for under 2k and $100 for over 2k words for reprints, 6 cents or $15usd whichever is greater for poetry Submissions for fiction and poetry ARE OPEN until June 4th. Submissions for line art and coloring pages ARE OPEN until June 30th. Writers! We want your stories and poems for Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk & Eco-Speculation, the upcoming anthology of speculative fiction edited by us, Phoebe Wagner and Brontë Wieland. Set for publication in spring 2017, Sunvault will open to submissions following the funding of our Kickstarter project in April. We want this anthology to reach outside Western and Anglophone traditions of speculative fiction, showcasing the way environment and environmental issues are talked about and perceived in all parts of the world. We encourage and welcome submissions from diverse voices and under-represented populations, including, but not limited to, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, those with disabilities, and the elderly. Authors of all walks of life should feel encouraged to send us stories and poems celebrating these diverse characters and settings all around us. What are we looking for? We want short stories and poems that fall under the scope of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, weird fic, etc.). If you’re unsure, submit! We love to be surprised. The anthology will focus on times of environmental crisis and the people inhabiting these tipping points, fighting to effect change and seek solutions, even if it’s already too late. But these are times of hope, not just disaster! Turn your lens to those crucial moments in a world’s history when great change can be made by the right people with the right tools. Remember: hope can spark in even the grimmest of situations. Is there environmental SF...