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Submission Window: December 1st-2nd, 2022 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, shorter pieces...

Deadline: December 10th, 2022 Payment: £25 (GBP) Theme: Funny Christmas Stories We want your festive stories for our Christmas special, fiction and non fiction! Min 1k words, Max 3k. These can be any sub-genre. Western Santa Claus? Zombie reindeer? Go for it as long as they have a humour/satirical element! As an added Christmas present, for this issue only (currently) we will be offering paid submissions! We will pay £25 (GBP) per accepted submission. Also, our favourite accepted submission will be paid £40! (GBP) Payments to be sent via PayPal. Payment to be made by Humour Me once acceptance has been offered and use of work agreed by both parties no later than the issue release date of the 17th December. You are free to make multiple submissions. All works submitted must not have been featured in any other published works, online or print. Submissions open from 9th November to midnight on 10th December (regardless of timezone) Please send all queries and submissions to: [email protected] Here at Humour Me, we have one primary rule for submissions : They must be funny. Any kind of funny. Silly, slapstick? Yes please. Satire? Lovely. Dark, horror based humour? Bring it on. Humour is subjective of course, but there are certain things that will not be accepted. Anything that reflects any discriminatory attitude against any race, gender, sexual identity, religion or ethnicity will not be tolerated. Submission is considered the authors permission to be displayed on the website and any downloaded editions of Humour Me. We reserve the right to edit any submitted works for display in the magazine. Authors may withdraw their submissions up to seven days before publication. Re-submissions will be considered, however all submissions to be exclusive to Humour Me. Once published, we have exclusivity for six months, and then non-exclusivity...

Submission Window: November 1st, 2022 to December 14th, 2022 Payment: 1p per word Theme: Dark fantasy stories set in the real world (preferably the modern one Submissions Call for The Alchemy Press Book of the Unknown Imagine a publication with stories set in the recognisable world – but with a shift in perspective, into the unknown. Perhaps even the unknowable. An unknown brimming with all things strange and weird … and a touch of horror. Think of stories you might have read in a magazine such as Unknown (later Unknown Worlds), edited by John W Campbell; in the pages of Fantastic, edited by Ted White; or watched in episodes of The Twilight Zone… Think of writers such as Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson, Helen Marshall, Charles Beaumont, Peter Atkins, Connie Willis, Roger Zelazny, Howard Waldrop, Harlan Ellison, Joyce Carol Oates, Jonathan Carroll… In which vein, The Alchemy Press proudly announces a call for submissions to a new forthcoming anthology: The Alchemy Press Book of the Unknown, edited by Peter Coleborn and Mike Chinn. We are looking for dark fantasy stories set in the real world (preferably the modern one, but we are flexible) which take an askance view of life. Tales which twist reality. Tales which alter a life (or many lives) forever – for good or ill, and in the strangest way. With a hint of horror. We do not want sword and sorcery, heroic fantasies, quest fantasies. We do not want stories set in out-and-out SF worlds, planets, or spaceships. We do not want stories that focus on horror – and certainly nothing intended to gross out the reader. No psychopathic killers. And no proselytising religious tales, whether metaphorical or not. The submission window will open on 1st November and run to 14th December 2022. All submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Do not send your submissions outside...

Deadline: December 15th, 2022 Payment: Royalties Theme: Horror in all its forms—from literary to weird, Gothic to psychological, and (almost) everything in between. JournalStone Publishing is a small press focusing in the horror/science fiction/fantasy genres in both the adult and young adult markets. Please read the following guidelines carefully: Submissions are open from November 15th to December 15th, 2022. Submissions outside this window will be deleted unread. We want horror in all its forms—from literary to weird, Gothic to psychological, and (almost) everything in between. We’re looking for amazing stories from amazing authors, regardless of race, gender, religion—if you’ve got something good, we want it. (Please do not submit YA, romance, erotica, or religious fiction; we do not deal in those genres. Also note that anything involving vampires, werewolves, zombies, or serial killers will be a hard sell, currently.) Need a firm idea of what we’re looking for? Check out the JournalStone website. The title of your email subject line and file name should read: “--”. For example: King – Carrie – Novel. This should also be the title of your manuscript document. In the body of your email, please give us the word count, genre, and a brief synopsis (300-500 words) of the plot. Submissions without this information will be deleted unread. Please do not include your synopsis as an attachment. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Attach the full manuscript as a .doc, .docx or .rtf file (absolutely no PDFs). Do not paste your manuscript into the body of the email. For proper formatting of your manuscript, please follow the Shunn way, though it’s not necessary to include your address and phone number–we’ll ask for those if your manuscript is accepted.  Ideal word count for novels and fiction collections: 50,000 – 90,000. Anything over about 120,000 words will be a hard sell unless it’s just outstanding.. Ideal word count for novellas: 20,000...

Deadline: December 15th 2022 Payment: Royalties Theme: Pick a name — or a personification — from ANY mythology that 1. is represented in that culture’s constellations and 2. is represented in that culture’s mythopoetic or fantastic mythos. Then write forward from that. The Of Gods and Globes anthology started with a few of us and was so successful, it has expanded to include many more. Juliet Marillier’s story in volume I was nominated for an Aurelius award. Kaaron Warren’s story in volume II won the Ditmar award. We’re gearing up for volume III now with help from fellow writer, editor, and friend of the site Emily Munro. Submit here. We’re looking for stories for the third installment Of Gods and Globes. Pick a name — or a personification — from ANY mythology that is represented in that culture’s constellations and is represented in that culture’s mythopoetic or fantastic mythos. Then write forward from that. A story based on “Jupiter” counts — both a planet and a god. A story based on “Nimrod” counts — both a constellation and a mythic hunter. A story based on planet PSR B1257+12 B does not count. A story based on the character Amarok does not count, unless there’s some sort of constellation or heavenly body the editors remain ignorant about (completely possible). Bonus points for metaphysical or philosophical hinting and musing (think Dostoevsky and Tolkien, not Plato and Nietzsche), though not required. Bonus points for exclusive submissions, though simultaneous accepted. Bonus points for prior publication and an active readership, but not required. When in doubt, read the last two volumes. Payment as per usual is on a split royalty basis with the authors. The first volume paid competitive rates over the long haul. Wordcount: under 7,500 highly preferred, under 10,000 accepted, 15,000 absolute outer limit — anything over that will be auto-rejected. Submissions close: December 15 2022 Submit here.   (If for some reason the...

Deadline: December 15th, 2022 Payment: US 4¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $4, maximum $25 Theme: Frankenstein Eye to the Telescope 47, Frankenstein, will be edited by R. Thursday. After more than 200 years, the shadow of Dr. Frankenstein and his creature continues to loom large over science fiction, and it’s not difficult to understand why, especially considering the questions it raises: What does it mean to be a person, or a monster? How much of our actions are our own choice and how much is the influence of others? How do we develop our own identity while maintaining a connection to the past? What responsibilities do we owe each other and other beings? What is the price for progress and how far is too far? These and other concerns lie well within the purview of not just philosophers, but poets! There is so much to explore, from the original text by spec-lit’s fairy gothmother Mary Shelley, to the numerous translations to screens large and small; from the creature as stand-in for multiple identities to the evolution of the mad doctor archetype; from the (stolen) heart-breakingly tragic, to the incredibly goofy. I am looking for poems that tell me what this story, these characters, that myth means to you as a poet in 202X. What truths does it help you access, what angles stand out most strongly? I’m looking for persona poems (what DID Justine think about all this before…well, you know), deep dive essays with clever line breaks, and speculative ‘What Ifs?’ Poems in forms traditional, freestyle, or experimental, but always well crafted. Any depiction or version of the story is fair game, as is the historical background in which the original story was written (that’s right, send me those Romantics hot takes). Follow the Creature's example: be fearless, and therefore, powerful. Submission Guidelines...

Deadline: December 15th, 2022 Payment: $50 Theme: Fiction and creative nonfiction, as long if they are compressed in some way The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts is looking for, as you might guess, "compressed creative arts." We accept fiction and creative nonfiction, as long if they are compressed in some way. Work is published weekly, without labels, and the labels here only exist to help us determine its best readers. Our response time is generally 1-5 days. Also, our acceptance rate is currently about 2% of submissions. We pay writers $50 per accepted piece and signed contract. If you've been previously published by the press, please wait a year until submitting again. Thanks. The  reader for your submission is, during this round of  submissions, the managing editor. Please be sure to submit in the correct category; we've been receiving several fiction submissions in the creative nonfiction category. For all submitters, we aren't as concerned with labels—hint fiction, prose poetry, micro fiction, flash fiction, and so on—as we are with what compression means to you. In other words, what form "compression" takes in each artist's work will be up to each individual. However, we don't publish erotica or work with strong, graphic sexual content. In short, we want to fall in love with your work. That might happen in the way we've fallen in love with work we've previously published, or it might happen in a way we have yet to experience. Maybe reading that other work will help in knowing whether you should send your work to us, but in truth, such a thing might not be discoverable. Here are things that matter: Please do not include a cover letter as part of the manuscript document. Please include, as part of your cover letter on Submittable, a brief bio. Also, in the cover letter, let us know why you feel this piece works for a journal obsessed with...

  Deadline: December 15th, 2022 Payment: $40 CDN Theme: Cursed Dolls Submissions are now open for our upcoming anthology The Little Book of Cursed Dolls edited by Christabel Coleridge! Will be available in ebook and paperback. *Another open call with a Dark Web theme is coming soon. Send submissions to [email protected] Asking for 6-month exclusivity period, after which all rights revert back to author. Try to keep stories under 3500 words. Response time should be quick for accepted stories – unaccepted stories may not be replied to, depending on volume of submissions. Deadline is December 15, 2022. Token payment of $40 CDN to be paid by Paypal before publication (Late 2022 to early 2023) and early notification of new calls for accepted authors (with hopes to increase pay-rates). Via: Media Macabre.

Deadline: December 26th, 2022 Payment: Contributors copy and $5 per page Theme: Poetry involving the fifth element & highest point of the pentacle: Spirit. #Spirit embodies the aether / the quintessence. White Stag Publishing is closing out the #ELEMENTSERIES with the fifth element & highest point of the pentacle: Spirit. #Spirit embodies the aether / the quintessence. It is the ethereal space & what dwells within it; divine beings, spirits & the Fae, even the supra natural. Humans attempt to access the Spirit through various mediums & divinatory practices: through clairvoyance & psychic awareness, lucid dreaming & astral projection, tarot & scrying (to name a few). Some also believe it can be accessed through prayer or only after death, when our souls leave our body to join the great expanse. It is engrained in all cultures, in various ways throughout the world; through magic & science, myth & fable. Spirit moves the pious, inspires artists & dreamers, brings magic to our terrestrial realm. For this anthology, we are looking for poetry that explores the ethereal realm through various mediums whether religious / spiritual, through clairvoyance / meditation, science, & the imagination. We want theology, mysticism & magick, alchemy, explore the ancient mysteries. We want work that goes beyond our sphere & into the void, translating the unknown. Send us your séances, your rituals, your communions with the gods, show us the creatures that lurk in the night (the ones we don’t already know about), tell us of your travels through space & time. We want poetry that is evocative of the otherworldly. Be bold & dare to go beyond. A GUIDE TO PROFFERING: Please send no more than 8 pages of poetry in a word doc or pdf to [email protected] with SPIRIT in the subject line. We highly recommend you...

Submission Window: December 1st-31st, 2022 Payment: $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue Theme: Any genre, short story Changing the world, one story at a time 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...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $1 Theme: Drabbles Valentine’s Day / Love / Couples. NB: Doesn’t have to be about Valentine’s Day specifically. $1 USD per acceptance. Up to 10 acceptances per pen name. First three to 10 get a $10 Amazon voucher. First to 10 also gets a paperback copy of the final product. One email, one drabble. We won’t look at submissions with more than one drabble, as we don’t have time to extrapolate them into the read process. Blind submissions for the actual manuscript, please. Reprints are OK, but we’ll have no space for “First Published” acknowledgements, so please check your obligations with previous publishers first (if your first publisher is BHP, then you automatically have permission, as long as it wasn’t published in the last 12 months). No simultaneous submissions, please. Include a bio of no more than 15 words, plus one link << this is really important. Don’t include links to retailers (ie Amazon) as the books get rejected when they have retailer links. If you want to include one, we suggest you set up something like linktr.ee (here’s ours: linktr.ee/blackharepress) or bio.site (here’s ours:  bio.site/blackharepress) Theme: Valentine’s Day / Love / Couples. NB: Doesn’t have to be about Valentine’s Day specifically. Genre: Must be dark, but any genre, including (not an exhaustive list): horror, science fiction, LGBTQ+, romance/ steamy/erotic horror, cosmic, speculative, fantasy. NB: No more “human hearts as gifts in chocolate boxes” tropes, please. Submit to: [email protected]. Will be available in: Paperback, hardcover (black & white and colour editions), and digital. Publication Date: circa February 2023 Via: Black Hare Press.

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $0.01 (USD) per word + contributor copy Theme: Hopeful-themed speculative fiction that was released initially in 2022 Note: Reprints only Story Length: up to 19,000 words (flash fiction, short stories, and novelettes) Payment: $0.01 (USD) per word + contributor copy Submission Deadline: December 31, 2022 Expected Publication: Spring or Summer 2023 ​ Reprints only (stories must have been previously published in 2022. Self-published is okay. See submission guidelines below for more information.) Multiple submissions? YES, you can submit any and all stories you had published in 2022, so long as they meet the other criteria listed below. ​ Simultaneous submissions? YES ​ What Qualifies as Utopian Speculative Fiction? Accepted stories will meet most if not all of the following four criteria: ​​ NOT dystopian: envisions, builds, and sets stories in worlds in which humanity, technology, and nature coexist in harmony rather than in conflict; and/or depict future communities that are decidedly not dystopian, are clearly better than the real world of today, and in which those communities are actively struggling to build a just and equitable utopian world, even if they haven't yet fully reached that goal. Hopeful: uplifting, leaves the reader with a sense of inspiration, aspiration, and optimism even when that hope is rooted in struggle. Solutions: stories with a focus on solutions to climate change and the effects of climate change on the planet, ecosystems, and communities, as well as works that focus on solutions to other global social problems and envision futures with new, democratic, participatory, and collaborative political and economic systems. Speculative: stories can be any from any SciFi/Fantasy type genre, it can be set in the future or in the past or an alternative present as long as it contains a central speculative element and meets the other three criteria. For example, a horror story could...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $10 Theme: Body horror Submission Call Details Ooze is an anthology of body horror of all types. Each story should be around 2,000 words or less. Payment is $10 per story and an electronic copy of the book. There are four invited authors: Judith Sonnet Rowland Bercy Jr. Lor Gislason Cat Voleur Submissions are open to any author, published or unpublished. The requirements are as follows. - Around 2,000 words or less - Double-spaced, reasonable font, name and contact info on the first page, word count included - Please avoid stories of sexual assault. They will result in a pass. - Sexual horror in general is a hard sell but not totally excluded. - No reprints. - In general, I am looking for fun, unique horror that will make people cheer, gag, cry, or otherwise keep turning pages. - Everyone is welcome regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, or anything else. Submit to: auth[email protected] Subject: Ooze Submission Questions may be sent to the above address, but please read requirements carefully first. Deadline: December 31 All submissions will receive a response by the end of January. Via: Ruth Anna Evans.

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: Royalties Theme: Horror Novels, Western Novellas and novels, Sci-fi Novels. Full details below. Genres: Horror: We are looking for fiction horror novel submissions, particularly those of the supernatural, "high concept," western, and creature sub-genres. All horror submissions will be equally considered, regardless of sub-genre. Western: Novel Opening: We are looking for fiction western novel submissions. All western sub-genres are welcome. All western submissions will be equally considered, regardless of sub-genre. If it is part of a series, please only submit the first part of the series. Sci-Fi: Novel Opening: We are looking for fiction science fiction novel submissions. All science fiction sub-genres are welcome. All science fiction submissions will be equally considered, regardless of sub-genre. If it is part of a series, please only submit the first part of the series. AEA Press is an independent hybrid publisher, based in the United States and established in 2012. With an eye on style and professional polish, AEA Press specializes in beautifully and expertly crafted books. Our teams focus on the details, creating lasting impressions that expand beyond story and deliver something truly recognizable and memorable. Content: We are looking for fiction Novel submissions in the following genres: ● Horror, including all sub–genres ● Westerns, including historical and modern ● Science Fiction, including soft and hard science sub–genres If you are unsure if your genre or content matches, please reach out to us at [email protected] and we will be happy to help. Audience: The intended audience is for adults, eighteen (18) and over. There are no specific restrictions but overtly graphic material may be reconsidered. Length: The intended submission length is for a Novel, and the suggested length is between 40,000 and 80,000 words. Longer Novella length, between 30,000 and 40,000 words may also be accepted. Format:...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: Contributors Copy and $40 for their 3,000 to 5,000 word story (Payment dependent on Kickstarter) Theme: Action-packed Western horror with enough chills to give the skeletons in your closet the shivers. Cryptids & Chaos  •  Monsters & Mayhem  • An Anthology of the Weird Wild West Edited by Lyndon Perry Writers’ Guidelines Title and Publisher: Monster Fight at the O.K. Corral published by Tule Fog Press Fundraising Platform and Target Date: Kickstarter Campaign and Publication: March, 2023 Theme of Antho: Action-packed Western horror with enough chills to give the skeletons in your closet the shivers. All kinds of monsters, aliens, cryptids, and creatures of the dark welcome. I’m going for darker themes (PG-16+) and a bit disturbing (but no torture, erotica, or excessive gore).  Storytelling: Your story should go somewhere. I’m looking for solid plotting, intriguing characters, and weird but accessible settings/scenarios. Avoid purple prose or esoterica. I want a complete story with a firm ending in about 4,000 words (range: 3k to 5k words). Exceptions possible. Acceptable Tropes: I’m looking for a variety of creative tales from the horror genre – but set in the Old West. Or Modern West. Surprise me. Trope examples include classic ghost or campfire stories, an ancient evil, the abandoned building, the stalking monster, ‘cult of doom’ or pacts with the devil, cowboys vs dinosaurs, outlaw vs sheriff, hero seeks vengeance, tech goes wrong (Westworld-ish), even pastiches of public domain characters. Sky’s the limit. Story Style: I like tried and true storytelling, with a focus on characters and plot. So…pulpy? But try not to simply retell a classic monster story. Attempt something different or slightly off – i.e., if the storytelling is accessible and entertaining. Not open to socially/politically agenda-driven stories. Please limit vulgarities (no blasphemy or f-bombs). Table...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: £10 and a contributors copy Theme: Dragons must form a significant element of the submission piece Submissions are open for A Flight of Dragons! We are now accepting submissions for our anthology, A Flight of Dragons. Here is a quick overview of what we're looking for. * Short stories of up to 5,000 words *Poetry of any length *Dragons must form a significant element of the submission piece *Each individual is allowed to submit up to three pieces for consideration *The closing date for submissions is 31/12/2022 at 11.59PM GMT Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] before the deadline. You will need to include your name, your address, and any links to published works. Submissions should be sent as Word documents, Times New Roman font, 14pt and 1.5 line spacing. Successful writers will receive a one off payment of £10 and an author copy of the anthology (paperback). Writers will retain all copyrights for their submission/s. Via: West Avenue Publishing.

Submission Window: December 7th - 31st, 2022 Payment: 8 cents per word Theme: Genre short stories filled with marrow and passion, works that are twisted, strange, and beautiful. Our magazine is an SFWA-certified professional market. Co-editor-in-chief: Jason Sizemore Co-editor-in-chief: Lesley Conner Special Fiction Editor & Reprints: Maurice Broaddus Nonfiction Editor: ZZ Claybourne Flash Fiction Editor: Rebecca Schibler ORIGINAL SHORT FICTION GUIDELINES 1) Submit your work in Shunn Standard Manuscript Format (Modern or Classic). Your manuscript should be in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or ODT file format. Inclusion of mailing address and phone number is not required. 2) Maximum word length is a firm 7,500 words. Anything more will be auto-rejected. 3) Payment for original fiction is $.08 per word up to 7,500 words. Minimum of $50. 4) If we podcast your story, additional payment is $.01 per word up to 7,500 words. 5) If the work you are submitting is an English translation, please include the translator name and email address either in your cover letter or within your manuscript. By submitting, you are verifying in good faith that you have the right to have your translated work published in Apex Magazine. 6) Apex Magazine welcomes and encourages submissions from writers of all races, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and military status. We want diverse voices. We value diverse voices. Saying that, please be aware that we do not collect any information that might clue our editors to any of these attributes other than your name, email, address, and cover letter before any decisions are made regarding your submission. 7) Ready to submit your work? Head over to our Moksha account and upload your story! https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/ Stories submitted by email or sent via the postal service will be disposed of unread. ORIGINAL FLASH FICTION GUIDELINES 1) Submit your work in Shunn Standard Manuscript Format (Modern or Classic). Your manuscript should be in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or ODT file...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: One cent per word and a contributor's copy Theme: Sword-and-sorcery Submission window: November 1, 2022-December 31, 2022 This fall DMR Books will open again for submissions. As DMR is the preeminent publisher of sword-and-sorcery fiction, it is only right that we should have an ongoing anthology series of new S&S stories. Now, we have that series—Die by the Sword! For clarification, sword-and-sorcery is a genre that combines swashbuckling adventure with supernatural elements (usually of a horrific nature) in a pre-industrial setting. The stories can be set in an invented world like Zothique or Nehwon, or in the past of the real world. Some of the best-known characters of the genre are Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Cimmerian, Michael Moorcock’s Elric, and Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. If you’re familiar with them, you should have a good idea of what we’re looking for. If you’re not, you probably shouldn’t submit a story to us. While there’s no specific theme to Die by the Sword, feel free to crank up the violence and make it live up to its title. What we’re not looking for: Urban fantasy or anything with a modern-day setting. Tolkien-style epic/high fantasy. Stories that read like a D&D session. No LitRPG, either. Anything with orcs in it. If your story has orcs, it will automatically be rejected. I’m not kidding. Badly written amazon warrior women. If your idea of a great female character is a typical Conan clone with different pronouns, don’t send me your story. Profanity. If a word would get censored on network TV, I’m probably not going to print it. Explicit sex. Keep it R-rated. I’m not a pornographer! Young adult/children’s stories. Keep it R-rated. Modern prose and dialogue. You don’t have to go all out with archaisms...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $15 Theme: Speculative fiction, primarily horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Note: Reprints welcome Formatting Guidelines This is proving to be a recurring problem, so we're putting it up front. Please, for all our sakes, read this next part carefully. All submissions should be sent by e-mail (no letters or telephone calls please) to [email protected]. Below are some formatting rules to help us process your submission more quickly. EMAIL AND COVER LETTERS Email is accepted in both text and HTML formats. When submitting, please put this in the subject line: Submission: (Title) - (First and Last name) Include the following in the body of the email and in the attached submission: Your name Name to use on the story (byline), if different Your preferred email address Your mailing address The story's title The story's word count You may also include a cover letter in the body of the email. We get a lot of strange stuff in cover letters, so if you're unsure of what goes in them (and especially what doesn't) please refer to these cover letter tips: How to write a cover letter | What not to put in a cover letter by Jed Hartman SUBMISSION FORMATTING We ONLY accept submissions as attachments! All stories submitted as an attachment must follow standard manuscript formatting. We will no longer read any story not properly formatted. (And we much prefer Courier New to Times New Roman) For explanations and tips on what SMF is and how to do it with word processing programs, please see this article. Please send your submission as an attachment in Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) or Rich Test Format (.rtf) only. Other formats, such as Works, WordPerfect, Open Office, etc., have proven difficult to open. Please note that we no longer accept "inline" submssions; that is, submissions with the stories pasted...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 0.08 USD / word plus royalties Theme: Unique science fiction and fantasy takes on games, game playing, and games in culture. Games played in fiction often symbolize more than winning and losing. Games represent risk and reward, wealth and class, strategy and blind fortune. In science fiction and fantasy, games can be matters of cosmic importance and of literal life and death—whether the idle pastimes of Star Trek’s 3D chess, the all-consuming TTRPG of the Gamearth trilogy, a frenetic quest as in Ready Player One, the lethal reality TV shows of The Hunger Games, or choosing a new interstellar emperor as in The Player of Games. In GAME ON!, we’re looking for unique science fiction and fantasy takes on games, game playing, and games in culture. A game or games—real or imagined—should be central to the story in some fashion. Please note anything considered a ‘sport’ (i.e.: baseball, soccer, rollerball, etc.) won’t be a fit for this anthology. Games used in stories must also not infringe on real-world trademarked names or third-party copyrights. Edited by Stephen Kotowych & Tony Pi, GAME ON! will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors and their selected games include: Eric Choi (video gambling), Aliette de Bodard (mạt chược/Vietnamese mahjong), James Alan Gardner (homebrew kids game compilation/solitaire), Ed Greenwood (dragon social games), Cat Rambo (Euchre), Sean Williams (hide-and-seek), and Melissa Yuan-Innes (haunted house game) GAME ON!: Submission Guidelines Zombies Need Brains LLC will accept submissions to its anthology, GAME ON!, from the moment the Kickstarter funds until December 31st, 2022. This is a one-time open call; there will be no follow-up open calls. Follow us on Twitter (@ZNBLLC) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc) to keep track of the Kickstarter and the open call. Stories must be submitted in electronic format through...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 0.08 USD / word and royalties Theme: Fantasy and science fiction stories told from, or through, or with, the dragon's point of view Since Grendel and McCaffrey's Pern, readers have been enthralled with the magic and mystique of dragons. But it's rare that we get to see the world through the dragon's perspective. In DRAGONESQUE, you'll experience an anthology of fantasy and science fiction stories told from, or through, or with, the dragon's point of view. High fantasy, sword & sorcery, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, magical realism, and of course science fiction...DRAGONESQUE will feature a wealth of genres that even a dragon would be tempted to horde. Edited by S.C. Butler & Joshua Palmatier, DRAGONESQUE will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each.  Anchor authors include: Barbara Ashford Gerald Brandt, David B. Coe/D.B. Jackson, Esther M. Friesner, Auston Habershaw, Gini Koch & Bebe Bayliss, and Jean Marie Ward DRAGONESQUE: Submission Guidelines Zombies Need Brains LLC will accept submissions to its anthology, DRAGONESQUE, from the moment the Kickstarter funds until December 31st, 2022. This is a one-time open call; there will be no follow-up open calls. Follow us on Twitter (@ZNBLLC) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc) to keep track of the Kickstarter and the open call. Stories must be submitted in electronic format through the submissions management system Moksha here: http://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io. Word count: up to 7500 words. No exceptions. Pay rate: 0.08 USD / word (SFWA professional rate), plus royalties for anthologies (see below) Simultaneous submissions: No. Multiple submissions: Up to three per open call period; please submit each separately. You do not need to wait for one to be rejected before submitting another. “Bonus” submissions will be deleted unread. Reprints: No. If a story has been previously rejected by the online magazine ZNB...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $5 and royalties Theme: Speculative Fiction stories featuring a Human/Alien first contact that starts optomistically, but then, well, things happen. Note: Reprints Welcome I hereby announce that submissions are open for Yay! They're Here! We are looking for Speculative Fiction stories featuring a Human/Alien first contact that starts optomistically, but then, well, things happen. Remeber that scene in Mars Attacks where the Humans enthusiatically welcome the Martians? Or in Monsters vs. Aliens, where the Human president goes up to greet the aliems? Or teh opening to Mork and Mindy? How do things go wrong with the encounter, and how can your characters make it right? Or can they? Length: the target range is between 2000-6000 words. Deadline: December 31, 2022. Target date for publication is June 2023. Pay: $5, with a share of royalties, and the chance to publicize your own website and other works in the biography and in our newsletter. Payments will be made by Paypal, unless other arrangements are made, and will be sent upon receipt of a signed contract. We welcome new authors, and will work with all authors to bring their stories into the vision of the book. The final draft will be sent to the author for final approval. Guidelines: 1) Submit your story as an *.rtf file attached to your cover letter. (Go to "Save As" and click on Rich Text Format or rtf.) 2) One-inch margins, double-spaced text. 3) NO TABS! Please use the paragraph formatting tool to indent the paragraphs, and either use CENTER to place your section dividers, or just leave them on the left side. 4) NO page numbers or other headers or footers on the pages! 5) Mark your italics with an underscore before and after the italics. Otherwise, your italics will not show up in the final...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 1c/word for accepted fiction. Half this for reprints, $100 (negotiable) for the cover illustration Theme: A sci-fi retelling of the first half of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), as it was told by the Grimm Bros. (Specific details below) Submissions are now open for Project Briar Rose (working title) from Manawaker Studio, edited by CB Droege. Project Briar Rose is an anthology focused on sci-fi stories about specific character traits. This volume will contain short stories only, though we will also accept submissions for cover art. Some details The book will be a sci-fi retelling of the first half of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), as it was told by the Grimm Bros. In Galilean Space, a Spincity administrator is bringing a new Android online. It is his plan that this android, codenamed Briar Rose and in a mechanical body resembling a young woman, will succeed him one day in running the city. He invites the most accomplished AI experts from 12 of the spincity’s 13 districts to a dinner party in celebration of Briar Rose; leaving out the expert from the 13th district because she is an unpleasant person. At the dinner, the experts, all women, each approach the android in turn, and program her with a personality trait that she will need to be a good person, and eventually also a good administrator of the city. As they do this, they each tell a story about a person who succeeded, thrived, or overcame adversity due to possessing this trait. When they are finished, the 13th expert shows up uninvited, imbues the android with one unpleasant trait, and tells a story in which such a trait would be needed. There will be a bit more, but that’s the context you’ll need to submit. The stories I want thirteen stories from thirteen different...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 0.08 USD / word plus royalties Theme: Stories in the future where humanity has embraced the Earth and learned to co-exist with it Imagine a Solarpunk future where societies value cooperation over consumerism, where technology solves ecological challenges rather than creating them. SOLAR FLARE will envision a future where humanity has embraced the Earth and learned to co-exist with it, not simply on it, where sustainability is a way of life, not merely a catch phrase. Join us as these stellar authors share their visions of a hopeful tomorrow. Edited by Patricia Bray & Joshua Palmatier, SOLAR FLARE will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each.  Anchor authors include: Chaz Brenchley, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin, Kristine Smith, and Lauren C. Teffeau SOLAR FLARE: Submission Guidelines Zombies Need Brains LLC will accept submissions to its anthology, SOLAR FLARE, from the moment the Kickstarter funds until December 31st, 2022. This is a one-time open call; there will be no follow-up open calls. Follow us on Twitter (@ZNBLLC) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc) to keep track of the Kickstarter and the open call. Stories must be submitted in electronic format through the submissions management system Moksha here: http://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io. Word count: up to 7500 words. No exceptions. Pay rate: 0.08 USD / word (SFWA professional rate), plus royalties for anthologies (see below) Simultaneous submissions: No. Multiple submissions: Up to three per open call period; please submit each separately. You do not need to wait for one to be rejected before submitting another. “Bonus” submissions will be deleted unread. Reprints: No. If a story has been previously rejected by the online magazine ZNB Presents, it is permitted to submit that story to a ZNB Anthology call, like...

Submission Window: December 1st - 31st, 2022 Payment: Drabbles and Flash - £5, 1001 to 4000 words - £10, 4001 to 8000 words - £15 Theme: All forms of speculative fiction that move the reader Note: Only publishes creators from under represented and/or marginalized communities. WE ONLY PUBLISH CREATORS FROM UNDER REPRESENTED AND/OR MARGINALISED BACKGROUNDS AND/OR COMMUNITIES We don't ask for any proof, we take this on trust with the expectation that anyone not from a marginalised background or underrepresented community wouldn't take up the space of someone who is. We ask you to consider this before submitting. QUARTERLY ONLINE ANTHOLOGY: BRIEF 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. SUBMISSIONS: OPEN Quarterly Online Anthology Submission Schedule: March 1st - 31st (Summer Issue) July 1st - 31st (Autumn Issue) September 1st - 30th (Winter Issue) December 1st - 31st (Spring Issue) ​ we do not have set issue themes but feel free to be inspired by the season, seasonal occasions and events 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 to an underrepresented or marginalised community. These include, but are not limited to: LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disabled people....

Submission Window: December 1st - 31st, 2022 Payment: ¢1 per word CAD Theme: Stories of horror with the theme of 'wind' - Rated R welcomed Elements Book four OPEN DECEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 31 Stories of horror with the theme of 'wind' - Rated R welcomed ​Tornados - Dust Storms - wind power - air-born viruses -  Welcome to our four-book series, dedicated to horror from the elements. Each quarter has been assigned an 'element'. Please review the elements and open submission windows below. Each quarter submission window is only one month, so please make sure to submit during that specific time period Patreon members will be allowed to submit one week early, and be given a one-week extension to each quarter call. Although there can be some fantasy elements tossed in there, the overall feel of the stories must remain in the horror genre. Aim to scare. ​ Each part will be approximately 70,000 words and have its own ebook and paperback. Once all four sections are complete we will release a 'collection' containing all four books in ebook, paperback and hardcover form.  ​​Word count: 1500 - 7000 firm. Payment: Flat rate payment ¢1 per word CAD after approved edits. Reprints? No ​ Multiple Submission? No 💀 Only one submission per author per theme/quarter. (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) ​ Formatting:  Please use 12 pt Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing, set auto-indent new paragraphs. Add the story title to the top of the manuscript. Do not include your name or email in the manuscript. These stories will be read "blind" by our reading team. Title your manuscript "Title of Story - Theme"  example "The Ruin - Earth" Please make sure the title of the story and the title on the manuscript match. ​ How to submit? Submit via the Form - Which will open on the start...

Deadline: January 31st, 2023 Payment: 5-12 US cents per word Theme: Stories will be set in the fictional comic book universe of the Absolute Power tabletop role-playing game Note: Not a huge fan of how they determine the payment scale but as it is rare that we see superhero markets open I wanted to include this one. Dyskami Publishing Company is seeking short story submissions for our upcoming superhero fiction anthology Path of Absolute Power. Stories will be set in the fictional comic book universe of the Absolute Power tabletop role-playing game (the second edition of the Silver Age Sentinels RPG) and is a thematic follow-up sequel to the Path of the Just (2003) and Path of the Bold (2004) anthologies published by Guardians of Order. This anthology will contain traditional short story fiction and is not a LitRPG or GameLit work, however; the powerful, dramatic narratives should be decoupled from role-playing game mechanics. Stories should explore the actions of heroes, villains, and neutrals as they navigate the enticement of great power in a world of normal people. The complexities of using superpowers in a mundane world are perhaps best described in the opening sentences of Book One of the Absolute Power role-playing game: The Silver Age has come and gone. Superpowers now bring fear as often as comfort, and shades of grey cast the world in shadow, muting the shining colours of yesteryear. Villains have become stronger, and their influence is felt in every nation. The need for heroes is greater than ever. Can you balance superhuman gifts with humility, compassion, and hope? Do you have what it takes to resist the ever-present lure of Absolute Power? The game title “Absolute Power” is not intended to glorify raw might or some concept of necessary corruption. Absolute Power is a warning against the...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 0.08 USD / word and Royalties Theme: Mixing art with magic Art is everywhere. Our drive and ability to create for the sake of creativity defines us as a species and enriches our cultures, our societies, our lives. The best of these works of art, from novels to paintings to statues to music, are imbued with a special kind of magic. But when that magic is literal—when Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray ages instead of the actual man, and Mozart's Magic Flute plays its protective song—art takes on a whole new meaning. In ARTIFICE & CRAFT, we invite writers of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and other speculative fiction to spin their own tales of works of art that have been enchanted, hexed, charmed, or cursed. Edited by Edmund R. Schubert & David B. Coe, ARTIFICE & CRAFT will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors include: Alex Bledsoe, Julie E. Czerneda, Alethea Kontis, James Maxey, C.E. Murphy, Adam Stemple, and Catherynne M. Valente ARTIFICE & CRAFT: Submission Guidelines Zombies Need Brains LLC will accept submissions to its anthology, ARTIFICE & CRAFT, from the moment the Kickstarter funds until December 31st, 2022. This is a one-time open call; there will be no follow-up open calls. Follow us on Twitter (@ZNBLLC) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc) to keep track of the Kickstarter and the open call. Stories must be submitted in electronic format through the submissions management system Moksha here: http://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io. Word count: up to 7500 words. No exceptions. Pay rate: 0.08 USD / word (SFWA professional rate), plus royalties for anthologies (see below) Simultaneous submissions: No. Multiple submissions: Up to three per open call period; please submit each separately. You do not need to wait for one to be rejected before submitting another. “Bonus” submissions will...

Submission Window: December 1st-31st, 2022 Payment: 1 cents per word, $25 for reprints, and a contributors copy Theme: Diverse sci-fi and fantasy fiction. Note: Reprints Welcome MYTHIC is seeking diverse sci-fi and fantasy fiction. We publish both new fiction and reprints. Authors are encouraged to submit their stories during the specific reading periods listed below. NEXT SUBMISSIONS PERIOD: DECEMBER 1- 31, 2022 GUIDELINES Works should be between 2,000-5,000 words. (No wiggle room above or below.) 1.) Submit in Standard Manuscript Format We prefer Times New Roman or Courier and 12-point type. Double-spaced pages. Do not have tabs in your manuscript; please set first line indents. Please include your name and contact information at the beginning of the story. Submit in .doc, .docx, .rtf format. 2.) Please NO SIMULTANEOUS OR MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS. Rights Purchased: For NEW/UNPUBLISHED FICTION, we are purchasing World English Rights For REPRINTS we are purchasing reprint rights Following an exclusivity period, all other rights revert to the author. MYTHIC retains a nonexclusive right to keep stories in the issue they appear for as long as the issue remains in print. Compensation: At this time, we PAY $0.01 CENTS A WORD for NEW short fiction. At this time, we PAY $25.00 for REPRINT short fiction. We provide authors with one free copy of the issue in which their story appears. Payment made upon publication via PayPal. (We are not responsible for any transaction fees). Authors will also receive free ad space to promote their book or sci-fi/fantasy project in an issue of MYTHIC. To submit fiction: Send all stories to [email protected]. Your story should be attached. Be sure your subject line is: "New Submission: Title of your Story" or "Reprint: Title of your Story". Please include your name, title, word count, and contact information in the body of the email. Note on nonfiction: All articles and other content are chosen in-house. Please do...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: Writers based in the UK - Payment will be 20GBP regardless of story length, and a print copy of the anthology after the release date. Writers based elsewhere – Payment will be the equivalent of 25GBP. Theme: Short stories that combine metal music and horror The strong link between heavy music and horror has been well documented.  From the dark and often grotesque imagery used on album covers to the aggressive and visceral attitude the music genre produces.  Take a look at the artwork on the cover of most Cannibal Corpse albums or Iron Maiden’s monstrous mascot, Eddie.  The 1986 horror movie ‘Trick or Treat’ starred Gene Simmons and the prince of darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, and, speaking of Black Sabbath, how many more metal bands have taken their names from horror movies? What we want: For our debut anthology, ‘Heavy Metal Nightmares’, we are looking for original short stories, from 2K words to 7K words max, that combine metal music and horror.  As long as the heavy music theme is used, let your imagination do the rest. Works slightly under 2K words or slightly over 7K words may still be considered. We require five months exclusive print and digital rights and you will retain copyright ownership of your works. What we don’t want: We won’t accept reprints or simultaneous submissions. We don’t want stories about established bands or real people; it needs to be fully fictional, although mentioning band names here and there in your story is acceptable. We don’t want to read anything detailing animal cruelty, harm to children, gratuitous sex or any sort of prejudice. We won’t accept flash fiction or poetry. Format: The anthology will be released in paperback print and ebook formats and sold via Amazon. How to submit: Send your manuscript as an...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $10 Theme: A complete story in any genre What are we looking for? Good flash fiction is like a freeze frame—a snapshot of a real story about real characters. The word count is low, so many of the details are left to the reader to fill in, but they’re there. Flash fiction is neither a vignette nor a character sketch. Something must happen, and there must be an ending, whether explicit or implied. So first and foremost, we want a story. A complete, interesting story. 1000 words or less, any genre, no content restrictions. We want your science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, drama, literary works, satire, bizarre fiction, or anything else you can come up with or mix together. The more original, the better. The weirder, the better. The best way to find out what we’re looking for is to read what we’ve already published! Check out our current volume, free to read at https://freezeframefiction.com/. What are we NOT looking for? We are 100% okay with explicit content, so long as it serves a purpose to the story and/or characters. Profanity for the sake of profanity—or the same thing for sex, violence, or gore—does not impress us. Also, animal cruelty. Please just send that somewhere else. We do not publish fan-fiction, i.e., stories based in worlds or using characters created by other authors. All content must be original. The following things might be accepted, but will be a very hard sell: stories involving vampires, zombies, or werecreatures (read an exception here) pure romance with no other significant elements the now-ubiquitous young adult paranormal romance military fiction or stories of battles or wars stories with a religious message or theme We’re also pretty tired of reading about straight cis white guys, honestly. We get it; they’re everywhere. Give us some diversity,...

Submission Window: November 1st through December 31st 2022 Payment: $0.03 per word and a contributors copy Theme: Horror stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost Tales from the Clergy: Stories Inspired by Ghost “Tales from the Clergy” is a horror anthology of stories inspired by the music of the band Ghost to be release by our October Nights Press imprint. Forming in 2006, Ghost exploded onto the Swedish rock scene with their debut album, Opus Eponymous. Their follow-up albums: Infestissumam, Meliora, Prequelle, and Impera would all go on to produce numerous hit singles, awards, and metal/pop songs sung loud by adoring fans at their concerts, which they have dubbed rituals. Ghost is known for having an eccentric on-stage presence with group members concealing their identities with costumes and the lead singer adorning the vestments of a demonic anti-Pope. Ghost relies heavily on themes of horror movies from the 70s and 80s, while also embracing the satanic panic from the late 80s. Although a relatively new band, Ghost has a large catalog of songs to choose from. Creativity is key and I recommend exploring some of their lesser-known tracks. Submitting a story based on “Square Hammer” or “Cirice” may pit you amongst others who did the same, and I really want variety with this anthology. As such, only one story per song will be accepted. We are looking to accept 15 stories. Authors will be paid $0.03 per word, with a cap at 5,000 words. Stories should be 3,000 – 5,000 words in length. Payment will also include a copy of the e-book and one (1) paperback copy. Payment will be issued at least five (5) days after acceptance of the signed contract, and books distributed one (1) week after publication. This is a horror anthology, so all genres of horror are welcomed....

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: $500 first place, $300 second place, $200 third place. All three stories will also be published by Story Unlikely. Theme: Stories of any genre up to 4500 words OUR ANNUAL SHORT STORY CONTEST OPENS OCTOBER 1ST FOR SUBMISSIONS, WITH UPDATED GUIDELINES, INCLUDING DOUBLING THE PRIZE PACKAGE AND WORD LENGTH, AND YEAH, GETTING YOUR STORY PROFESSIONALLY ILLUSTRATED!! Contest guidelines below. READ CAREFULLY. Failure to do so may result in disqualification! Story Guidelines: The short story contest is open to everyone with a brain (this is more restrictive than you think). Don't be fooled by our promo illustration, there are no restrictions on genre: fantasy, sci fi, memoir, fiction/nonfiction, etc - we don't care as long as it's a good story. The story itself cannot exceed 2,250 4,500 words. What do I win? A $500 $1,000 prize package will be divvied up like so: $500 first place, $300 second place, $200 third place. The winning story will be featured on Story Unlikely's website. All three placing stories will be published in the monthly issue, and all three will illustrated by our crackpot team of digital editors!Don't forget about the honorable mentions! That's right, you honorable little losers, you. Is that harsh? It's supposed to be a compliment. Anyway, we do NOT notify honorable mentions ahead of time, because we're lazy busy, so very, very lazy busy. Rather, we announce them in the monthly issue along with the winning story, which you need to sign up for in order to be eligible to enter. If your name appears on this list of honorables, you'll be prompted to contact us and we'll send you a fancy, shcmancy certificate for proof that you, indeed, almost won a writing contest. But not quite. When can I submit? The submission period runs from October 1st through December 31st. Our reading period is January through March. When will...

Tentative Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: 40% royalties for net eBook sales and 20% on paperback sales Theme: Dark Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Suspense, Fantasy, or Thriller. The submission window will remain open until at least the end of 2022. Our goal is to remain open on a permanent basis, but we will close from time to time if too many projects are accepted. We don’t want authors to wait two or three years before their book is published. Our slush readers are standing by, and all we’ll require upon submission is: A one or two page, detailed synopsis (which includes any twists as well as the ending) An author bio The first three chapters of your novel or novella (no collections, short stories, or poetry at this time). Series welcome. Please use the modern Shunn format for your manuscript. Only one submission per author at a time. Simultaneous subs (to other publishers) are allowed, but please inform us of that upon submission. Be sure to let us know if and when your book is accepted for publication elsewhere. No previously published works. This includes self-published titles. Email your submissions to [email protected] (Karen Runge will manage the account and get back to you to confirm your submission) What we’re looking for: Length: 30,000 to 95,000 words Genre: Dark Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Suspense, Fantasy, or Thriller. Subgenres/Tropes: We love them all, although we’re more interested in dark, suspenseful fiction than just outright horror. Our readers want to go on an emotional rollercoaster of fear, fright, sadness, joy, loss, and the beauty behind every character’s story. What we’re not looking for: Romance/Erotica (although they can certainly be used in subplots) Anthology pitches Short stories Short story collections Poetry Screenplays Young Adult Submission guidelines: The subject of your email should be “Open subs 2022.” Again, we...

Deadline: December 31st, 2022 Payment: £10 Theme: Revenge R is for Revenge – Submissions open November 1st. Deadline December 31st Revenge can come in many forms so we are looking for clever and unusual stories. Anything goes, so long as the story falls into the horror genre (whether that be human or non-human monsters). We are currently calling for submissions for a series of horror anthologies – The A-Z of Horror. The series will be based on a variety of themes and will consist of twenty-six books in total. We are looking for short horror stories, between 4000 and 8000 words, on each of the themes listed below. You may submit to more than one book, but we will only include a maximum of one story from each author, in each book. Being accepted into one book does not guarantee acceptance into one of the others. The story must be your own work, to which you hold the rights. The story must not be available elsewhere and, if accepted, we will hold the rights to it for three months from the date of publication. After that time, you may use the story however you wish. Any sub-genre of horror is suitable, even extreme, so long as the story fits the theme of that book and does not include anything which may unnecessarily cause offence (glorification of any kind of assault.). Payment for the story will be £10, to be paid via PayPal, as well as a contributor’s e-book of the finished book. Please send submissions in a Word document (ideally Times New Roman 12pt, single spaced) to [email protected] with the title of the book you are submitting to in the subject line. Please ensure you have included your name on the Word document. If you have any queries, feel free to...