Events

Deadline: May 30th, 2024 Payment: $25 Theme: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Barry Manilow There are few musicians in the world today who are more recognizable than Barry Manilow. With a chart-topping career spanning decades and a current residency in Las Vegas, Manilow continues to demonstrate his incredible musical talent and creativity. Manilow created a crime story of his own in his hit song Copacabana, and now we look to provide the same treatment to his many other hits. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 1. Your work must be based on a song that’s an original Barry Manilow song and cannot be a cover performed by him. For example, although his cover of “Memory” from the musical Cats is iconic, it is not eligible for this anthology. Feel free to reference the list HERE and HERE for inspiration. 2. Your work must relate strongly to the song it’s inspired by, whether that’s by the lyrics or the name. 3. You still must have a STORY and a good crime/mystery. 4. LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC characters and authors very, very strongly encouraged. Be authentic! 5. All works must be original to this publication and cannot have been published or self-published previously. 6. We’re perfectly ok with simultaneous submissions to other publishers, but please let us know if you’d like your story withdrawn from consideration. 7. Please make sure your song choice is not too obscure. From past musical mystery anthologies we’ve found that readers have a lot more interest if there are songs they immediately recognize. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES 1. We’re not looking for flash fiction, but we’re not against it if it works. Prefer more in the regular short story length (3000-5000 words). 2. All submissions need to be in DOC, DOCX or Pages format. Everyone knows by now that we don’t care about fonts and spacing and all that...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: $20 (CAD) and a contributors copy Theme: Writing on your view of the meaning of the word "Stygian" After the release of our first publication "The Stygian Collection", there was demand to continue producing anthologies. To continue growing our community and keep the anthology spirit alive, The Stygian Society will be releasing a literary zine every January and July! ​ Focusing on the theme "Stygian", we ask writers to meditate on their meaning of the word. We are open to poetry, short stories, non-fiction articles, personal insights and visual art (including comics)! For written works please do not exceed 2500 words (poetry included). For comics please do not exceed 5 pages. Submissions are always open, so send us something and see what we think. ​ Works received between June 1 and November 30 will be considered for the January issue Works received between December 1 and May 31 will be considered for the July issue ​ We will accept written submissions in Word or PDF format. If your work has previously been published, please be sure to note this when reaching out and let us know where it is currently featured. For artwork, please send in any high res file format - 300dpi minimum. Colour or black and white welcome. ​ For selected works, you will receive a $20 (CAD) honorarium and one print copy of the zine.   Submit Your Work Via: Stygian Society.

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: £0.005 per word (Low pay is due to being a charity anthology for skin cancer.) Theme: Speculative stories that include skin We’re looking for stories (2-5k words) on the theme of skin (after all, we are skeletons, we crave what we lack). Take the prompt as literally or as abstractly as you like. We tend to prefer speculative, surreal, supernatural, dark fiction with creeping, poetic, dread-inducing prose, and endings we can't predict, but we're open to all subgenres of dark fiction. Elements of sci-fi and/or fantasy are fine, as long as your story veers towards the dark. We are not, however, the market for violent, bloody, racist, homophobic, or masochistic fiction. If you want an idea of what sort of story we publish (my oh my, it is an eclectic collection), why not check out any of our other publications? Links can be found by clicking on the Books tab at the top of this page. Deadline: May 31st 2024 (midnight, last place on earth) or until full.  One piece per author - send us your best! No reprints. No AI fiction. £0.005 per word (after edits). Profits made during the year of publication will go to a skin cancer charity. An anthology of selected stories will be published in print and as an e-book publication. Do get in touch via email or Twitter with any questions. Submission Guidelines Stories must be typed in English. Pieces must be your own, original work (no AI), and previously unpublished in any format. Size 12 font, Times New Roman or similar easy-to-read font. Please do not double space after a full stop (period). No paragraph indents. Leave a line between paragraphs. Please use " for speech marks, not '. No colour or images please. Please tell us your name, title of your story,  and which call you are submitting to in the subject line of your...

Deadline: May 31, 2024 Payment: Contributor's Copy Theme: Whumpy stories that involve a laboratory Whump, closely related to hurt/comfort, is a genre of fiction that involves hurting fictional characters. It often also involves the comforting of those characters, but not necessarily. It originated in fan fiction, but has now branched out into original fiction. If you are unfamiliar with the genre, make sure to familiarize yourself with it before submitting. Check out #whump on tumblr, or pick up a copy of one of our previous anthologies! Calling all whump writers! The Whumpy Printing Press is looking for stories for its third anthology, to be published in paperback and ebook formats in 2024. Theme: Lab whump. For this anthology, we’re looking for whumpy stories that involve a laboratory. Maybe your whumpee is a lab rat. Maybe they’re on the run from the ethically questionable organization that has been holding them prisoner. Maybe the whumpee has finally flipped the script on their whumper. As long as a lab is incorporated into the story in some way, it counts! We take a broad view of whump- it can be physical or emotional. Your stories can be hurt no comfort or comfort no hurt, just as long as they touch on whump in some way. Word Count: Up to 17,500 words For this anthology, we are looking for stories in the following categories: Micro-fiction: 250 words or less Flash fiction: 251-1,000 words Short Story: 1,001-7,499 words Novelette: 7,500-17,500 words Compensation: ebook contributor’s copy, one free paperback, and discounts on additional paperbacks 50% of proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to charity, with the remainder going to support future WPP projects. Submissions Open: October 28, 2023 Submit Here! Submissions Close: May 31, 2024 (hard deadline) Expected Publication Date: October 2024 The...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: Contributor's copy and 3 cents per word for original work or 1 cent per word for reprints Theme: Family friendly science fiction with positive visions of the future Note: Reprints welcome We're looking for stories for our next family friendly anthology, Terrific Tomorrows! We're looking for science fiction with positive visions of the future, stories that leave the reader excited about the possibilities ahead. By "family friendly," we mean stories an adult can enjoy, but also share with a 10-year-old. No gore, no cursing, and no stories where violence is a solution. We're looking for tales where people think their way out of problems. We're now open for submissions under 3000 words. Query with a short pitch if you have something longer that you think is a great fit for the theme. We accept original stories and reprints. We'll pay 3 cents a word for original stories and a 1 cent a word for reprints, plus a contributor's copy of the paperback. Email submissions to [email protected]. Our deadline is May 31, 2024. Via: Word Balloon Books' Facebook.

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 12c/word + contributors copy. Theme: Gross and goopy horror Edited by Lor Gislason, author of Inside Out, ⅓ of the Goop Troop and editor of Bound In Flesh: An Anthology of Trans Body Horror and Spectrum: An Autistic Horror Anthology. THE IMPORTANT STUFF: This is an OPEN CALL. There are no invited authors. It’s a free for all! SUBMISSION PERIOD: April 1st to May 31st, 2024. Edits June-August. Expected release date October. PAY: 12c/word + contributors copy. We will be taking PITCHES, and if accepted, your story should be 2-5k words. Please send only 1 to 2 pitches MAX. SEND PITCHES TO: [email protected] THE GUTS: Hey all! Lor here. Some of you might know me for my love of GROSS, GOOPY HORROR—which is exactly what this anthology aims to be! I’ll be looking for pitches that evoke FUN and DISGUST, like Peter Jackson’s Braindead, and the films of Frank Henelotter. Shows like Freaky Stories and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. Like a pig in mud, we revel in the nasty and go, “hey, check this out! Made me want to barf!” Give me fluids! Guts and gore! Slime, ooze and GOOP! Your story can feature dark themes and heavy topics, but have FUN with it. There are no restrictions. Content warnings will be made available when the book is published. All writers of any skill level or background are encouraged to submit! Little Ghosts Presents.. LITTLE GUTS A Gory Anthology Submit your pitch for a 2-5k story! Please include… just the guts! Character, rising action, and conclusion teaser. Suggest a style, leak the ooze, make us laugh (or go EUGHHHH). Pitch us something gross! Submission window closes May 31 2024. Via: Little Ghost Books.

Submission Window: May 1st - 31st, 2024 Payment: 1 cent per word Theme: Fantasy short stories up to 5,000 words Note: REPRINT ONLY IMAGITOPIA is a new fantasy fiction podcast and digital magazine produced by Android Press and featuring narrated fantasy fiction plus other fun stuff like author and editor interviews, news and events, and nerd-outs on fantasy tropes and other related topics.  We currently accept submissions of previous published fantasy short stories for REPRINT ONLY to be narrated for the podcast. We'll also publish in print here on the webzine.  ​ Our first submission window opens on September 1, 2023. For more information on when we're open and closed to submissions throughout the year, please see our Schedule. Submissions are only accepted through IMAGITOPIA's Moksha submission portal. Any submissions received via email or any other method will be deleted without review or response. Email accounts inevitable get tons of spam. So this policy helps make sure we don't lose your submission in the email shuffle. But if for some reason you're unable to submit via our Moksha portal, for example due to accessibility issues, please message us using the form at the bottom of this page, and we'll be happy to make alternative arrangements for your submission. *We're a womxn and trans run publication. We hope authors of all types and stripes will submit work, but we especially encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, womxn, people living with disabilities, those living in the Global South, and authors from other marginalized populations. ​ WORD COUNT flash fiction: up to 1,500 words short stories: up to 5,000 words ​ PAY RATE We currently pay 1 cent USD per word for previously published flash fiction and short stories with a $10 USD minimum. ​ GENRES We accept submissions of fantasy and all its subgenres including but not limited to:  ​​ high...

Submission Window: May 1st - 31st, 2024 Payment: $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue Theme: Any genre, short story Mission = Revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful. Payout = Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Wait, you mean if this substack gets thousands of subscribers, the winner would get thousands of dollars? Yes! The New Yorker pays roughly $7,500 per story and I sincerely hope to go way past that. What does the timeline look like? Submit stories by the end of the month, winner to be announced on the 15th. There is ONE story that wins and receives the full payout. Where do I send submissions? [email protected] What are the rules for submitting? 1. No Fees 2. Send in Microsoft Word or Google Doc form 3. Any genre 4. 6- 10,000 words. Yes, just 6 words, like Hemingway's famous 6-word story "For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn." 5. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. 6. Acknowledge Distribution Rights on this Substack - You can still sell your story elsewhere but we need to be able to save and publish it here. The goal is to create a library for subscribers. 7. Only the winner will be published and rights will only transfer for the winning story. What do I get for subscribing? One beautiful story every month. The complete library. The joy of supporting artists and doing something interesting. What if I can’t pay right now? That’s ok! If you publish a blurb about this site on your website, blog, or social media, I will send you one full story of your choosing. Best of all, it is...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 3c/word (USD) originals; $25 (USD) reprints Theme: Weird Horror, Dark Fantasy, Dark Science Fiction. Short Fiction, Narrative Poetry. Note: Reprints Welcome The Skull and Laurel is a quarterly magazine of New Weird short fiction. A more detailed explanation of the type of stories we publish at Tenebrous Press can be found here, but essentially we are looking for speculative fiction that is genre-fluid and modern in its themes, subtext, characters, techniques, or form. Horror, fantasy, and science fiction stories are welcome so long as they are dark and Weird with a capital W. If your story is speculative and either blends genres or refuses to fit neatly within their confines, we want to read it. Our goal is to publish strange and brave new stories told by people you may have never otherwise met.   Submission Guidelines for Skull and Laurel This round open until: May 31st 2024 Genres and forms: Weird Horror, Dark Fantasy, Dark Science Fiction. Short Fiction, Narrative Poetry. We also encourage trying us with things like comic strips, mixed media, found footage, puzzles, games, experiments, and other weird forms, as long as they tell a story.   Word count: 100 to 7499 words Payment: 3c/word (USD) originals; $25 (USD) reprints Reprints: Yes Simultaneous Submissions: Yes Multiple submissions: Please submit no more than one original story and one reprint at a time (one of each is fine). Translations: Translations are welcome as long as the story has not yet been published in English. Target Age Group: Mature audiences AI Disclaimer: Machine/AI-generated content is explicitly forbidden. Authors and artists should anticipate contracts declaring that no part of their submission was machine/AI-generated. Those who submit machine/AI-generated content will be permanently blacklisted. Rights: World English first rights in print, electronic, and ebook, including a six-month exclusivity period. For reprints, World English reprint in print, electronic, and ebook, no...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 2 cents per word and both a hardcover and paperback contributors copy Theme: stories involving ghosts and possession We are looking for your stories involving ghosts and possession. Open for Submissions: April 1, 2024 through May 31, 2024 Expected Publication: October 2024 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Your story: should be approximately 2,000 – 6,000 words in length. (If your story is significantly longer than this, consider submitting it to our Tiny Terrors short fiction program.) should not contain erotica, or excessive violence or gore. can be part of an ongoing series you might be writing. can have been previously published (with proof that you hold the current publishing rights). may be submitted simultaneously to other markets (but please let us know when you submit your story). You may submit more than one story for consideration for this anthology, but please wait until you have received a response from us on your previous submissions to this anthology. If you are uncertain if your story is something that we might be interested in publishing, please feel free to query us at submissions (at) graveside-press.com in advance of submitting your manuscript. Please, no fan fiction. SUBMISSIONS Send us finished manuscript in digital (.DOCx, .RTF, or .ODT) format using this form: Graveside Press Submission Form. Please use a standard manuscript format. If you’re not sure what one is, here’s a good source. PAYMENT Payment will be: $0.02 per word one (1) trade paperback contributor edition one (1) hardcover contributor edition access to ten (10) digital contributor copies CONTACTING US We will try to acknowledge receipt of your manuscript within 24 hours. We’ll also try to let you know whether or not we’re interested in working with you to publish your book within 30 days after that. Both of these periods may vary, though, depending on the...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 2 cents per word and both a hardcover and paperback contributors copy Theme: stories involving vampires. We are looking for your stories involving vampires. Open for Submissions: April 1, 2024 through May 31, 2024 Expected Publication: October 2024 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Your story: should be approximately 2,000 – 6,000 words in length. (If your story is significantly longer than this, consider submitting it to our Tiny Terrors short fiction program.) should not contain erotica, or excessive violence or gore. can be part of an ongoing series you might be writing. can have been previously published (with proof that you hold the current publishing rights). may be submitted simultaneously to other markets (but please let us know when you submit your story). You may submit more than one story for consideration for this anthology, but please wait until you have received a response from us on your previous submissions to this anthology. If you are uncertain if your story is something that we might be interested in publishing, please feel free to query us at submissions (at) graveside-press.com in advance of submitting your manuscript. Please, no fan fiction. SUBMISSIONS Send us finished manuscript in digital (.DOCx, .RTF, or .ODT) format using this form: Graveside Press Submission Form. Please use a standard manuscript format. If you’re not sure what one is, here’s a good source. PAYMENT Payment will be: $0.02 per word one (1) trade paperback contributor edition one (1) hardcover contributor edition access to ten (10) digital contributor copies CONTACTING US We will try to acknowledge receipt of your manuscript within 24 hours. We’ll also try to let you know whether or not we’re interested in working with you to publish your book within 30 days after that. Both of these periods may vary, though, depending on the number of manuscripts we’ve...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 2 cents per word and both a hardcover and paperback contributors copy Theme: stories involving werewolves and other shape-changing beings We are looking for your stories involving werewolves and other shape-changing beings. Open for Submissions: April 1, 2024 through May 31, 2024 Expected Publication: October 2024 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Your story: should be approximately 2,000 – 6,000 words in length. (If your story is significantly longer than this, consider submitting it to our Tiny Terrors short fiction program.) should not contain erotica, or excessive violence or gore. can be part of an ongoing series you might be writing. can have been previously published (with proof that you hold the current publishing rights). may be submitted simultaneously to other markets (but please let us know when you submit your story). You may submit more than one story for consideration for this anthology, but please wait until you have received a response from us on your previous submissions to this anthology. If you are uncertain if your story is something that we might be interested in publishing, please feel free to query us at submissions (at) graveside-press.com in advance of submitting your manuscript. Please, no fan fiction. SUBMISSIONS Send us finished manuscript in digital (.DOCx, .RTF, or .ODT) format using this form: Graveside Press Submission Form. Please use a standard manuscript format. If you’re not sure what one is, here’s a good source. PAYMENT Payment will be: $0.02 per word one (1) trade paperback contributor edition one (1) hardcover contributor edition access to ten (10) digital contributor copies CONTACTING US We will try to acknowledge receipt of your manuscript within 24 hours. We’ll also try to let you know whether or not we’re interested in working with you to publish your book within 30 days after that. Both of these periods may vary,...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 5 cents per word Theme: Anything robot or AI-related where things go horribly wrong, or even horribly right. Robots, AI, and all things technology. Think of our annual anthology call as a mix between the Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, and Back to the Future. We are looking to highlight 20+ brand new writers with tales of technology gone right, wrong, and everything in between. The Robots Were Right is a Kickstarter anthology from the award-nominated editing team at Weird Little Worlds Press. Our other anthologies have been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award® for Excellence in An Anthology as well as individual stories being chosen for BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR and BEST SHORT FICTION. For this anthology, we are breaking from the formula of most anthologies and not including any personally invited authors. Why? So that we can feature an award-quality anthology of new and upcoming authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. We want you! The Pitch: Technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. From being constantly monitored by our smart devices to AI art taking the jobs of creatives, technology is having a real impact on the lives and livelihoods of people all over the world. In this anthology, we want to hear the strangest, scariest, most stupefying, and most satisfying stories you can imagine. Make us cringe, laugh, cry, hide…but most of all, make us think and make us care! What We Want: We are looking for unique, engaging stories that are ripped from the headlines and could be the next episode of Black Mirror or The Twilight Zone. Whatever technology you choose to highlight(not necessarily from this century), it must reflect the pervasive, invasive, abusive, and/or revolutionary power of human-made tools and make us care about the humans they impact. While we understand that...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: Flash & Fiction: 8 cents per word, Poetry: $50, other written options, 8 cents per word Theme: All styles and genres when it comes to fairy tales Submissions are currently OPEN for Issue #2. This window will close at midnight AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on 31 May 2024. Upcoming submission windows Submission window for Issue #3: 1 to 14 August (closes midnight AEST on 14 August) Submission window for Issue #4: 1 to 14 November (closes midnight AEST on 14 November) What we are looking for We are especially interested in work from or about diverse perspectives and traditionally under-represented groups, settings, and cultures, written from a non-exoticising and well-researched position. Please read the FULL guidelines below for the type of submission you are sending us, and our preferences in terms of format and cover letters. Currently, we only accept original, unpublished work. We have a swift turnaround time on submissions (about two weeks), and so ask that you do not submit your work to other markets while it is under consideration for The Orange & Bee. AI Policy We do not accept or publish work that has written with, or with the assistance of, writing software such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc. Please include in your cover letter a statement indicating that you have not used AI to create your work—this will set our minds at ease. Please note that our contract for publication requires you to legally affirm that you (and not a robot/AI) wrote your work. If we discover that you have submitted work to us that breaches our AI guidelines, we will block your email address, and will not accept future submissions from you. Fiction & Flash Fiction The Orange and Bee celebrates all styles and genres when it comes to fairy tales. We are seeking stories that...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Prizes: $35 for first place, $25 for second, $15 for third Theme: An everyday detail being key to your 25-50 word story Premise: For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story between 25 and 50 words long in which a specific detail of something that would normally be trivial and uninteresting is in fact extremely important or interesting. Deadline: Friday, May 31, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern US time. Length: Between 25 and 50 words. Hyphenated Words: Words that are normally hyphenated, but generally considered one word, are considered one word for this contest. Examples: "Twenty-three", "Jack-o-lantern", and "Mother-in-law" are each one word. However, stringing a bunch of words together with hyphens for artistic effect will result in each connected word being counted separately. Example: "It was a get-out-of-my-way day." That hyphenated phrase counts as five words. Prizes: $35 for first place, $25 for second, $15 for third, all in US dollars. Honorable mentions get published but make no money. If international currency exchange fees are necessary to pay an author, that fee comes out of the mini-contest prize money. Other Rules: One entry per author. There is no fee for entering this contest. Via: On The Premises' Submittable.

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Prizes: Winner: 3 cents per word, second place: 2 cents per word, 3rd place: 1 cent per word. Theme: This year marks the 50th anniversary of Stephen King’s tale of teenage retribution, Carrie. To commemorate this momentous milestone, this month’s theme is “Coming of Rage. As one of the winners of last month’s contest, Philip Harris has agreed to host this month. Here’s the theme: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of Stephen King’s tale of teenage retribution, Carrie. To commemorate this momentous milestone, this month’s theme is “Coming of Rage.” Show us what happens when the thin veneer of humanity shatters. We want to see your tales of anger, of vengeance, of ordinary people driven to extremes and the carnage they leave behind. Stories of teenage angst written in blood, of murderous retirement home feuds, of parents who just can’t face listening to that song again!” Before we get to the submission guidelines, please know that only the top 15 to 20 stories will be posted on our Patreon page for our patrons to vote on. The winner will receive $0.03 per word, publication, and an Author Spotlight on our newsletter and Patreon page. The second-place winner will receive $0.02 a word, and the third place winner $0.01 per word. The winner will also have the option of hosting the following month’s contest for an additional $50. Second and third-place authors will also be invited to be published in our newly-announced Hotel Macabre anthology series, which will include flash fiction, short stories, poetry, and a few other surprizes. Out Halloween, 2024.   Submission guidelines: -Max 1,500 words -Submit your entry in the body of an email to [email protected] (no attachments) -The email subject line should be the story’s title and your author name / pseudonym -The deadline...

Deadline: May 31st, 2024 Payment: 4 cents per word, 1/2 cent per word for reprints, $25 for poetry, $40 for non-fiction, $150 for cover art Theme: speculative fiction, poetry, and non-fiction Note: Apologies for the late posting, we've only just stumbled across this market! Note: Reprints Welcome Trollbreath Magazine is a journal of speculative fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, publishing electronic issues on a quarterly schedule. Our interests are as varied as the endless amount of genres, from dark fantasy to hope punk to surrealism, and everything in between. We have a particular fondness for slipstream and fabulism in all their delightful forms, but what motivates us most are great stories by wonderful authors eager to share their visions of the past, the future, the in between, and everything that lies outside the margins. Coloring beyond the lines encouraged. Examples of stories we particularly love (but there are too many to include): Bears Discover Fire, by Terry Bisson (England Underway as well) October Tale, by Neil Gaiman (or Snow, Glass, Apples) Last of the Winnebagos, by Connie Willis (Even the Queen; all her work!) Rabbit Test, by Samantha Mills Bride, Knife, Flaming Horse, by M.L. Krishnan Stories, poems and articles will be available at the beginning of the quarter for those with paid subscriptions to the magazine, either on the website or sent via email depending on membership level. Over the course of the quarter, a new story will be opened every Friday to the those without subscriptions, until all stories have been publicly released. Submission periods are as follows: May 1st, 2024 – May 31st, 2024 (Fall & Winter 2024 issues) September 1st, 2024 – September 30th, 2024 (Spring 2025 issue) December 1st, 2024 – December 31st, 2024 (Summer 2025 issue) March 1st, 2025 – March 31st, 2025 (Fall 2025 issue) June 1st, 2025...

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Payment: Royalties Theme: Horror Novellas We publish horror and fantasy stories, novels, novellas, and other content. Burial Books is primarily a horror & fantasy publisher, but we also publish Young Adult, crime fiction, and science fiction books too. Burial Books LLC Birthday CakeIf it’s good, we’ll try to publish it. Our blog also features stories and articles from authors across the spectrum. So, take a look at our articles when you get a chance too. If you have something spooky you want us to look at, then contact us anytime. If you want us to publish your story, then you’ll need to go to our submissions page to find out how to submit what we are looking for. We are always looking for some great writing. Horror Novellas: You guessed it. We want horror novellas between 25,000 and 50,000 words in length. The stories must be scary and can be on any horror subject. No specific type of story requested. If it’s a horror story, send it over. Payment: Authors shall receive a payment or a percentage of the profits from the book. OTHER STUFF: No poetry or reprints. No erotica. Submission Deadline: Extended to June 1, 2024. Email submissions to [email protected] with the story attached in Microsoft Word Format. We try to reply and let you know if we are not using your submission within 4 weeks. However, if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of sending the email (check your Spam folder) then we did not accept it. Please put EXACTLY the following in the subject line: ATTN: SUBMISSION FOR HORROR NOVELLA. Via: Burial Books.

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Payment: £20 and a contributor's copy Theme: Original short horror stories, from 2K words to 7K words max, with a pirate theme. Shivering Timbers! An anthology of pirate themed horror fiction. Title: Shivering Timbers! Story Length: 2K words – 7K words Pay: £20 regardless of story length plus a paperback and digital (pdf. & Epub.) copy. Deadline: 1st June 2024 Expected Release Date: 3rd July 2024 What we want: For our anthology, ‘Shivering Timbers!, we are looking for original short horror stories, from 2K words to 7K words max, with a pirate theme. Stories must be fictional and set in ‘The Golden Age of Piracy’ (1650s – 1730s) or before. Works slightly under 2K words or slightly over 7K words may still be considered. Reprints may be considered as long as the story rights have reverted to the author. We ask for five months exclusive print and digital rights, ongoing non-exclusive rights thereafter. You will retain copyright ownership of your work. What we don’t want: We don’t accept simultaneous submissions. We don’t want to read anything detailing animal cruelty, harm to children, gratuitous sex or any sort of prejudice. We don’t accept flash fiction or poetry. We don’t accept stories created by AI or AI enhanced work. Please be aware that submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be considered. Format: The anthology will be released in paperback print and eBook formats and sold on Amazon and via Amazon’s expanded distribution program. How to submit: Send your manuscript as an attachment to [email protected] or [email protected] Please follow the Shunn Manuscript Format leaving out headers and page numbers. On the first page, please include: Your pen name, The story title, Approx. word count, Your email address, A short bio to include in the anthology and the ‘Authors’ page of...

Deadline: June 1st, 2024 Payment: $5 Theme: General horror No set theme or subjects for this anthology - just good, well-told horror and tales of terror! You can be classical, traditional, contemporary, or anywhere in between - just scare the pants off our compiling editors! PLEASE read and adhere to our submission guidelines...  * Word format saved in .doc, or .docx * 12 pt times new roman * Double spaced * Absolutely NO extra lines between paragraphs! * 2.5K - 8K word count * Write 'HORROR' along with your name and story title in the header of your email *The body of your submission email will be considered the cover letter. * The submission documents are to be separated and Word (.doc or .docx) documents are to be attached to your submission email. To submit, email your polished story to [email protected] - Make sure that you check your mss for grammar and punctuation, use our guidelines to help you: DOWNLOAD YOUR HBB GUIDE TO GRAMMAR HERE (PDF) DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2024 NO REPRINTS - ORIGINAL UNPUBLISHED WORKS ONLY Payment - $5.00 for first rights. Capped at 100K words in total. Via: Hellbound Books Publishing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deadline: June 23rd, 2024 Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Theme: Stories featuring Anasi: a creator god, a trickster folk hero, a wily spider and a heroic symbol of resistance. More details below Note: Reprints Welcome We are very excited to re-open our call for submissions for this title! Please read through the details for submissions carefully before submitting your stories.  Flame Tree are bringing you a brand new gorgeous hardcover series brimming with myths and short stories.  Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a classic mythological or folkloric figure, with completely new stories alongside the original tales. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well-known stories, alongside specially commissioned text on the origins and the cultural background of the mythology. We’ve already closed submissions for the first two books in the series, Medusa and Odin, where stories are still under consideration. We’re now opening up submissions for the next two books, Circe and Anansi. All previous submissions for Anansi are still under consideration and authors will be contacted in due course, within 4 months of the new deadline. Anansi Anansi is at once a creator god, a trickster folk hero, a wily spider and a heroic symbol of resistance. From his origins in West African folklore, to his lauded status in Jamaica, Anansi is a versatile immortal whose many stories reflect the early world of his origins, and the potential for re-imagination. Sometimes dark and chilling, occasionally light-hearted, but always lively and clever, Anansi appears in the lives of everyday folk, pricks the pomposity of the mighty and in this collection of new stories, appears...

Deadline: June 23rd, 2024 Payment: 8 cents/6 pence per word for original stories, 6 cents/4 pence for reprints. Theme: Enchantress, goddess, witch, predatory seductress. That isn't all Circe is, it is time to expand on her story. More details below Note: Reprints Welcome We are very excited to announce a new call for submissions which is now open! Please read through the details for submissions carefully before submitting your stories. Flame Tree are bringing you a brand new gorgeous hardcover series brimming with myths and short stories. Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a classic mythological or folkloric figure, with completely new stories alongside the original tales. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well-known stories, alongside specially commissioned text on the origins and the cultural background of the mythology. We’ve already closed submissions for the first two books in the series, Medusa and Odin, where stories are still under consideration. We’re now opening up submissions for the next two books, Circe and Anansi. Circe Enchantress, goddess, witch, predatory seductress… Inevitably, Circe has been best-known in these terms, through the male gaze of Homer, Hesiod et al., as interpreted by readers and storytellers until today. Rarely does the classic literature give us a rounded view of a woman subject to the same flaws and emotions as the rest of us: jealousy, desire, unrequited love; her witchcraft is perhaps not so much dreadful as awe-inspiring and led by nature. What we know of her story is piecemeal, from many sources. This enriching collection will bring together new stories and ancient origins, offering a wider perspective on the whole life of the enigmatic,...

Deadline: June 24th, 2024 Prizes: First place: $3,000, Second place: $2,000, and Third place: $1,000 Theme: Near-future to 2200 stories that are rooted in creative climate solutions and community-centered resilience, showing what can happen as solutions take root, and stories that offer gripping plots with rich characters and settings, making that future come alive. Grist is excited to open submissions for the fourth year of our Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors short story contest. Imagine 2200 celebrates stories that envision the next decades to centuries of equitable climate progress, imagining futures of abundance, adaptation, reform, and hope. We are looking for stories that are rooted in creative climate solutions and community-centered resilience, showing what can happen as solutions take root, and stories that offer gripping plots with rich characters and settings, making that future come alive. In 2,500 to 5,000 words, show us the world you dream of building. Your story should be set sometime between the near future and roughly the year 2200. A great Imagine story is not afraid to explore the challenges ahead – the path to climate progress will involve struggle and adaptation, and we invite you to show that – but ultimately offers hope that we can work together to build a more sustainable and just world. We want to see stories that incorporate real world climate solutions and climate science, as well as cultural authenticity (a deep sense of place, customs, cuisine, and more) and characters with fully-fledged identities. We especially want to read – and share – stories that center solutions and voices from the communities most impacted by the climate crisis. If you’re newer to climate or climate fiction, check out our FAQs page for some resources to get you started in finding inspiration from existing solutions, and some past Imagine stories to look...

Submission Window: June 17th - June 24th, 2024 Payment: $25 Theme: Fairy tales that are inspired by classic tales are what we are seeking. Mashups of classic fairy tales are welcome as well. he following is relevant to all submissions for 2024 for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Please read it in its entirety before considering submitting here. ​ Writing opportunities for 2024 include: New Fairy Tales: Fairy tales that are inspired by classic tales are what we are seeking. Mashups of classic fairy tales are welcome as well. Submissions must follow the theme below to be considered. Poetry: Poetry inspired by fairy tales and that follows the theme is also welcome.  We are not seeking art or nonfiction. We are not hiring. Please do not send inquiries. ​ The theme for the year is simply classic fairy tales—more below. HERE IS HOW YOU SUBMIT AND FORMAT AND WHEN Only the kind of submissions outlined below will be accepted at The Fairy Tale Magazine (FTM) in 2024. Here are the submission periods for both stories and poems: ​ We will be opening the submissions window for the SPRING/SUMMER Issue on  Jan. 22, 2024 at 12 AM, EST., and closing it on Jan. 29, 2024  at 11:59 PM., EST.  ​The FALL/WINTER submissions window will be June 17, 2024 at 12 AM, EST., and closing on June 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM, EST. There will be two issues. ​ (There will be one contest this year, during the summer. Details will be announced later in the year.) No submissions will be considered or acknowledged if received outside of the windows stated above. You submit through email only. Please use this address only:  [email protected]. That is for submissions only.  ​ Your last name, the publication month you are submitting for, and the year should be in the subject line of the email of your...

Deadline: June 28th, 2024 Payment: Royalties Theme: Science Fiction or Fantasy coffee stories! The perfect cuppa joe. The nectar of the gods. The safety liquid you hand your partner in the morning. We love the stuff, and can’t get enough. But how did we FIND that amazing bean? We invite our authors to visit our favorite coffee merchant, King Harv’s Coffee, and pick a variety from his amazing list. Then write a fantastical story about the detective work, the journey, the adventure of finding the oh-so-perfect bean. Was there a coffee shop on that asteroid? And where did they get the brew? Don’t limit yourself to this planet! OR SF! Sword and Sorcery works too! From Dave at King Harv’s Coffee: It all began when we took over the dome at the old South Pole station for the use as a coffee greenhouse. As you undoubtedly well know, the coffee was banned from world trade to by that ridiculous Antarctic treaty, and it became clear to us that coffee grown on alternate planets and celestial objects was the only thing that made economic sense. Shockingly this has never been reported on in the main stream media! Opens: 4/8/24 Closes:6/28/24 Contracts: 7/13/24 Publication: 8/9/24 Guidelines for all our anthologies: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Length and genre are negotiable, as long as the story fits the concept, and is entertaining. Any submission must be in Times New Roman, 12PT, double spaced, with your name, title of the story, and your email on it. Please name the file as -— Send in a .docx format. Please attach the file to your email, no links. Please see the submission guideline graphic on the Raconteur Press Facebook page. Raconteur Press will hold the rights for one year after publication, after one year the rights will...

Deadline: June 28th, 2024 Payment: Royalties Theme: Novels and Novellas - All Horror Please read the following guidelines carefully: Submissions are open from June 24th to June 28th, 2024. 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. Do please include your email address. 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 – 30,000. We consider the quality of the editing in our review process. Please fully proofread and edit manuscripts prior to submission. Do not...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Price: $30 Theme: Stories set in the Starship Blunder universe (links to that universe below if you're unfamiliar with the world.) The Starship Blunder is an aging military vessel and part of a small space federation. Please read the Setting Overview, Character Profiles, and Intro story before submitting your story. WHAT WE WANT: Writers must be at least 18-year-old to submit their story. Diverse Storytelling: Humorous tales are our core, but feel free to delve into darker themes, explore romance, or follow whatever path your creativity takes you. Word Count: Ideally, stories should be between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Exceptional stories outside this range will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Originality in the Universe: We welcome your fictional planets and alien species. Expand the Starship Blunder universe with your imagination! Character Diversity: Bring us characters of all shapes, sizes, and species. We love variety and uniqueness in our cosmic cast. Engaging Narratives: Whether it's a light-hearted escapade or a thought-provoking journey, we're looking for stories that captivate and entertain. Ready for Print: Submissions should be well-edited and ready for publication, requiring minimal editorial changes. Multiple Submissions: If you feel sufficiently inspired by the universe, feel free to submit multiple stories! Submission Process: Submissions must be made through this form.  Excessive Gore: While a bit of space skirmish or alien encounter is fine, we prefer gore that serves the plot and isn't gratuitous. Erotica: Romance? Absolutely! But please, no explicit erotica. Child Abuse: Stories involving any form of child abuse will not be considered. Dismantling the Core World: Please don't destroy our beloved Starship Blunder or Neptune. Also, avoid killing off any canonical characters. AI Generated Stories: AI is great, and feel free to use it to brainstorm, outline, and correct grammar, but all of the prose of your story should be your own. More Details Payment: $30 per accepted story. Publishing Details: The Starship Blunder...

Deadline: June 30, 2024 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: June 30th, 2024 Payment: 6 cents per word and a contributor's copy Theme: Cosmic Horror stories set in and around Arkham, Innsmouth, and other mythos related areas that take place in or are associated with Lovecraftian tales AND which feature a public or private institution of some sort Dragon’s Roost Press is please to announce the open call for our next anthology. We have previously published collections of short stories which mix Lovecraftian Mythos with elements of Romance (Eldritch Embraces: Putting the Love Back in Lovecraft) and with Humor (LOLcraft: A Compendium of Eldritch Humor). This time instead of focusing on emotions, we want to look at setting. Specifically, we want to look at how different institutions have to deal with the eldritch abominations of Lovecraftian horror. Arkham Institutions (tentative title) will feature 10 – 15 short stories focusing on the various aspects of government and business and their relationship with the oddness that creeps up in and around that most (in)famous New England Town. What We Are Looking For We want to see Cosmic Horror stories set in and around Arkham, Innsmouth, and other mythos related areas that take place in or are associated with Lovecraftian tales AND which feature a public or private institution of some sort. What does Arkham Elementary teach? What weird cases does law enforcement have to deal with? What kind of people are seen in the Emergency Room? The psych ward? The local library? We are still looking for character driven stories, but make sure that these places are characters in their own rights. Draw us in and make us feel like we are there. NOTE: We are not looking for stories set at Miskatonic University nor the Orne Library. There are plenty of stories with these settings. Give us something new. What We Want Original short stories, 3 – 5K words...

Submission Window: June 1st - 30th, 2024 Payment: $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue Theme: Any genre, short story Mission = Revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful. Payout = Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Wait, you mean if this substack gets thousands of subscribers, the winner would get thousands of dollars? Yes! The New Yorker pays roughly $7,500 per story and I sincerely hope to go way past that. What does the timeline look like? Submit stories by the end of the month, winner to be announced on the 15th. There is ONE story that wins and receives the full payout. Where do I send submissions? [email protected] What are the rules for submitting? 1. No Fees 2. Send in Microsoft Word or Google Doc form 3. Any genre 4. 6- 10,000 words. Yes, just 6 words, like Hemingway's famous 6-word story "For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn." 5. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. 6. Acknowledge Distribution Rights on this Substack - You can still sell your story elsewhere but we need to be able to save and publish it here. The goal is to create a library for subscribers. 7. Only the winner will be published and rights will only transfer for the winning story. What do I get for subscribing? One beautiful story every month. The complete library. The joy of supporting artists and doing something interesting. What if I can’t pay right now? That’s ok! If you publish a blurb about this site on your website, blog, or social media, I will send you one full story of your choosing. Best of all, it is...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: 5 cents per word Theme: Your take on the idea of what "The Earth Bleeds At Night" means, some examples and samples below ​We want you to get creative with this one and use the title for inspiration. Looking for a suggestion? Take the theme 'earth' and write us an eco-horror, go full body horror and run with the 'bleeds', or use "night" and give us your nighttime stalkers, your dark dwelling monsters... Whatever you decide and however you spin the title, remember to give us your best! We are NOT looking for stories that glorify sexual assault, rape, or bestiality. OPEN NOW May 14, 2024 - June 30, 2024 ​ ​ ​ Payment:  Professional rate of ¢5 per word USD after approved edits. ​​Word count: 2000 - 5000  (up to 20% wiggle room. Please don't email us asking if you can submit.) Reprints? No ​Multiple Submission? No 💀 Only one submission per author per theme/quarter.  ​Formatting: Shunn - Follow the details on the link below, please. Proper Manuscript Format for Fiction Writers | William Shunn   How to submit?  We will be using a Google Docs form when the submission window has opened. ​ What we are looking for: Unique, clever, and terrifying stories. Well-written relatable characters with flaws and real dialogue. Take us on a journey and scare the sh*t out of us while doing it.  ​ What we are not looking for: Erotica (some sex is fine, just not all of it), rape, and animal abuse (kill the dog, but don't f* it). ​ Curated by Holley Cornetto and Michelle River SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Remember to read the submission guidelines in full.  Failure to comply could result in your submission being rejected or sent back for correction. At this time we are only accepting manuscripts in English. ...

Submission Window: June 1st - 30th, 2024 Payment: 1 cent per word Theme: Stories of cozy cosmic horror that illuminate the elegance and grace and compassion that persists against the vast background of unrelenting emptiness At the end, when the last star dies and the cold begins to seep in, what will be the totality of our accomplishments? What will have been the point? And will anyone notice that we’re gone?  Probably not.  Well, your cat will notice because who is going to get annoyed when they knock a teacup off the desk? And what’s the point of barfing on the rug in the middle of the night if someone doesn’t step in it the following morning?  If the true terror at the center of cosmic horror is the vast indifference the universe has for us, does that mean the closest thing we have to any sort of compassionate connection is . . . our cats? Ah, we are doomed.  Pay attention to them while you can, then, but not for more than five minutes at a time, and don’t—don’t ever—rub them like that.  This fall, Underland Press is publishing Even Cozier Cosmic, a follow-up anthology to last year’s The Cozy Cosmic. The cosmic indifference of the Universe (and of the dreaded intelligences that swim out there) may be unrelenting, but we still have to go about our days. We’re looking for stories of cozy cosmic horror that illuminate the elegance and grace and compassion that persists against the vast background of unrelenting emptiness. We reject nihilism and rejoice in the comforting weight of a furball in our laps (never mind that its razor-sharp claws will cut us the moment it thinks we’re going to move). We want to teeter along that fine line between big-eyed devotion and stark raving madness. The...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Pament: £0.015 per word (Flat £5 rate for under 300 words) Theme: Poetry that will be released as audio with the theme of: All Flowers Keep The Light In our world, nature and artifice blur, balancing us between oblivion and salvation.  Virtual habitats.  Immortal pets.  Bionic babies.  Unwind as an insect in the Metaverse  Or sow microchips like flowers.  AI. Cloning. Genetic engineering.  Nature has many new faces.  ​Plant stories that embrace nature's paradox; poems and music that dance between artifice and authenticity. Show us how our existence is intertwined with nature's complexities in this bold new world. Current Theme Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Submission Guidelines (check website for full guidelines): - Up to 5 mins or 500 words for poetry/flash fiction/songs - Up to 15 mins or 1800-3000 words for short stories/plays - Compensation: £0.015 per word (Flat £5 rate for under 300 words) - Original work only. Reprints accepted. - If the current theme doesn’t suit you, please feel free to send in your work anyway, as it may be suitable for future themes. Website: www.thelostpoetryclub.com Email: [email protected] The Lost Poetry Club is an audible zine. We aim to create a kaleidoscope of voices and materials. Chosen work will be dramatized, but you are openly encouraged to contribute to our M.A.F.P. (mind-altering frequency protocol) with your own recordings and performances for a fully collaborative experience. What to Submit: ​​ Short Stories/Scripts/Non-fiction: Up to 15 mins or 1800-3000 words. Poetry/Flash Fiction: Up to 5 mins or 500 words. Songs/Music/Other: Up to 10 mins. ​ Compensation:  Over 300 words: £0.015 per word.  Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. ​ Rights: If previously unpublished, we claim first-world on-going non-exclusive rights (text and audio) with 120 days of exclusivity from publication. However, we do accept reprints.  Any audio adaptations produced belong to us solely. Other formats like...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: $30 per poem, $70 per short fiction, CNF piece, and short play. $70 per visual art piece, $30 per comic Theme: Queer-focused stories of any genre: space opera, niche cryptid horror, experimental formats, and anything in between! Eavesdrop is a queer-focused multimedia magazine. Our tone is inclusive, playful, and passionate. Eavesdrop accepts any and all genres. Space opera, niche cryptid horror, experimental formats, and anything in between. We love genre fiction, especially when it’s done well. However, please note that we will not accept graphic sexual violence, hate speech, or discriminatory works. If your piece contains violence, deliver it with purpose. We recognize that violence is, unfortunately, part of our queer experiences, and we never want to censor anyone’s experience, but Eavesdrop wants to create a safe community for our content consumers and fellow artists. If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to email us at [email protected]. This submission period will be from May 31st to June 30th, 2024. WHO CAN SUBMIT? Our mandate is to connect both emerging and established Canadian writers with audiences who care. For this issue, we are accepting international submissions. We prioritize submissions from BIPOC writers, writers with disabilities, LGBTQ2SIA+ writers, and writers from marginalized groups, but accept submissions from everyone. We also gladly accept submissions from artists we’ve published before, but will make a concerted effort to spread the love as much as we can so we can share more voices. Please send us your work, and tell your friends! WHAT WE ACCEPT: Fiction and Plays For this issue, we are seeking short stories and short plays of no more than 2500 words. Poetry We accept up to 5 poems in a submission. Each poem should be no longer than 2 pages single-spaced. Creative Non-Fiction...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: 10 cents per word Theme: Fun horror that aims to celebrate all things spooky Note: Only considering fiction and non-fiction from writers who have never been published before Hello, ghouls! We are thrilled to announce that we are, once again, reading submissions for a new issue of our magazine Ghoulish Tales. This will be for our fourth issue. Issue 3 is in the process of being finalized and will come out next month. We strongly encourage you to subscribe now so you don’t miss it once it’s available. Plus, if you are not already familiar with the style & tone of the magazine, we highly encourage you to read one of our previous issues. Beginning this weekend, we will also start posting past stories on GHOULISH.RIP and our newsletter for free. With this new issue—Issue 4—we are doing something slightly different with our open call. This time, we are only considering fiction and non-fiction from writers who have never been published before.We want to see work from new writers only. I suppose you could call this the New Ghouls issue. Again, just to clarify: We only want writers who have never been published before, either in physical media or digital. Self-publishing counts as having been published—but we’re reasonable ghouls. If you simply posted a story on your blog or something, or perhaps printed out some DIY zine that you only shared with friends or whatever, you may still submit. Use common sense and, if in doubt, send us an email at [email protected] to state your case. This is just something we’re trying to do to help spotlight new writers and get their spooky feet in the door, right? No need for any of us to stress out too much about loop holes or technicalities. Also, if you’ve recently sold a work elsewhere, but it hasn’t come out yet,...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: £10 Theme: Vampires! We're looking for short stories up to 5000 words, and poetry of any length. Submissions will close 30th of June, midnight GMT. Please send your work to us as a Word document with no headers/footers and no page numbers. We will accept one submission per author. Successful authors will receive a £10 payment, and it's free to submit your work to us for consideration. Please send your submissions to [email protected] Via: West Avenue Publishing.

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: $25 Theme: Dark Fantasy Call for Submissions – Dark Fantasy Short Stories Worldsmyths is now open to short story submissions for Dark Fantasy stories between 2k and 15k words. Dark Fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that features horror elements, disturbing or frightening themes. What we don’t want: We want darkness without tipping into despair, darkness without going into grimdark. Stories don’t have to have a happy ending for this submission. We also don’t want religious texts or essays. Stories below or over wordcount will be deleted unread. No AI generated or assisted stories. Submission Period: Now until June 30th at 11:59pm Length: 2000-15,000 words Genre: Dark Fantasy Pay: $25USD Rights: Exclusive right for a year, reprints after Reprints Accepted: No Simultaneous Submissions: No Who Can Submit: Anyone Where to Submit: https://forms.gle/aa2vwf5MnkxhLnT99(edited) Via: Wordsmyths.