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Taking Submissions: Outback Horrors Down Under

May 31, 2020

Deadline: May 31st, 2020
Payment: $50
Theme: Memorable, dark fiction/horror stories that could only happen (or be told) here in Australia or New Zealand.
Note: Australian and New Zealand authors only

What We’re After:

We’re limiting this callout to current or former Australian or New Zealand residents and citizens. We want memorable, dark fiction/horror stories that could only happen (or be told) here in Australia or New Zealand. Be inspired by the people, country, history, geography, cultures, myths and legends, but please be culturally sensitive. I’m not accepting reprints for this anthology.

Story Length:

4,000 – 8,000 words is the sweet spot, but it’s quality that will count.

Avoid:

We will not accept stories where bigotry or violence of any kind is portrayed in a positive light, or where there is a focus on violence and gore rather than story. We will not accept any form of ‘typing’ of people that could be portrayed as negative, alienating, or offensive to groups of people.

No reprints for this one, sorry…

Generally, I prefer supernatural and psychological (I’m a huge Ramsey Campbell fan), as well as creature features. Also stories within stories, stories with subtexts and several layers. I steer clear of body horror and gore, but if written well, I can stomach it. Remember, I’m a huge fan of Clive Barker.

Submission Deadline:

Our deadline for this general callout is end of May, 2020. We recommend you submit early to allow time for feedback and perhaps allow you to resubmit. We will have a number of ‘anchor’ authors already pre-selected, and we aim to have it all completed and published in time for Worldcon 20 in Wellington.

Payment Rate:

This will be a flat rate payment of $50.

Can I Help?

If you’d like to offer assistance in publicising and marketing the book, arranging interviews or blog posts, or can provide proofreading or other related assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Book Formats:

Both ebook and print versions will be available (6″ x 9″ hardback and softback).

Submissions:

  • You can email (please don’t use social media) your story to me: [email protected]. You can also direct any questions to me, or an idea for your story to avoid duplicate ideas.
  • Please use subject ‘Outback Horrors’. 
  • Send your story as an attachment in Word .docx or .doc (No .pdf’s please).
  • Your subject line should be as follows:
    OBH – {your name} – {title of story} – {word count}
  • Example: OBH – John Smith – This Kangaroo Kills Me – 3,000
  • In the body of your email, please include your name, title of story, word count, and confirm your email contact. We will contact you for your author bio if selected.
  • We will prioritise stories between 4,000 and 6,000 words, but longer or shorter stories may be accepted if they are particularly strong.
  • We are not accepting poetry or non-fiction.
  • Make sure your story is edited and polished before you send it to us.
  • We prefer Australian or NZ English spelling.

Please, please, please use “double quotes” for speech
Do NOT use ‘single quotes’

  • We will not be able to give in-depth feedback on any stories.
  • Please don’t follow up unless we don’t send an acknowledgement email.
  • If you haven’t had an acknowledgement email within a week, please find your original email and forward that to me with a note to say when you originally sent it.
  • You will receive an acknowledgement email within a few days. If you have not heard from me within two weeks, feel free to follow up again.
  • Please don’t email to enquire further unless you wish to withdraw your submission.
  • Submissions will be open until the deadline, after which we will be in touch with everyone within two weeks.

We’re really excited by this project and we look forwards to receiving your stories!

Via: Things In The Well.

Details

Date:
May 31, 2020