Submission Window: June 15th – August 31st, 2025
Payment: £100
Theme: 30,000-50,000 word stories that take place on the mysterious 13th floor! (details in the post)
There’s a floor that shouldn’t exist—yet it does.​

We’re Thrilled You’re Considering Submitting Your Short Story!

Hidden between levels. Left off the blueprints. Sometimes sealed behind walls. The 13th Floor is a psychological horror anthology rooted in the idea of a floor that was never meant to be there—and never truly left.

Some say it’s cursed. Others say it’s a threshold: a place where time frays, memories shift, and the boundaries between the living and the dead grow thin.

We’re seeking three slow-burning, atmospheric novellas—each between 30,000 and 50,000 words—that explore the strange and terrifying manifestations of this floor. Think elevator rides that don’t end, rooms that remember, buildings that deny their own architecture, and people slipping through cracks in reality.

This is horror for readers who love creeping dread, surreal twists, and haunted spaces that feel far too real. If you’re inspired by the tension of Stephen King, the eerie distortions of Koontz, or the uncanny quiet of Jackson—this is for you.

Diversity & Inclusion
At Dark Holme Publishing, we celebrate the unique power of diverse voices and perspectives in horror and dark fantasy. We actively seek submissions from authors of all backgrounds, sexualities, and genders, especially those yet to be published. Your voice matters, and we are committed to giving a platform to stories that deserve to be heard. Share your chilling tales that grip, terrify, and redefine the boundaries of the genre!

What we’re looking for:

• Genre: Horror—specifically psychological, supernatural, speculative, or cosmic horror with emotional or philosophical undercurrents.​

• Length: 30,000 to 50,000 words.​

• Theme: The thirteenth floor—interpret this however you like. It could be literal, metaphorical, historical, or metaphysical, but it must be central to the story’s structure and horror.​

• Tone: Atmospheric, eerie, and unnerving. No reliance on gore or shock. We’re drawn to character-driven horror, slow revelations, uncanny spaces, and worlds that crack just enough to let something unspeakable through.​

• Connection: Each novella must work as a standalone piece. However, we’ll work collaboratively post-selection to build light thematic or narrative links for a cohesive anthology experience.

Submission Requirements:

• A completed novella (30,000–50,000 words), edited to the best of your ability.

• A brief synopsis (200–300 words) summarising the full plot, including how it connects to the thirteenth floor theme.

• A short author bio (50–100 words) with any relevant experience or publication history.

• Your manuscript must be submitted as a Word document (.doc or .docx), formatted in a readable 12pt font (e.g., Times New Roman, Garamond, Calibri), with 1.5 line spacing and standard margins.

​No unfinished drafts, proposals, or excerpts will be considered.

Editorial Collaboration:

Via: Dark Holme Publishing.