Deadline: December 1st, 2021
Payment: $.03 per word
Theme: Stories to draw inspiration from the terrifying tunes of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s

Scary Diary Press is accepting submissions from 01 August 2021 to 01 December 2021 for an anthology that has gutsy strings attached! But don’t fret! Are you a horror writer and a music lover? Does the rock of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s take you back to the nightmares of yore? If you can brew a scary tale that Alice Cooper and the Dead would love, we just might love it too!

Submission Guidelines:

Scary Dairy Press is seeking short story submissions between 2,000 and 5,000 words max for an anthology that combines a rock song theme and creepy horror into a tale that rocks readers to their bones! Anthology title pending the kinds of stories submitted and selected. For now, “Bloody Rock” is a placeholder.

This ear-bursting anthology draws inspiration from the terrifying tunes of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Stories need not use the song title as the story title. Stories must not use the original song lyrics, however the song inspiring the tale should be clear. We are looking for stories that channel deathly waves on the air! Bonus points if tales champion animals or animal rights (animals can be our heroes!), focus on human rights, climate change, gender issues, and other important social issues. Any tale that combines terrifying tunes and creepy tales is welcome as long as we can pick it up, play it and shiver!

What we want:

Stories for this horror anthology may include additional elements of dark fiction, dark fantasy, speculative fiction, sci-fi or bizarro as long as horror is the primary venue. Your story may occur in any time, place or space. Mix it up, but make it thought provoking and disturbing to the human conscience. It’s up to you whether you curse the world with the Monster Mash or end the tale making every day Halloween.

What we don’t want: No child abuse/sexual abuse scenes. No gratuitous splatter, gore or rape. If you use it, there must be a clear purpose for it. If you use vampires, werewolves or zombies then make the creatures or situation something unusual and unique. If you are not sure about your idea, then message us at [email protected] and ask.

Payment: $.03 per word.

Submit your manuscript on Duotrope starting 8/1/2021. Look for the “open” announcement. Your subject line should read: Bloody Rock_Name_Title of Submission. Shunn Manuscript Format is required. Please follow the directions to have your story considered. Use Word documents only: doc or docx are fine.

Exclusive publishing rights remain with the publisher for a total of 12 months after publication, and may include written, electronic and audio formats. We look forward to reading and dancing to your tales!

Via: Scary Dairy Press.