Introducing: Submission Substack!
(yep, I stayed up all night long coming up with that title...)
Hi, everyone!
Open submissions for short fiction, poetry, novels, and novellas abound! And so, I am going to be starting a monthly feature on my Substack that lists open submissions as a “one stop shop” so that you don’t have to spend time scouring multiple sources. I will primarily be focusing on horror and dark fiction, but if I get requests for other genres, I will do my best to accommodate them! I will try to include as much variety in terms of publications as possible. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
SHORT FICTION OPEN CALLS:
Horror on the Range - Undertaker Books
Word Count: 2,000–4,000 words
Deadline: July 31st, 2025 Payment: $25 and contributor’s copy
Simultaneous Submissions?: Yes Multiple Submissions?: No
Description: Horror stories of all genres that take place in the Old West
GRADEside Submissions (MG and YA) - Graveside Press
Word Count: 2,000–6,000 words
Deadline: Ongoing Payment: $.02 cents per word Simultaneous Submissions?: No Multiple Submissions?: No
Description: The standard horror elements are allowed, but keep in mind who you're writing for. Topics such as extreme body horror, assault, torture, etc., will not be considered. MG stories should maintain a PG rating, and YA should stick to PG-13.
A Breath of Time and Of Love and Dragons (two anthologies) - Flame Tree Press
Word Count: 2,000–4,000 words
Deadline: July 20th, 2025 Payment: $.08 cents per word Simultaneous Submissions?: Yes Multiple Submissions?: Yes
Description: These anthologies are part of a romantic fantasy series. For A Breath of Time, they are looking for stories with a love where time itself is conquered (think time travel or time bending). Lost loves, loves discovered, love unreachable unless time is conquered. For Of Love and Dragons, they are looking for love stories between dragons and humans.
**NOTE: THIS PUBLISHER IS ALSO OPEN TO BOOK SUBMISSIONS! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION**
Story Unlikely
Word Count: 3,500 word limit
Deadline: September 29th, 2025 Payment: $.08 cents per word Simultaneous Submissions?: No Multiple Submissions?: No
Description: Good stories don’t just come in all shapes and sizes, but in all genres, too (fiction and nonfiction). Although some genres naturally lend themselves to certain feelings, by no means do we expect authors to follow preordained paths. We like stories that cross genres, experiment, and push the boundaries of literature while maintaining the utmost quality in literary technique and storytelling, which is why we're open to just about anything.
The Dark
Word Count: 2,000-6,000 words
Deadline: Ongoing. Payment: $.05 cents per word Simultaneous Submissions?: Yes Multiple Submissions?: No
Description: Note: this publication is famous for its quick responses and turnaround time! They are looking for horror and dark fantasy.
Fearmoji: Queer Emoji Horror Payment: $25 flat Word Count: 4,000–7,500 words Deadline: August 1, 2025 Description: Adult queer body horror that somehow strongly incorporates the use of emoji…. sentient emojis, cursed emojis, a secret combination of emojis that unlocks a demon, a serial killer whose signature is the love heart reaction, disaffected youths whose use of the shrug emoji comes back to haunt them, a coder with an emoji axe to grind… The potential here is limitless. Include believable, authentic characters, and crazy fucking scenarios!
Deep Anthology - Death's Head Press Word Count: 2,500–10,000 words Deadline: July 31, 2025 Payment: $.05 cents a word Simultaneous Submissions?: Yes Multiple Submissions?: No Description: Original horror short stories regarding the unexplored depths of our planet and the universe.
Spook Hollow: Tales of Ozark Horror - Watertower Hill Publishing Word Count: 3,000–6,000 words Deadline: July 31, 2025 Payment: $50 plus contributor’s copy Simultaneous Submissions?: No Multiple Submissions?: No Description: horror stories set in the Ozark mountains--either your own take on a story from Ozark folklore or an original tale featuring Ozark locations/atmosphere/beliefs/etc. We want all the spooks, haints, hags, and boogers. Give us the mist rising out of the hollers and the mysterious sounds from the woods, the strange lights in the sky and the distant cackle of Old Granny in her hidden shack. We want horror, but we want it PG—no extreme horror or erotic horror, please. Just a good modern take on the venerable myths, magic, and monsters unique to the Ozark area.
**NOTE: THIS PUBLISHER IS ALSO OPEN TO BOOK SUBMISSIONS! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION**
OTHER PUBLISHERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY OPEN FOR BOOK SUBMISSIONS:
*****
Good luck! See you next month!
Yours in Terror,
Brooke MacKenzie