Markets with specific deadlines are listed first, "Until Filled" markets (if any) are at the bottom. There are usually more details on the original site; always click through and read the full guidelines before submitting. Note that some publishers list multiple guidelines on one page, so after you click through you might have to scroll a bit.
***
31 October 2016 -- Between the Tracks... Tales from the Ghost Train -- Oz Horror Con
We're offering payment of: 2¢ per word (AUD), plus contributor’s electronic copy. Providing we cover costs with the first run, contributors will receive one (1) copy of the paperback gratis, plus the option to buy up to five (5) additional copies at publisher's cost. Hardbacks will be produced if demand allows.
What's HOT:
Oz Horror Con is seeking original thriller, suspense, dark fantasy or supernatural tales 3,000-5,000 words to be published in our forthcoming 'Between the Tracks' anthology, intended publication Q1 2017. "Between the Tracks" should give you some inspiration, but please be imaginative. We don't want reprints (unless they're amazing!) or cliched tropes, re-writes of movies plots or other published works. Don't limit yourself to train tracks either. Think outside the tracks to deliver us something between the tracks.
Stories should be dark, and include a train or something similar - a tram, a cart, some other kind of vehicle that requires a track. Perhaps metaphorical tracks. Whatever track your mind takes, but it must be integral to the story. This will be targeted at a mature audience, but we're not looking for sex fantasies... unless pivotal to the plot of course! For an example of the kind of story we love, read any of the stories from the editor Steve Dillon, at The Refuge Collection www.RefugeCollection.com.
What's NOT:
We're not after excessive gore, torture porn, rape, homophobia, racial or other bigotry or misogyny. You can be explicit with themes and language if required for the story to work, for as long as it's required and not gratuitous. We prefer supernatural horror, creepy tales and suspenseful thrillers than a reliance on visceral horror.
Edition and Rights:
Between the Tracks will be published in electronic and paperback form in English - If there's enough demand, we will put out a deluxe hardback. We are asking for exclusive, worldwide rights to your work for both electronic and print for six months. Payment: Payment is 2¢ per word (AUD) for new fiction, paid at publication, via PayPal only. If you do not have a PayPal account, please do not submit your work. Authors will receive one copy of the electronic version of the anthology.
Submission Procedures:
There is no cost to submit, and no complicated forms to fill in. Just submit your best story by email to GhostTrain@OzHorrorCon.com - Include a cover letter with a link to your author bio, and let us know something about your story - not a summary or a re-telling of the story, but what your story is really about - the story beneath the story - between the tracks - if you like. We are NOT accepting poetry. Please do not send poems. Poetry will be deleted without a response. No reprints. All stories should be in rich text format (.rtf) or Word (.doc or .docx) only.
We do accept simultaneous submissions, but not multiple submissions, and please let us know if your story has been accepted elsewhere. Please send your best work only. Only one story from each author will be considered. If you’re not sure if your story is suitable, feel free to email your idea to us; or just go ahead and submit it and let us decide.
***
30 November 2016 -- Monsters Among Us -- Oscillate Wildly Press
The monsters we have come to know and love take a backseat as we delve into the darkest, most hideous depths of a monster that has taken centre stage as of late–HUMANS. I’m looking for ‘psychological horror’, horror that comes from within.
There lies a darkness in us all–what are some of the scariest atrocities humans are capable of doing? What ‘demons’ lurk in their heads, causing them to do the things they do? Humans can also create monsters out of humans…. Tell me “how”–the possibilities are endless. I want to see how ugly the human race can really get.
Poetry and Stories up to 7,000 words will be accepted. Poetry–no word limit. Artwork is most welcome; send up to 5 pieces.
Oscillate Widly Press buys Exclusive Worldwide English Language Rights (no reprints), with 6 month exclusivity after first publication, and pays 3c per word to a maximum for short stories. No simultaneous or multiple submissions please, and no reprints.
CAVEAT: If rape is involved somewhere in your story, it must not be the ‘center focus’. (In other words, no heavily detailed descriptions the act itself.)
CAVEAT II: SEND ALL SUBMISSIONS AS AN ATTACHMENT AND *NOT* IN THE BODY OF YOUR EMAIL. PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION *ON* YOUR ATTACHMENT.
Please title your subject line, Submission_Monsters Among Us_YourLastName, and send submissions to: editor@oscillatewildlypress.com
***
15 December 2016 -- Enter the Rebirth -- TANSTAAFL Press
TANSTAAAFL Press has an open call for short stories for the “Enter the…” series of anthologies.
Guidelines:
1. We will only accept those stories emailed as text in the email OR .txt, .doc, .docx formats.
a. All attachements will be destroyed if not accepted.
b. Email address is submissions@tanstaaflpress.com
2. We will not accept stories by mail or post. If we receive these they will be destroyed at once.
3. All stories must be original and unpublished anywhere
a. If accepted TANSTAAFL Press will take first english publication rights.
==Note that reprint rights are yours as are first publication in alternate languages, however the value of reprints is low as are the likelihood of getting anyone to reprint.
==This publication is likely the only location where you will likely be paid for this piece.
4. Stories must be less than 8000 words.
5. Stories considered for Enter the Apocalypse must be stories about the start and / or middle of any type apocalypse.
a. Apocalypse can include (but isn’t limited to) nuclear, epidemic, supernatural, bioweapon, cosmic, aliens, etc.
6. Stories considered for Enter the Aftermath must be stories about the burnout or shortly after any type apocalypse.
7. Stories considered for Enter the Rebirth must be stories about the world coming back to a new stability after any type of apocalypse.
8. TANSTAAFL Press will attempt to get to submissions as quickly as possible, but make no commitment to how quickly.
9. We will accept submissions up until
10. TANSTAAFL Press will respond to all submissions which follow our guidelines.
Payments / Renumeration
The Enter… series will pay for each story used in the range of $0.01-0.08 per word (averaging close to $0.03 per word). People who have stories for each of the works accepted with the same world will receive a boost on each consecutive story. An example: Say TANSTAAFL thinks your work is worth 3c per word on your story in …Apocalypse. Then you submit a story from the same world to …Aftermath. Assuming it is accepted you would get 3.5c per word on that story.
TANSTAAFL Press will pay upon the finalization of three criteria:
1. Acceptance of your edited work
a. This means if there are changes requested that they have been completed.
2. Signed contract with TANSTAAFL Press for publication of this work
a. Come see our tentative contract. It hasn’t been fully vetted but it will be close.
3. All works for publication have been accepted and signed.
a. That is, we will pay you when we have the full manuscript in hand.
b. You will not have to wait for TANSTAAFL Press to actually publish.
[NOTE: The way I read the "Payment / Remuneration" section, it sounds like they're going to eyeball each story they've decided to accept and just sort of... figure out...? how much they want to pay for it, between one and eight cents per word. That sounds kind of squirrely to me, but I decided to post this anyway and let you all decide whether to sub or not. Note that if you have a personal minimum you'll work for, and it's not a penny per word, you can submit, and if they decide they want your story, you can look at their offer and then accept or reject it based on the payment (or anything else) as always. Remember, it's not a committment until you've signed the contract. I hope the TANSTAAFL folks have taken this into consideration when building their schedule.]
***
31 December 2016 -- The Binge-Watching Cure -- ed. Bill Adler Jr.
How do you cure your Netflix (or Amazon, Google movie, or Hulu) addiction and return to your first love, reading books? You know you want to read more. You know you enjoy reading. You know you look forward to finishing a book because then you can start a new adventure.
But how? How do you get into reading when the siren call of streaming movies becomes more powerful every year? A three-hundred page novel is daunting in the face of Netflix and friends’ wonders. It’s too easy to put on pajamas, pour a glass of wine, and offer your eyes to a TV, tablet, or computer screen until sleep summons you.
Enter The Binge-Watching Cure: Fabulous Stories that Start Small and Grow Longer, edited by Bill Adler Jr. The Binge-Watching Cure will be an anthology of short stories of increasing size. The first story will be 100 words—anyone can read that. The next, 200 words. Then 500, then longer, all the way to novella length. By the time you’ve finished reading The Binge-Watching Cure, you’ll be able to tackle Joyce and Pynchon. Or at the very least, you’ll enjoy novels you hear about from friends and family. The Binge-Watching Cure will reignite your love for reading; it will better your life.
Just as you enter a cold swimming pool one body part at a time, get used to drinking beer sip by foamy sip, or learn to enjoy spicy food in little, fiery nibbles, The Binge-Watching Cure gradually acclimates you to reading longer and longer stories, until a novel-length book goes down smoothly, tasting sweet, and making you want more.
We want your writing.
We’re looking for stellar stories of various lengths for The Binge-Watching Cure. The stories must have strong characters and compelling plots. Genre fiction is okay because great fiction often crosses the genre barrier. No erotica and no stories with excessive violence. Please see our FAQ for more about what we’re looking for.
We pay $200 for short stories that are under 5,000 words and $500 for stories that are 5,000 words or longer. We will be licensing the non-exclusive print and electronic book rights, including foreign-language rights (but not audio, film rights, or magazine rights). Your name and bio will be included along with your story. Contributors also receive a copy of The Binge-Watching Cure. Previously published stories are okay, as are simultaneous submissions. There will be a signed contract, of course. The Binge-Watching Cure will be published in 2017.
Please email us your story at bingecurebook@gmail.com and send us your story in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or PDF format, double spaced with human being-readable margins, and in a sensible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier.
Include the exact word count, along with your contact information at the top of the manuscript.
Our FAQ has more information on what kind of stories we’re looking for and what kind of stories are not a match for The Binge-Watching Cure.
Please include a brief bio in your cover letter, as well as your contact information in both the manuscript and cover letter. Briefly summarize your story and let us know what genre, if any, your story is. If your story has been published elsewhere, let us know where and when. (Previously published stories are perfectly okay.) Content is more important than format, so don’t sweat things like line breaks. We’ll try to get back to you as soon as we can. Submissions close December 31, 2016, or as soon as the story slots are filled.
Please put your story’s title and word count in your email’s subject line. Please submit only one story at a time and read our FAQ about multiple submissions.
Here’s the important part: We want stories within 15 percent of the following word counts (within 20 percent for stories 10,000 words and longer):
100
200
500
750
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,500
4,000
4,500
6,000 -- FILLED
7,000 -- FILLED
8,000
10,000 -- FILLED
15,000
25,000
The Binge-Watching Cure will have one story from each of these length categories.
[NOTE: Yes, this is much earlier than I usually post listings, but this book is filling each length slot individually, and only once; according to the site's Submissions page, the 6000, 7000 and 10,000 word slots are filled already. If you have a story of a particular length that you want to submit here, send it in now. Normally I wouldn't post this until October, but by that time many if not most (or maybe all) of the slots might be filled already, so I'm giving everyone an early heads-up.]
***
31 December 2016 -- Submerged -- ed. S.C. Butler & Joshua Palmatier
All Hail our Robot Conquerors! -- ed. Patricia Bray & Joshua Palmatier
The Death of All Things -- ed. Laura Anne Gilman & Kat Richardson; Zombies Need Brains LLC
Zombies Need Brains LLC is accepting submissions to its three science fiction and fantasy anthologies SUBMERGED, ALL HAIL OUR ROBOT CONQUERORS!, and THE DEATH OF ALL THINGS. Stories must be submitted in electronic form as an attachment with the title of the story as the file name in .doc or .docx format. The header of the email should include the name of the anthology the submission is for along with the title of the submission (for example: SUBMERGED: Jellyfish Gone Wild!). The content of the email should also include which anthology the manuscript is intended for. Please send multiple manuscripts in separate emails. Manuscripts should be in manuscript format, meaning double-spaced, 12pt font, standard margins on top, bottom and sides, and pages numbered. Please use New Times Roman font. The first page should include the Title of the story, Author’s name, address, and email, and Pseudonym if different from the author’s real name. Italics and bold should be in italics and bold.
Stories for this anthology must be original (no reprints or previously published material), no more than 7,500 words in length, and must satisfy the theme of the anthology.
SUBMERGED is to feature science fiction or fantasy stories that are set underwater at some point. It does not have to be set completely underwater, but at some point the events of the story must lead in a natural way to an underwater adventure. There should be a significant reason for why the action must take place underwater; this should NOT be a story where it easily be rewritten on land and maintain its cohesion. We are attempting to fill half of the anthology with science fiction stories, and half with fantasy stories. Stories featuring more interesting settings underwater and twists on the typical underwater themes will receive more attention than those that use standard underwater tropes. In other words, we don’t want to see 100 stories dealing with Atlantis. If we do, it’s likely that only one, at most, would be selected for the anthology. So be creative, choose something different, and use it in an unusual and unexpected way. We are looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark.
ALL HAIL OUR ROBOT CONQUERORS! is to feature stories where the robots of the story somehow harken back to the 50s/60s style of robots. The story can be set in the far future, but at some point there should be a significant nod toward the robots from that era—either a significantly advanced robot that is simply housed in a 50s/60s style shell, or a robot exactly like those from the 50s/60s but used in an interesting and believable way in the story. Stories featuring more interesting takes on the 50s/60s style robots, and twists on how they are integrated into the story, will receive more attention than those with more generalized robots. So be creative and use your robot in an unusual and unexpected way. We are looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark.
THE DEATH OF ALL THINGS is to feature stories where Death is a character in the story. The version of Death used should be unique, so consider all different types of versions of Death seen throughout history and in different cultures. Stories featuring more interesting takes on Death, and twists on how Death is integrated into the story, will receive more attention than those with more standard depictions of Death. So be creative and use Death in an unusual and unexpected way. We are looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark. Note: We are NOT looking for torture porn, nor gratuitous violence of any kind.
The deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2016. Decisions on stories should be completed by the end of February 2017. Please send submissions to Joshua@zombiesneedbrains.com. You will receive a receipt email within a few days of receiving the submission and having it filed for consideration. Notices about decisions on the stories will be sent out no later than the end of March 2017.
If your story is selected for use in the anthology, you should expect a revision letter by the end of April 2017. Revisions and the final draft of the story will be expected no later than the end of May 2017. These dates may change due to the editors’ work schedules. Zombies Need Brains LLC is seeking non-exclusive world anthology rights (including electronic rights) in all languages for the duration of one year after publication/release of the anthology. Your story cannot appear elsewhere during that year. Pay rate will be an advance of a minimum of 6 cents per word for the short stories. The anthology will be published as an ebook and an exclusive mass market paperback edition, distributed to the Kickstarter backers. The book would be available after that to the general public in ebook and trade paperback formats. Advances would be immediately earned out by the success of the Kickstarter. Royalties on additional sales beyond the Kickstarter will be 25% of ebook cover price and 10% of trade paperback cover price, both split evenly (not by word count) between the authors in the anthology and the editors of the anthology.
Questions regarding these submission guidelines should be sent to Joshua@zombiesneedbrains.com. Thank you.
***
31 December 2016 -- If Mom's Happy -- ed. Brandy Fox; Cwtch Press
ANTHOLOGY: If Mom’s Happy: Stories About Erotic Mothers
EDITOR: Brandy Fox
PUBLISHER: CWTCH Press
DEADLINE: December 31, 2016
WORD COUNT: 1500 - 4500
PUBLICATION DATE: April 2017
PAYMENT: $50 + 2 copies
SUBMIT TO: IfMomsHappy@gmail.com
If Mom’s Happy (working title) is a collection of stories about erotic mothers. When mom’s happy, everyone’s happy, right? This anthology is open to all women writers, preferably mothers—adoptive, heterosexual, single, married, gay, lesbian, grandparent, trans female, etc. I’m looking for all different kinds of stories, 1500-4500 words, portraying mothers as sexy, horny, and alive with desire; desire for their partner(s), the preschool teacher, the pediatrician, the grocery store clerk, or anyone else. Perhaps this desire has been dormant since becoming a mother, and finally it’s reemerging. Or maybe your partner is afraid sex will hurt you, and you need to get them so hot they just don’t care anymore. I want stories about complex characters mourning the loss of their libido and looking for a creative way to reawaken it; or grappling with the lust they feel after breastfeeding their newborn; or discovering their diaper fetish. These are stories about parents of infants who do it despite exhaustion and an overabundance of moisture; mothers of preschoolers who could walk in at any moment and teenagers who stay up later than Mom and will surely hear her moans. These are true stories, overheard stories, or your wildest, hottest fantasies, and they include the range of emotions felt by moms—humor, anxiety, loss, depression, lust, utter happiness, pure love, and so much more. They also surprise, push boundaries and sizzle with erotic desire. Most importantly, these stories celebrate maternal sexuality in all its forms.
About the kids: While these stories may include children, anyone under age 18 must be oblivious or more-or-less unaware of any sex happening. I will not accept any stories that I feel are borderline child pornography, incestuous, or non-consensual.
Rights: Story submissions can be previously published, as long as you retain the copyright. If your story is accepted, Cwtch gains non-exclusive right to publish your story in this anthology in print, ebook, and audiobook form. Authors will retain copyright to their stories.
Guidelines: Submit only 1,500-4,500 word stories that are not being considered elsewhere. Submit to IfMomsHappy@gmail.com by attaching a Word .doc or .docx file (no RTF files), double spaced, Times New Roman, black font. Indent half an inch at the start of each paragraph and use double spacing for the entire file; do not add extra lines between paragraphs or use any other irregular spacing. Include your legal name, pseudonym (if applicable), mailing address, email address, AND 50 word-or-under third person bio at the end of your story. Submit your story with the title, byline and bio you would want published if accepted. Make sure to thoroughly proofread your story before submitting.
Please send the story from an email address you check frequently. I will confirm that I have received your submission within 72 hours. I will respond to all submissions by February 28, 2017. If you have not heard back from me by March 1, 2017, feel free to follow up at that time.
Payment: $50 and 2 copies of the book
Deadline: December 31, 2016
Questions? Email: IfMomsHappy@gmail.com
***
31 December 2016 -- Humans Wanted -- ed. Vivian Caethe
Word limit: 3000-6000 words.
Pay rate: $250/story
Genre: Science Fiction only (no Fantasy, Steampunk or Horror, although horror elements may be present in the story).
Language: English (translations are welcome).
Submissions close: December 31, 2016
Rights: We claim first world English rights (no reprints). For an excellent break down of what this means, please see Neil Clarke’s post here.
When going somewhere dangerous, take a human. Humans are tough. Humans can last days without food. Humans heal so quickly, they pierce holes in themselves or inject ink under their epidermis for fun. Humans will walk for days on broken bones in order to make it to safety. Humans will literally cut off bits of themselves if trapped by a disaster.
You would be amazed what humans will do to survive. Or to ensure the survival of others they feel responsible for.
That's the other thing. Humans pack-bond, and they spill their pack-bonding instincts everywhere. Sure it's weird when they talk sympathetically to broken spaceships or try to pet every lifeform that scans as non-toxic. It's even a little weird that just existing in the same place as them for long enough seems to make them care about you.
But if you're hurt, if you're trapped, if you need someone to fetch help? You really want a human.
(Thanks to Tumblr user iztarshi for the idea and the above copy. Used with permission)
I am looking for stories that show diverse humanity in a positive light, as useful contributors to the universe. I want humans who build relationships and forge new paths, not humans that destroy or devastate those they meet. Submit stories with strong characters in positive stories that portray humans as useful and generally helpful to the universe. Diversity is encouraged.
Any type of science fiction is acceptable (whether it be “hard” or “soft,” “space opera” or “near-future” etc.). Keep your story PG-13 so many readers can enjoy the anthology.
Writers of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to submit.
Send your stories formatted in Standard Manuscript format attached as a .doc to humanswanted at gmail dot com. Include your name, byline, email address, mailing address, and approximate word count.
***
31 December 2016 -- Gods and Monsters -- Book Smugglers Publishing
General information and theme:
We’re looking for original short stories from all around the world as long as they are written in English. Our goal is to publish at least three short stories, unified by a central theme. Each short story will be accompanied by one original piece of artwork from an artist commissioned by us separately.
For the publication period between May and August 2017, the theme is:
GODS AND MONSTERS will be Book Smugglers Publishing’s fourth season of short stories, following Fairytale Retellings, First Contact, and Superheroes.
When it comes to Gods and Monsters, anything goes. You – the author – should take the theme and run with it any way you want. It can be Gods VERSUS Monsters, or Gods but not Monsters, or Monsters without Gods. As usual, we encourage authors to subvert these sample themes, to expand upon what “gods and/or monsters” means, and adapt the prompt to other possible connotations and genres under the Speculative Fiction umbrella.
What We’re Looking For:
== DIVERSITY. We want to read and publish short stories that reflect the diverse world we live in, about and from traditionally underrepresented perspectives. We more than welcome stories featuring LGBTQIA characters. Following Fireside Fiction’s recent report on underrepresented black writers, we more than welcome black writers to submit their stories.
== Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult audience submissions are welcome. Good speculative fiction is ageless!
== We are VERY keen on receiving Romance stories – or stories with strong romantic elements.
== We are VERY keen on receiving Horror stories – or stories with strong horror elements.
== Creativity & Subversion. We love subversive stories. We want you to challenge the status quo with your characters, story telling technique, and themes.
Guidelines for Submission:
== We are looking for original speculative fiction, between 1,500 and 17,500 words in length.
== These SFF offerings must be previously unpublished; we do not accept simultaneous submissions.
== Profanity, sex, and other explicit situations are fine as long as they fit within the context of the story.
== Submissions are open now, and will be open through December 31 2016 11:59PM PST. Any submissions received after that date will not be considered.
Payment and Terms:
We are funding this ourselves because we are passionate about finding new and diverse voices in SFF. We will be paying $0.06 per word up to $500 (although we welcome stories from a minimum of 1,500 words and up to a maximum of 17,500 words long).
We plan on publishing these short stories for free in their entirety on thebooksmugglers.com. We also plan on selling these stories in ebook (and possibly limited print editions) at a 50% net royalty, with potential inclusion in future anthologies (royalty to be negotiated). We ask for exclusive rights for one year, and non-exclusive rights following that.
How to Submit:
Submissions should be emailed to submissions@thebooksmugglers.com. You may also use the contact form below.
Please attach your full story as a document (.doc, .docx, .rtf). Do not send your story as text in the body of an email; we will ignore any manuscripts that are not attachments.
A cover letter is highly recommended – tell us who you are! – as we would love to learn a little bit about you and the inspiration behind your work (or anything else you think is relevant to your story submission). Important new addition for 2017: We are including an optional self-identification field in the submissions form. If you would like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background please do so by filling out this field (or if you prefer to email, in your cover letter). This is completely voluntary and not a requirement.
We will reply to all authors who have submitted work with our decision by February 10 2017.
We are happy to answer any of your questions – leave a comment or email us (contact@thebooksmugglers.com), and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
And…that’s it! We hope to be reading your excellent short stories very soon.
[NOTE: There's a story submission form on the guidelines page, at the bottom. Click through to use that submission method.]
***
1 January 2017 -- A Scandal in Gomorrah -- ed. Matthew Bright; Lethe Press
In 2011, Lethe Press queered the Sherlock Holmes canon with A Study in Lavender, and now we’re putting together a new collection on the theme, A Scandal In Gomorrah. The first volume explored the queer aspects of Doyle’s characters in Victorian society and introduced us to a realm of hidden gay characters and stories. In the sequel, we’re looking to expand the scope of stories into new realms.
I’m looking for stories that fall into one of two categories:
1. Victorian-set period pieces that queer the familiar characters or stories of the Holmes canon. As the first volume was solely period stories with queered characters, I am seeking stories that address this setting with some invention, or take on the bountiful eccentricities that can be found in the history of Victorian-era sexuality.
2. I’m also seeking stories that have an original or unusual take on the subject. Holmes has become far more than just gas-lit mystery stories. I’d love to see stories that transpose the time, setting or genre; gender-queering or –swapping; metafiction; stories that explore the myriad iterations and pop-culture associations of Sherlock: television/radio/cinema adaptations, animal detectives, iconography, ‘shipping’, fanfiction, imitations, art… (Some examples of where this sort of thing can go: the One Hundred and Twenty One Baker Streets anthology; Hal Duncan’s The Disappearance of James H, Will Self’s Dorian, Alan Moore’s Lost Girls. These aren’t direct models to copy, but examples of the way you can expand from an existing literary canon.)
A few things to bear in mind:
== Readers of this anthology will already expect queer aspects within the stories, so stories that, for example, rely on a ‘reveal’ of gay characters, don’t always quite work in this very specific context–especially mystery stories.
== Although we realize the historical context of Holmes wasn’t exactly easy for those who would now identify as LGBTQ, we are looking for positive queer portrayals. iii. Holmes/Watson pairings are fine, but bear in mind they are a well-trodden approach (especially if they are of the first story variety) and stories whose only or primary content is just about getting Holmes and Watson together are a tough sell.
Payment: 3c per word (Ideally seeking original fiction, but reprints considered at a rate of 1c per word)
Story length: 2k-6k approx. No iron-clad upper limit, but pay cap at 6k.
Submissions or queries to: matthewbrightwriter@gmail.com (Please feel very free to query with questions, suggestions or concepts for a story prior to submission.)
***
1 January 2017 -- Garden of Fiends -- ed. Mark Matthews; Wicked Run Press
The intoxication from a pint of vodka, the electric buzz from snorting cocaine, the warm embrace from shooting heroin -- drinking and drugging provides the height of human experience. It’s the promise of heaven on earth, but the hell that follows is a constant hunger, a cold emptiness. The craving to get high is a yearning not unlike that of any other blood-thirsty monster.
The best way to tell these truths of addiction is through a story, and dark truths such as these need a piece of horror to do them justice.
It’s with great enthusiasm that I invite submissions to an addiction-themed horror anthology with an expected spring/summer 2017 publication date. Garden of Fiends is the working title. Submissions should be from 16k to 25k words. The publisher will have one title in the anthology, and from 3 to 4 additional works will be included.
Characters should be individuals and not caricatures, and the substance use should ring true with verity of terms and modes of transmission. Any type of substance can be featured, including alcohol, with any point of view. There does not have to be an anti-drug message, and addiction can just be part of the setting (a drug dealer, for example) but should be a major part of the conflict. Some compassion for the plight of addiction is preferred, but the insidious nature of both addict and addiction should certainly shine through. The publisher is a recovering addict/alcoholic who has worked in the field of addiction for 20 years.
Supernatural elements are welcome. Blood, guts and gore only if it is part of the story. Powerful emotions and visceral elements are expected. Nothing is too challenging or controversial. Tropes such as zombies, werewolves, and vampires are welcome as long as it’s a new take.
To date, Wicked Run Press has only published books by its creator, but a majority of these books have been anchored in stories of addiction. Milk-Blood, All Smoke Rises, The Damage Done, STRAY, and Chasing the Dragon have already tapped into an audience with this interest. (On the Lips of Children, published by Books of the Dead Press, also features addiction.) The publisher will aggressively market Garden of Fiends but an active author platform is helpful and expected.
It has been said to ‘write the book you would like to read.’ Well, I am trying to put together the anthology I would like to read. Have fun, break boundaries, blow my mind.
Pay Rates and Structure:
$500 will be paid via paypal for your story, which amounts to approximately .3¢ per word at the low end word count, .2¢ per word at the high end. Three contributor copies will be shipped to your doorstep by a person in uniform. Options to buy further paperbacks will be provided at a discount. Movie rights will be retained by the author, but the publisher will obtain audio rights. The contract term is 4 years at which point all rights revert back to the author.
Submission guidelines:
SUBMIT TO WickedRunPress@gmail.com
16k to 25k words.
Multiple submissions okay, simultaneous admissions okay but make it clear you’ve submitted elsewhere. Reprints considered at a lower rate, especially if it’s a perfect fit (got a perfect fit? Inquire within.) Submissions should be polished and not need major editing. Standard 12 point, single space, Times New Roman. Nothing fancy. Prefer .RTF format.
Please put "Garden of Fiends Submission, [Name of story], [author's last name], and [word count" in the subject line. Include a short description or teaser in the body of the email, as well as author bio, publishing history, and any links of interest.
Confirmation of receipt of your submission within 72 hours of submission.
Approximate Time frames:
Announcement: August 1st.
Submissions accepted: September 1st to January 1st, 2017.
Notice of acceptance and contracts sent: by February 1st, 2017.
Inquiries, questions; contact: WickedRunPress@gmail.com
**based on submissions, the structure of the anthology is subject to change, but final terms provided in the contract**
