Here are some of the most interesting open submission calls for writers I’ve stumbled across this month. Good luck!

The Devil Take You: Tales of Medieval Horror
The editors of this anthology seek weird tales set in the medieval period – a terrific theme! And, while I know it’s not everything, it boasts a truly excellent cover design.
Word count: 3000–6000 words
Payment: $125–$200, presumably based on word count
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Find out more here

Chthonic Matter
New quarterly weird fiction journal from editor C.M. Muller, whose previous work includes the excellent Nightscript series of anthologies. Again, is it superficial to note that the first issue has an incredible cover?
Word count: 2000–6000 words
Payment: Two contributor copies
Deadline: Ongoing
Find out more here

BBC Short Story Awards
Entering this contest would involve punching far above my weight, but why not think big? This prestigious short story award is now accepting submissions.
Word count: Up to 8000 words
Payment: £15,000 for the winner, £600 for four shortlisted stories
Deadline: 13 March 2023
Find out more here

The Deeps
This new journal seeks ‘horror and horror-adjacent’ stories, particularly those that are ‘gothic, folkloric, cosmic, or psychological in nature’.
Word count: Up to 6000 words
Payment: 1 cent per word
Deadline: Opens 1 March 2023, closes 31 March 2023
Find out more here

Mother Knows Best: Tales of Homemade Horror
This anthology already has an impressive lineup of contributors including Gwendolyn Kiste and Kristi DeMeester. Writers who identify as women are welcome to submit stories about bad mothers.
Word count: 1000–5000 words
Payment: 6 cents per word
Deadline: 31 March 2023
Find out more here

Dead Dark Things
Another new magazine, this time intending to specialise in ‘horror with heart’, featuring ‘the weird, the sad, and the horrifically fun’.
Word count: 1000–5000 words
Payment: 2 cents per word
Deadline: Ongoing, as far as I can tell
Find out more here

No Trouble At All
Anthology from Cursed Morsels Press featuring ‘polite horror’, a topic that really sets the imagination going…
Word count: 2000–4500 words
Payment: 4 cents per word
Deadline: Opens 1 March 2023, closes 15 March 2023
Find out more here

Mslexia
The Showcase section of this venerable magazine is a big deal, with past judges having included Hilary Mantel and Carol Ann Duffy. For Issue 98, women are invited to submit stories about ‘hauntings, and welcome or unwelcome visitations from beyond the grave’.
Word count: Up to 2200 words
Payment: Unclear, but publication in Showcase section of the magazine, at least
Deadline: 6 March 2023
Find out more here

We Fear Not the Sea
Here’s another appealing theme for an anthology: stories inspired by sea shanties. Tales should have a speculative element, too.
Word count: 2000–6000 words
Payment: 2 cents per word
Deadline: 30 March 2023
Find out more here

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