Here’s this month’s list of the most interesting open submissions calls for writers I’ve found!
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Silent Nightmares
This anthology of ‘dark holiday horrors’, which will be published this time next year, has a star name among its editorial lineup: Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club. Most of the contributions will be by invited writers, but there are few additional slots available.
Word count: Up to 5000 words
Payment: 10 cents per word
Deadline Open 1–31 December 2024
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Book Worms
The upcoming issue of this horror e-zine will feature space and science fiction horror stories, with horror being a crucial element.
Word count: Up to 1500 words
Payment: 8 cents per word
Deadline: 25 December 2024
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Plott Hound
It’s important that new publications cover a specific niche, and this e-zine certainly does: speculative fiction featuring animals.
Word count: Up to 5000 words
Payment: 8 cents per word
Deadline: Open 1–15 December 2024
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The World of Vile Wonder
This anthology from historical-horror publisher The Scythian Wolf is subtitled ‘Horror Tales of the Scientific Revolution’. It may be a demanding theme (which is why I’m listing it now, well ahead of time), but I’d love to read the selected stories.
Word count: 5000–10,000 words
Payment: $75
Deadline: 1 January–28 February 2025
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Baffling
Throughout December, this magazine that specialises in ‘speculative fiction with a queer bent’ will be open to stories themed around ‘strange forms’ alongside unthemed submissions.
Word count: Up to 1200 words
Payment: 8 cents per word
Deadline: Open 1–15 December 2024
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Dark Hearts
This anthology is the latest in the Triangulation series from Parsec Ink, and will contain speculative fiction about women who are anti-heroes. The editor’s preferences include ‘Women with a mastery of weapons or powers. Women in STEM or in disguise. Cyborgs. Hackers. Heists. Underdogs. Romance!’
Word count: Up to 5000 words
Payment: 3 cents per word
Deadline: 30 March 2024
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Relics
This first anthology from Memento Mori Ink will feature stories about ‘ancient objects or seemingly mundane items which have the power to whisper to those who possess them’.
Word count: 3000–5000 words
Payment: 2 cents per word
Deadline: 1 June 2024
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Ricochet
I don’t see many new venues specialising in Western stories, so if that’s your thing, the arrival of this new magazine will be most welcome.
Word count: Up to 3000 words
Payment: $10
Deadline: Ongoing
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Silk and Foxglove
Editor Z. K. Abraham will edit this anthology dedicated to another niche almost certainly not yet covered by any other venue: erotic eco-horror.
Word count: 1500–4000 words
Payment: 1 cent per word
Deadline: 31 December 2024
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The Other Stories
This podcast of narrated horror, SF and thriller stories has more than 150,000 monthly listeners. Uncoming themes include heavy metal, tarot, Shakespeare, bleeding hearts and found footage.
Word count: Approx 2000 words
Payment: £15
Deadline: Ongoing
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Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn
The editors at Middle West Press are seeking micro-fiction about monsters in the 21^st-century American Midwest.
Word count: Up to 300 words
Payment: None
Deadline: 3 March 2024
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The Welkin Mini
Can you create a compelling story in 100 words? Any genre is allowed, but still… only 100 words, yikes.
Word count: Up to 100 words
Payment: Various prizes from £10 to £50
Deadline: Open 1 December 2024–2 January 2025
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Just Keep Up
The editors of this rather blandly titled new publication are seeking science fiction and horror stories.
Word count: Up to 10,000 words
Payment: $10
Deadline: Ongoing
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Good luck if you submit a story to any of these venues! And remember, you can sign up for my email newsletter for monthly open submission calls direct to your inbox.

Image from Wikimedia Commons.