CONTRIBUTING FIRST CLASS STORIES TO THE ANTHOLOGIES –
LONG MAY IT CONTINUE!
HERE’S THE OPEN CALLS. MY ANTHOLOGIES NEED A MAXIMUM OF 5000 WORD STORIES, (UNLESS INDICATED OTHERWISE) ANY NUMBER OF WORDS UP TO 5000 BUT NOT OVER THAT LIMIT. I NEED ROOM FOR YOU ALL
SO NO LONG, LONG STORIES ARE ALLOWED.
I WILL TAKE THREE STORIES FROM EACH AUTHOR FOR EACH ANTHOLOGY, SO IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN ONE, GO RIGHT AHEAD!
LET’S GET THEM FILLED, YES?
X ANTHOLOGY V – for all those unplaceable stories, the ‘not quite fitting in’ ones which build into an incredible collection. Usual limits of 5000 words, but no minimum, so send me the poems, flash, anything you’ve got hanging around. Word count 26,571 acceptances, Michael B Fletcher, RJ Meldrum
BLUE GONK III– for any new writers – Blue Gonk Café is a place where regular storytelling sessions go on, five of them in all. Breakfast, Mid Morning, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Tea Time. So, each storyteller/writer contributes five 500 word or less stories on any topic, dark/horror is preferred but humour can be good at times. Everyone is listed alphabetically, no favouritism here! I would like you to commit to the five stories if you can, not everyone can, they run out of (short short) ideas but as far as possible, it would be good. Not a word over 500, strict limit. You will be surprised how easy it is to strip a story right down to its basics when you know you can’t go over the limit. Word count, 23,572, acceptances,
THE CARDS FORETELL-this anthology seeks horror/dark stories that include or are built around playing cards, single ones or the pack, any card, any suit. If you know the tarot, fine, otherwise ‘ordinary’ playing cards will do. Word limit 5000, no headers or footers, no spaces between paragraphs please and do indent all paragraphs and dialogue by five spaces using the TAB key. No deadline, closed when filled. Send me your best playing card stories!!! Word count: 25,840 acceptances:
LET’S GET THIS ANTHOLOGY ROLLING, PEOPLE! THIS ONE IS WAY WAAAAAAAAAAY BEHIND… IT’LL BE ANOTHER YEAR AT THIS RATE! COME ON, YOU MUST HAVE CARD STORIES!
DON’T FORGET THERE’S A DEADLINE ON THIS ONE AND THERE ISN’T MUCH COMING IN!
THE CALL – That could be anything, religious calling, telephone, shouting in the street, something heard through the trees, goodness, just about anything. Making that call that changes everything… taking that call that changes everything. What does The Call mean to you? All proceeds from this one will go to Amnesty International. Word count: 39,908 acceptances,
LET’S GET THIS ANTHOLOGY ROLLING, PEOPLE! THIS IS ALTOGETHER TOO SLOW…
DEEP WEB: This anthology is centred around the deep web ONLY. When researching the deep web please use your regular surface web. You DO NOT need to access the deep web to do so…The deep web is the largest part of the internet and remains hidden for most. Within its depths all rules are null and void. The unknown sites beyond the reach of search engines reside there. They are anonymous, untraceable… and in some cases deadly. The content is extreme and often illegal – depraved acts performed for the sickest of souls to enjoy and the weakest to endure. There is torture there, murder and death. The very worst parts of humanity have made it their home… and often trace users who visit beyond its cyber walls. What stories can you come up with on this most frightening of subjects? Word limit 5000, no headers, etc. and be aware this one is asking for the highest standards of writing. It’s gonna be a serious one and the writing needs to reflect that, in every way.. No rush writing please, work on it, only send in the very best you can do. I am going to be very selective… No deadline, closed when filled. So far, Word count: 41,407, acceptances,
LET’S GET THIS ANTHOLOGY ROLLING, PEOPLE!
COLOUR ME DEAD Death and destruction in full technicolour! Looking for dark stories with colour somewhere in there, central to the story if possible, not just thrown in at the end… this should open up all sorts of possibilities for your devious minds! Word limit 5000, no deadline. I need around 73,000 words of good mixed story themes, let’s see what you can do! Word count: 59,664 acceptances: James Pyne (2 stories)
RAIN / that stuff which falls from the sky, sometimes nice, sometimes fierce, sometimes cold, sometimes intrusive (leaks) sometimes welcome (after a drought) and always, always a part of life. Write me a story featuring Rain. Can be done… remember the Ray Bradbury story set on Venus where it rained all the time and the settlers aimed for the Sun Centres? Rain is emotive, destructive, welcome, hated because the clouds hide the sun… where could you take characters in the rain? Word count: 63,003 acceptances, J C Conway
LET’S GET THIS ANTHOLOGY ROLLING, PEOPLE!
Horrified Press 
I have a couple of Halloween stories I could submit, but they have been previously published in a short story collection of my own. Can you use previously published stories?
Hey Karlton,
Check out the open calls here and send the editor a brief synopsis of the story beforehand. It will be on their judgement which tales make the cut and whether or not they wish to accept reprints at this stage. Good luck!
Thanks!