Alex Davis

This spring residential weekend focuses on the imaginative landscapes of fantasy, combining a range of group and individual writing activities, free writing time and much more. It is ideal for anyone wanting to break into this exciting area of fiction.

The guest author is Adrian Tchaikovsky, creator and author of the Shadows of the Apt series.

Places cost just £150, including two nights’ accommodation, meals, tea/coffee throughout, goodie bag and a host of writing activities. Full details HERE

To book your place, contact Alex Davis at alexdavisevents [at] hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk

Tim Parker Russell

Tim would like to receive previously unpublished ghost stories suitable for a general audience. Although stories should offer more than a “pleasing terror”, they should not contain anything too graphic or gratuitous. Stories should be between 2,000 and 7,000 words. Closing date for submissions is 31 December 2012. Authors will receive two copies of the published book. Copyright remains with the author.

For submission information see HERE

Midnight Echo

They are looking for “re-workings of myths and legends, brought into the modern world … the tale must have horror as a central theme.”

They state that although they seek to emphasise the work of Australian writers, they are open to international submissions too. Contributors do not need to be members of the AHWA. This is a paying publication.

For full submission information go HERE

Ellen Datlow

She states: “I am looking for stories from all branches of horror: from the traditional-supernatural to the borderline, including high-tech sf horror, supernatural stories, psychological horror, dark thrillers, or anything else that might qualify. If in doubt, send it. This is a reprint anthology so I am only reading material published in or about to be published in 2012. Submission deadline for stories is December 1st 2012.”

See Ellen’s website HERE for full submission details.

The Alchemy Press Book of Astrologica: Stories of the Zodiac edited by Allen Ashley

For full submission guidelines go HERE

Allen says: “I am looking for stories about the signs of the Zodiac, the characteristics associated with those signs and/ or people born under them. I will also consider stories involving the mythical characters and creatures of the astrological signs, perhaps their history and origin, perhaps their present and future state. Note: I am not saying that one has to believe in the paraphernalia associated with modern astrology; but authors should seek to use some of this as inspiration and underpinning of their narratives…”

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The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes volume II edited by Mike Chinn

For full submission guidelines go HERE

Mike says: “Following the successful publication of The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes, The Alchemy Press is following up with a second anthology: Pulp Heroes II. Once again it’s time to celebrate (or subvert) the glorious Pulp tradition – as well as taking a wild new look at it. I suggest you read volume one to get a sense of my requirements (available via Amazon and other online retailers).

From the arid plains of Mars to the canyons of Manhattan; the foetid jungle to the naked jungle. Demented criminals versus dark heroes with sinister powers. The flash of steel in the palaces of long-forgotten civilizations or along the sterile corridors of impossible spacecraft. Swords against sorcery or sword and planet.”

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 The Alchemy Press Book of Urban Mythic edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber

For full submission guidelines go HERE

Jan and Jenny say: “For The Alchemy Press Book of Urban Mythic, we are seeking contemporary tales with all the magic and wonder of myth and legend, blending modern life with the traditions of folklore from around the world. Whether lurking in dark alleys or brash shopping malls; from shanty towns to the floating cities of Venice, Bangkok or Dubai; swanky riverside penthouse lofts or humble suburban semis, we want to see how the mythic is woven into the everyday. Think Charles de Lint, Terri Windling, Robert Holdstock, Seanan McGuire, Jim Butcher, Kate Griffin, Simon R. Green, Holly Black, Neil Gaiman…”

Stories entered into the competition must be original and previously unpublished. Entry is free. The prize for winning this year’s James White Award is £300 plus publication in Interzone, the leading UK science fiction magazine from TTA Press. There will also be a runners-up prize of £100. The closing date for receipt of entries is 16 December 2012. The winner / runner-up will be presented with their awards at the BSFA Awards ceremony at Eastercon 2013.

For further information see the website HERE

• 23 October – Introductions: meeting ghosts
• 30 October – Creating characters and creatures
• 6 November – Using place and environment
• 13 November – Trying to get published

Advance booking is required, and the cost is £7.50 per session. For further details or to book a space, please contact Simon at simonkurtunsworth [at] gmail [dot] com

Exploring the future of pleasure, submissions should be between 3000 and 5000 words and submitted by 23:59 on Sunday 14 October 2012.

Further details, plus T&Cs, can be found at http://arc.submittable.com/submit

The group will meet from 5.30pm till 6.30pm every Wednesday, from 19 September. Bus and tube links to the venue are good, so for more details or to register an interest, please email Allen on allenashley-writer [at] hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk

All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. So, don’t be shy, ask away!

Course information:
“If a picture paints a thousand words, then the hybrid comics medium has the best of both worlds. Call them graphic novels, funny-books, bande dessinee or manga, we’re talking about comics.Through group discussion, we will examine the ways the medium can be used to tell stories in different genres, and some of the tricks of the trade. Students will learn the basics of comic script writing through a series of exercises, and receive feedback on their own scripts. Other topics include collaborating with artists, submitting to publishers, and alternative publishing options.”

Length: 5 sessions from 20 September 2012
When: Thursdays 7pm – 9pm
Price: £60
For booking information go HERE

Horror is a genre overrun by its monsters – whether it be bloodsucking fiends, shuffling undead hungry for brains, feral werewolves rampaging under a full moon, or the squamous terror that Lovecraft called Cthulhu.

No Monsters Allowed is an anthology which will feature none of these things. In this collection, the editor is looking for stories focusing on the horrors that humanity can inflict upon itself. He says: “I don’t want a ghost, ghoul, gremlin or goblin in sight – this is a completely monster-free zone! I’m looking for stories of ‘human horror’, stories that zoom in on the darkness that can surround us every day, filling our newspapers, televisions and radios. Themes might include, but are not limited to: the horrors and spoils of war; human trafficking and kidnap; sweatshops, factories and corporate colonialism; political torture and incarceration; espionage and conspiracy; domestic violence; plastic surgery, S&M and self-harm; murder and cannibalism; religious fanaticism, cults and terrorism; exploitation, neglect and abuse; health and science; etc. It’s the horror in our own minds and in our own lives – whether endured or inflicted – that this anthology will explore.”

Submissions information is as follows:
1) Stories must be at least 1000 words, maximum 5000 words (query for longer).
2) Stories must be submitted as a .doc file to nomonstersallowed [at] doghornpublishing [dot] com
3) Stories must be laid out in Standard Manuscript Format – please follow the guide at http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html
4) Violence, swearing and sexual content are acceptable, PROVIDED THEY FIT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE STORY. Anything gratuitous, or featured simply for shock value, will be deemed unsuitable for publication.
5) When we say No Monsters Allowed, we mean it! Any story featuring vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, demons, trolls, orcs, etc., will be deemed unsuitable for publication. This includes imagined creatures, hallucinations, and creatures that are evil, magical or ‘monstrous’ in nature. Human characters only please!
6) We are looking for stories with a strong horror element. However we are happy to consider dark stories with a science-fiction or fantasy setting, provided they meet the criteria above.
7) Deadline for submission is 31 October 2012, or until full. Stories sent after this time will not receive a reply.
8) Please note that a reply may take 4-6 weeks. If you have not heard within this time, please query.
9) Reprints will be considered – please query with the editor at nomonstersallowed [at] doghornpublishing [dot] com. Multiple submissions will not be considered – please send in your best work!
10) Accepted authors will receive two complimentary copies of the anthology. Unfortunately we are unable to pay for stories accepted.
11) Please send any queries to Alex at nomonstersallowed [at] doghornpublishing [dot] com

Starting later this year, Abaddon will publish a series of brand new e-novellas – and authors can either play in one of our ten shared worlds or create their own! Whether you’ve an agent or are going solo, whether you’re an established writer or trying to get your first project, we’re interested. Our books are pacy and action-filled, but smart and sharp, with characters that pull you in and challenge you. And our stories are dark, whatever the genre.

Since 2006, we have published almost eighty original novels in ten shared-world series, and have given the world the talented and irascible Chuck Wendig his fiction debut, not to mention the wildly imaginative Al Ewing. It has uncovered Kitschie-nominee Scott K. Andrews, and gave the brilliant Gary McMahon, Pat Kelleher and Toby Venables their mainstream fiction debuts.

If you know Abaddon’s work, you’ll also know what we like. Choose a genre, make it fast, make it tense, make it dark. And make us care about your characters. Make it original! Make us want to come back and see what happens next.

Submissions will be open for the month of September 2012, from midnight BST on 31 August 2012 to midnight on 30 September 2012.

For full details on the submissions process, go to www.abaddonbooks.com

All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. So, don’t be shy, ask away!

In addition, they will have a new electronic submission system in place, allowing quicker response, saving on the cost of postage and being more environmentally-friendly.

They will be seeking: “Horror, dark mystery, and suspense short stories up to 5,000 words. Originals, no reprints. We want tales that are powerful and emotional—creepy, chilling, disturbing, and moody. Suspense/mystery/crime tales with a horror element are always welcome. Both supernatural and psychological stories are fine. Most common reasons for rejection are: lack of power, lack of originality, slow pacing, poor writing, boring themes. Read the magazine, see what type of fiction we are publishing—don’t submit with a blind eye!”

Payment will be: “Professional rates, minimum of five cents per word, plus two contributor copies. Payable within 30 days of publication. Up to 5,000 words; maximum payment of $250. All rights revert to the author upon publication.”

Full details on how to submit will be posted on the website once the new submission system is ready. The publishers stress that writers must not submit until the appropriate time – all manuscripts submitted before they have the new system ready will be returned unread.

They state: “From the conceptual impossibilities of China Mièville’s worlds, to the illogicality of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, the retro-futurism of steampunk and the Kafka-esque repetitions and restrictions of dystopia – we love fiction set in places that could not (or should not) be. We’re looking for new and established writers to contribute dark and weird fiction for a new collection of stories set in places that bend the mind.”

They are seeking “edgy, dark and weird fiction. While setting is very important, we’re also looking for compelling characters and original plots. Any interpretation of the theme is welcome – and we have no preconceptions about what ‘place’ and ‘space’ might mean. Any genre considered: dark fantasy, urban fantasy, horror, SF, steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, dystopian, slipstream. We’re looking for original and fresh voices that challenge and unsettle.”

The required word count is between 3,000 and 7,000 words, and the submission deadline is Thursday 13 December 2012. Since Hic Dragones is a new press they regret they are unable to pay contributors, but one contributor copy will be supplied. Full submission guidelines can be found HERE

“Thank you to everyone who has already sent me a story for consideration. I have my work cut out reading the stories already received and have booked out most of July to do so… but there is still time to send in an entry for this year’s Short Story Competition which offers fantastic, generous prizes to the winner and two runners-up. Full details are available HERE but, in brief, I want to see new, unpublished stories in the broad fantasy / science fiction / horror/ slipstream / fabulation genres. 5000 words strict maximum. One free entry for BFS members. £5 entry fee for non-members (or Paypal calculated equivalent for non-UK residents). Send your story as an attachment saved in Rich Text Format or Microsoft Word 2003. Not .docx format please, it upsets my computer!”

The competition closes at midnight British Summer Time on Saturday 30 June 2012, so don’t delay too long in sending your story to Allen. If you are sending from abroad, allow for time differences.

If you have any queries, or if your manuscript is ready to go, you can email Allen on shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org

The first issue features poetry/fiction from Valentina Cano, Angharad Davies, Matt Hemmerich, Ian Hunter, Travis McCullers, David Spicer, Kate Tattersfield, Douglas Thompson, Harry Wilson and Paul Woodward. With cover art from Jordan Pundik of pop punk band New Found Glory.

Fur-Lined Ghettos is also currently open for submissions for the next issue. Guidelines are on the website, but buying a copy will give writers a better idea of what they are looking for.

More information and submission guidelines can be downloaded from the website HERE

Plasma Frequency Magazine is a paying market, paying 1 US cent per word for fiction. They are also seeking cover and interior artwork and books for review.

Full details can be found HERE

“Now, I know that some people who enter competitions leave it till the last minute to get their entry in. I’m also sure that many of you are frantically writing and revising your entry to this year’s BFS Short Story Competition. So, this is just a gentle reminder to all you authors out there to make sure you do not miss the boat on this year’s competition. Entries close at midnight British Summer Time on Saturday 30 June 2012. Full details are available at the BFS website HERE.”

If you have any queries or if your manuscript is ready to go (as an attachment in Rich Text Format or MS Word 2003, but NOT doc.x) you can email Allen on shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org

Weird Tales

At the moment, they are looking for stories for their Undead issue – “unusual and radical takes on Zombies, Ghouls, chiang-shih’s, the Lich and other creatures yet undefined. Even vampires, if you have found a new wrinkle.” They are also looking to fill the Fairy Tales issue.

They also seek fiction for the non-themed parts of each issue, along with artwork. Queries regarding non-fiction are also welcome.

Full details and submission guidelines are HERE

The current issue, available now, is pictured.

Stephen Jones

Authors are asked to forward stories of exceptional quality published between these dates, whilst publishers are invited to send novels, collections, anthologies, magazines, art books, graphic adaptations, DVDs and anything else connected with the horror field which could be mentioned in the comprehensive overview of the year in horror. Publisher contact information will also be included in the list of useful addresses contained in the volume.

The deadline for receiving material is January 2013, and all material must be sent to the postal address provided in the guidelines detailed HERE.

Also, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Volume 23 edited by Stephen Jones is now available for pre-order from Amazon. To be released in October 2012, it contains stories by Ramsey Campbell, Christopher Fowler, Paul Kane, Joel Lane, Alison Littlewood, Mark Samuels, Peter Atkins, Thana Niveau, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Reggie Oliver, Steve Rasnic Tem, Joe R. Lansdale, Evangeline Walton and many others. The cover artwork is by Vincent Chong. Full details HERE

“Why do writers write? What compels them to commit their thoughts and ideas to paper, and then to present them for the scrutiny, criticism and approbation of others? A recent Facebook update from Gary McMahon gave me pause for thought. In it he claimed that he was only ever truly happy when he was writing. Not when he had completed a piece of work to the very best of his ability and was basking in the glow of a job well done; not when he had the finished book, complete with groovy cover and that delicious smell of fresh ink, in his hands; not even when fans were telling him how much they loved his work. No, it was the act of writing itself that he loved – the process of sitting at a desk and trying to express the tangle of ideas in his head in some kind of coherent and readable way.

For me, writing is tough. It’s hard, brain-aching, often exasperating work. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. I love creating characters, and telling stories, and building what I hope are convincing worlds around them, and tapping into thoughts and emotions that, if I’m lucky, convey themselves to the reader. But I wouldn’t describe myself as ‘happy’ during the actual process of writing. I’m happy when I’ve written – or rather, when I’m satisfied with what I’ve written. But during the act of writing itself I’m… thoughtful, pre-occupied, sometimes frustrated, and occasionally – fleetingly – self-satisfied at a particular line of dialogue or turn of phrase. But happy? No.

Gary’s words prompted me to ask him, and a number of other writer friends, what actually motivates them to write.”

You can read the answers Mark received in the Spring Edition of the BFS Journal, but we want to know what makes you write?

What drives you to put pen to paper or finger to keyboard?

Let us know by joining the discussion on the BFS Forum

All genres are covered (no poetry). The group is open to all writers, aspiring and published, who wish to meet like-minded folk, discuss their work, have a drink and a chat, have an evening with friends. Group members read out work in progress and offer constructive advice in a supportive environment. Entry is free.

To contact Renegade Writers, send an email to renewriters [at] gmail [dot] com or follow them on the Renegade Writers’ Facebook page or on Twitter (@renegadewriters) for updates. You can find out more on the Renegade Writers blog HERE

The next meeting is on 9 May 2012.

Spectral Press

The deadline for submission of stories is 30 June 2012. All stories must be original, with the copyright belonging to the author in question, and must not have been published or submitted elsewhere. There will be a token payment for each story plus a physical copy of the book for each author.

For further details and full submission guidelines see the website HERE

Cyaegha #6 (the Dutch / Flemish Special) is now available, featuring the work of Cornelis Alderlieste, Toren Atkinson, Eddy C. Bertin, Jaap Boekestein, Cardinal Cox, Marcel Orie and Tais Teng. The editor, Graeme Phillips, is seeking submissions to a non-themed issue. Submissions of art, poetry, fiction or non-fiction should be Lovecraft / Cthulhu Mythos-related. Please contact the editor at the email address given on the website HERE if you are interested in contributing, or would like to purchase a copy of the magazine.

The Lovecraft eZine #13 is also now available, containing five stories and one essay.  Ecstasy of the Gold is a brand new story by Stephen Mark Rainey.  Scale Hall is by Simon Kurt Unsworth, and The Dog Who Wished He’d Never Heard of Lovecraft by Anna Tambour. Rounding off the stories this month is The Ouroboros Apocrypha, a Thomas Ligotti-inspired tale by Jayaprakash Satyamurthy, and Over the Hills by Victor Takac.  And if you’re a Ligotti fan, you’ll enjoy reading Brandon H. Bell’s essay, a reverent take on The Conspiracy Against the Human Race. Details HERE

This is your chance to improve your short story writing with guaranteed personal feedback from a specialist in the field. The afternoon will consist of a practical workshop for all short story writers, whether beginners or published writers. Topics covered will include: getting started; generating ideas; beginnings; middles; endings; useful writing exercises; practical tips; avoiding pitfalls; and preparing your work for submission.

The fee for the workshop is £20 and booking is essential. To book your place please email Allen at allenashley-writer [at] hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk

The prize for winning this year’s James White Award is £200 plus publication in Interzone, the leading UK science fiction magazine. The winner will be presented with their award at the BSFA Awards ceremony at Eastercon 2013. Stories entered into the competition must be original and previously unpublished and entry to the competition is free.

The winner of the 2011 James White Award was Calum Paget with his story, Invocation of the Lurker. The judges also awarded a special commendation to Tori Truslow for her story Train in Vain. The Awards were presented at Eastercon 2012 over the weekend of 6 – 9 April.

For more information and details on how to enter please see the competition website HERE

Stumar Press

There’s no theme – other than the story needs to be a horror one. By horror, they mean the full breadth of the genre from gentle ghost stories to nasty pieces full of blood, guts and gore. The horror can deal with the psychological or the supernatural, with the fantastic or the normal.

Check out the guidelines HERE for more details.

They are currently seeking original fiction which draws on Machen’s life and works. All profits generated from the sale of this anthology will be donated to the Friends of Arthur Machen. Entries may be of any length and multiple submissions are welcome: however the editors would appreciate it if any potential contributors would let them know in advance that they are working on something for consideration. The final submissions deadline is 30 March 2013.

For full submission guidelines see the Hieroglyphic Press website HERE

“Standing stones, burial mounds, ruined castles or sunken settlements, the ancient sites that litter our landscapes have a mysterious appeal which cannot be denied. Think myth come to life; old folktales updated; the consequences of tomb raiding; hidden guardians and secret civilisations; from archaeology to tourism; mysticism and myth; folklore to the fantastical. Take us on a journey around the esoteric and enigmatic places that cannot fail to fire the imagination. Intrigue us, thrill us, make us wonder about the where, the what and the who.

We are interested in fantasy, SF, weird and horror tales of all kinds (no erotica, romance or poetry).”

The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders will be published in paperback in September 2012, to be followed by an ebook edition later. Contributions must be in the range of 2,000 – 6,000 words. The submission period runs from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.

Full submission details HERE

1st prize: £100, a year’s membership of the BFS, and publication in the BFS Journal.
2nd prize: £50, a year’s membership of the BFS, and publication in the BFS Journal.
3rd prize:£20

Entry is free for BFS members and just £5 per entry for non-members. Further details and full submission guidelines HERE. For any enquiries please email Allen Ashley on shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME PERIOD FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS HAS NOW CLOSED***

Also, the period for making recommendations for the British Fantasy Awards closes on 31 March 2012. If you haven’t yet made your recommendations now is the time to do so!

The voting form is available HERE

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME PERIOD FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS HAS NOW CLOSED***

“The Shadow, The Bat, Doc Savage, The Spider; Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Detective Agency; Dusty Ayers & His Battle Birds; Sheena and Ka-Zar. Hard-boiled detectives, sinister vigilantes, bizarre villains – the staple of the Pulp tradition. We want fiction that celebrates (or subverts) that tradition – as well as taking a wild new look at it. Fiction set in the 1930s and 40s, the far future or mythical past, or the present day. Two-fisted heroes – and heroines – fighting for right and justice in the midnight city, foetid jungles or exotic, far-flung lands. Deranged villains for whom the world is never enough.

Sports stories, spy stories, aircraft and zeppelin stories, sea and pirate stories, Westerns, medieval romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy, movies and car racing – there’s no limit.

THRILL US, SCARE US – MAKE US CARE.”

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes will be published in paperback in September 2012, to be followed by an ebook edition. The submission period runs from 1 April to 30 May 2012, and this is a paying market. For full submission guidelines see the website HERE

The festival, run by Writing East Midlands, provides an opportunity for readers and writers to hear from their favourite authors, find out more about the world of publishing and learn more about the writing process, while networking with agents, publishers and other writers. There will be author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and much more.

To book a day ticket on either the Saturday or Sunday, or to book for the whole weekend, and to book a place on any of the workshops, visit the website HERE

If you’re interested, drop Jenny Barber an email at: jennyb [at] majorarcana [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk

They will not accept submissions for short story collections, graphic novels or erotica.

Full details on how to submit your manuscript HERE

This is your chance to improve your short stories with a specialist in the field. It’s a practical workshop for all short story writers, whether beginners or published writers.

Topics covered: Getting Started; Generating Ideas; Beginnings; Middles; Endings; Useful Writing Exercises; Practical Tips; Avoiding Pitfalls; Preparing Your Work for Submission; and other subjects, in what will be a thoroughly practical session with guaranteed personal feedback from the tutor.

Fee for the workshop is £20. Booking is essential. Please email allenashley-writer@hotmail.co.uk to book your place.

Arc

The publishers are looking for fully fleshed stories of between 3,000 and 5,000 words. By ‘near future’ they mean near enough to be recognisable, but not so near as to be boring. Technology, in whatever guise – from robotics to synthetic biology to geoengineering – should feature prominently, but they are looking for stories, not theses, and the human element will have to be compelling.

It is recommended that entrants read issue 1.1 of Arc for guidance on the approach required. Distinctive, thoughtful visions inspired by the theme are more likely to be successful. Arc 1.1 also explains the Arc / Tomorrow Project collaboration.

The deadline for entry to the competition is one minute to midnight GMT on 8 April 2012. Full details can be found in the Tomorrow Project section of Arc 1.1, or on the Arc submission page. Arc 1.1 is available now for Windows and Mac computers, iPads, iPhones and Android devices, as well as for Kindle and as a collectible print edition.

There are many more leading names to be announced for the event, with the first two Guests of Honour for the 2012 event confirmed as Christopher Fowler and Geoff Ryman.

Christopher Fowler is a multiple award-winning author with thirty novels and twelve short story collections to his name. He is best-known for his Bryant and May mystery novels, with his most recent title in the series being Bryant and May and the Memory of Blood. Christopher has also written a number of successful thrillers, as well as the highly succesful graphic novel Menz Insana. His other credits include creating the War of the Worlds video game for Paramount, as well as running a successful film marketing company and writing for TV and film stars such as Kenneth Williams, Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, Leslie Neilsen and the stars of Monty Python.

Geoff Ryman is an acclaimed author of science-fiction and fantasy, with his most recent title, The King’s Last Song, drawing stellar reviews. Other leading titles include Was…, Lust and Air, with his novels having claimed a host of awards including the British Science Fiction Award, World Fantasy Award, Arthur C. Clarke Award, The Philip K. Dick Award and many more. He is also a lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester University.

Edge-Lit runs from 10am – midnight on Saturday 14 July 2012, with tickets just £25, including access to all activities on the day. For more information, and to book your tickets, visit the website HERE

Participants are invited to pre-submit up to 2,000 words of fiction (a short story or the start of a novel, but no poetry), for one-to-one feedback on Friday evening.

For full details, including how to book, please visit the website HERE

Le Fanu Studies

The journal has its own house style loosely based on The MLA Style Manual. Essays should be under 15,000 words. For models of essays see the journal HERE

Abomination

The editors are currently seeking submissions of horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy between 1,000 to 7,500 words in length. Payment is 1 cent per word. They are also seeking poetry with a strong horror theme, with a flat payment per poem of 6 US dollars.

The editors are also looking for artists to illustrate stories or supply cover art but they are, unfortunately, unable to offer any payment for artwork at this time.

Submission guidelines HERE

Allen Ashley is an author, editor, poet, critic and writing tutor as well as a long-standing, active member of the BFS. Allen is a regular contributor to The BFS Journal and attendee at FantasyCon. Allen won the BFS award for Best Anthology in 2006 as editor of The Elastic Book Of Numbers (Elastic Press).

Allen says: “Judging a competition is something I have wanted to add to my accomplishments for a long time, so I’m really pleased to be given this opportunity. I’m sure it’s going to be a tough decision to choose the eventual winners as I know that the standard is always very high. There’s just me judging – no filtering committee or anything like that. Also, this year it’s not anonymous as that was felt to be an unnecessary complication. Word limit is 5000 words and all the usual rules apply. Submission window opens on 1 March 2012 and closes on 30 June 2012.”

Entry is free for BFS members and just £5 per entry for non-members. Further details and full submission guidelines HERE

For enquiries please email Allen on shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org

Polluto Magazine

Polluto is an award-winning literary magazine from Dog Horn Publishing. They state: “Don’t give us typical genre fantasy or horror. We want stories that are out of the ordinary, surreal and twisted, or laced with dark, wicked humour. We want angry voices, new voices, voices that want to toy with the reader and teach them something new and exciting. Take us to dark places, dirty places, and show us things to make us giggle, gasp or gag. All submissions must have a countercultural element. By this we mean an engagement with, challenging of, or subverting of popular cultures and ideologies.”

The submission window for the next issue closes on 31 March 2012, or when the issue is full. For submission guidelines please visit the website HERE

Lovecraft eZine

Full details and submission guidelines HERE

This conference aims to bring together publishers, writers and academics to discuss the influence of the small presses.

The small presses in the UK have a complex and fascinating history as they interact with writerly practice. Developments over the last twenty to thirty years such as the the rise of desktop publishing, the collapse of the net book agreement, and the advent of print-on-demand – as well as digital publishing and online bookselling – have created an environment in which small presses have thrived and created new opportunities for writers. This conference aims to bring together publishers, writers and academics to discuss the influence of the small presses on creative practice and to consider their broader role in cultural production. In addition, there will be practical sessions on how to publish with a small press and opportunities for publishers to showcase their books.

Topics to be considered include, but are not limited to:

-The relationship between the creative writer and small presses
-Specific studies of individual small presses and their lists
-Genre studies of the role of small presses in regards to poetry, fiction etc.
-The formal properties of the small press book and its relation to aesthetics.
-How creative writing and publishing practices are adapting to new media.

Abstracts of no more than 200 words to be submitted by 29 February 2012. Please send to one of the organisers:

Lucie Armitt
l.armitt [at] salford.ac.uk

Ursula Hurley
u.k.hurley [at] salford.ac.uk

Scott Thurston
s.thurston [at] salford.ac.uk

School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences
University of Salford
Salford
M5 4WT

Inkspill Magazine

They state: “We are looking for short stories, poetry, articles and art relating to fantasy, science fiction, horror… and anything in between. We want to read fresh, original ideas, or classic ideas reinvented. Be part of a special issue and celebrate the diversity and imagination of genre.”

Submission information HERE

They state: “We enjoy the surreal, the absurd, the nonsensical, the complicated, the simple, the truth, the lies, the complexity of words, the ecstasy of genius, the delightful power we find in the spaces between and dancing at the discothèque.”

More information can be found HERE

Peter F. Hamilton began writing in 1987 and sold his first short story to Fear magazine in 1988. His novels include the Greg Mandel series and the Night’s Dawn trilogy. His most recent novels are Fallen Dragon, Misspent Youth, Pandora’s Star, Judas Unchained and the Void trilogy.

Graham Masterton is a renowned horror author whose career was launched with the wildly successful The Manitou in 1976. Since then he has written over one-hundred titles, taking in not only horror but also thrillers, disaster novels and historical sagas.  Recent releases include The Pariah, Mirror and Family Portrait through Hammer Books, a leading name in the field of horror.

Jon Courtenay Grimwood is an acclaimed fantasy and science fiction novelist, and twice a winner of the prestigious BSFA Award for Best Novel. He is also an established newspaper writer, having published articles and reviews in The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and The Independent. His latest series, the Assassini, continues with the release of The Outcast Blade in May.

Tickets for the festival include access to a host of activities throughout. There will be a wide range of author readings, panels, writing workshops and much more featuring some of the leading writers, editors and agents in genre fiction. Tickets cost £45 and cover all activities over the weekend – for booking and more information visit the website HERE

The entries will be judged by the editor L.K. Barley Robinson who is an award-winning, much-published and radio-broadcast horror, gothic horror and dark poet and a former magazine columnist with The Observer series of newspapers. The first prize winner will receive The Poetry Box Horror & Dark Poetry Silver Trophy Cup and Award-Winning Certificate. The 2nd and 3rd placed finalists will receive Award-Winning Certificates and prize cheques of £25.00 each.  The 4th and 5th placed finalists will receive Award-Winning Certificates and prize cheques of £20.00 each, and highly commended entries will receive Highly Commended Certificates.

The deadline for poetry entries is 1 March 2012.  Length of poem: 60 lines maximum per poem.  Entry fee is £5.00 per poem, up to a maximum of 4 poems per entrant.  All entrants agree that their poems may be selected for inclusion in The Horror & Dark Poetry ScrapBook Magazine for up to one year after the competition deadline (1 March 2013).

The Poetry Box Studio is open to the public every Wednesday between 9.00am to 6.30pm with live poetry readings performed by a programme of visiting poets between 10.30am-11.15am in the garden of the Studio.  On display within The Poetry Box are poetry prints, poetry posters, new and secondhand poetry books and gothic horror and horror props, postcards and miscellanea.

Full details of the competition can be found HERE and information on the new magazine can be found HERE

Illustration: ‘The Death of Boadicea” (c) L.K. Barley Robinson