OPEN CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
BLACK HARE PRESS is—and has always been—an inclusive publisher. LGBTQ+ characters always welcome.
All our calls are for dark speculative fiction or weird/horror.
No co-authored projects, please, unless the call specifically says they are allowed.
For full Submission Guidelines and Rights go here.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL CALLS:
Submission Guidelines
Whilst we are open to all genres and styles of writing, ultimately we reserve the right to reject topics that are not suitable for our publications. Please read the individual submission call information for guidance.
Word count requirements, deadline dates and author compensation are detailed against each submission call. Hyphenated words will be counted as one word. Paragraph breaks are not included in word counts.
All submissions must be in English.
Our stance on;
Bestiality – Unless your character is in the fantasy world (ie werewolf) this is a hard no.
Erotica – Don’t go overboard, but if your story requires sex scenes, go for it.
Graphic non-con sex is never OK. If your story needs it, glimpse but don’t dazzle.
Formatting
NO TABS!
All manuscripts must be in .doc/.docx format.
In the header section of your manuscript please include your story title and the manuscript word count (excluding header section information).
Font : Times New Roman 12 point
Spacing : Double line spaced. Indent new paragraphs. Single space between sentences.
Scene breaks : ***
Spelling : British English or American English
Manuscript
All submissions are read blind. Do not include personal information IN your manuscript (no name, no pen name, no email, no address).
Do not include personal information in your document name.
Your document name must be [CALL] – [THEME (where there is one noted)] – [TITLE]. doc/x (no brackets).
Your document must be attached – no links, please. We won’t follow them.
Bios
Bio:
Novellas: No limit
Short stories: Maximum of 100 words plus 2 non-retailer links
Rest: Maximum of 50 words plus 1 non-retailer links
Emails
Address your email “G’day awesome Black Hare Press Team”
Email Subject:
In your email subject, include [CALL] – [THEME (where there is one noted)] – [TITLE] – [PEN NAME]
For example;
DARK MOMENTS – UNDERWATER – Red Cloud – Ann Orfer
GRIMDARK – DRABBLES – Clash of the Tantrums – Ann Orfer
SHORT READS – The Elephant in the Room – Ann Orfer
Email Body:
In your email body, please include; the call, the theme (where one is noted), your story title, your pen name, word count, bio.
Email To:
Email to the address listed on the call.
DARK MOMENTS MONTHLY CHALLENGE
MAY 2025 SUBMISSIONS
URBAN MYTHS
What hides in the alleys, whispers through the static, or waits beneath the city streets? This month, we’re chasing shadows and spinning tales from the cracks of modern folklore. Dig up the rumours, twist the tales—they’re all true… somewhere.
This theme will be open for submissions from 1st MAY 2025 and will close midnight 31st MAY 2025 (last place on Earth). Submissions received outside of this timeframe will not be read.
You must include the theme in your email subject (as shown above). Reading will start once the submission period has closed.
The BEST 12 drabbles will be chosen for publication in JUNE 2025.
Word count : EXACTLY 100 words, excluding title and pen name
Author eligibility : Open to all.
Reprints : Not allowed
Simultaneous Submissions : Not allowed
Multiple Submissions : One per pen name, per theme << IF YOU SEND MORE THAN ONE, WE WILL REJECT THEM ALL, UNREAD
Publication : Online in Dark Moments. May be included in a single anthology in print and digital formats at a later date (but within one year of initial publication)
Author compensation : 0.04 USD per word via PayPal
Submit to : darkmoments@BlackHarePress.com
PATREON MONTHLY CHALLENGE
Word count : 100 to 2000
~A monetary award: 0.04 USD per word for the first 100 words, 0.01 USD per word thereafter. To be paid via PayPal in the month after publication on Patreon.
~Or a paperback copy of the annual publication.
(Please indicate preference with your submission).
Plus;
A digital copy of the annual publication
and print discounts.
OCCUPYING BODIES – BODY HORROR ANTHOLOGY
CLOSES 31st MARCH, 2025
Bernardo Villela, Anthology Curator, seeks to collect stories on the horrors of having human consciousness and occupying a body. Narratives that deal with anything from the psychological to the grotesque, to very real afflictions, to outlandish Cronanbergesque concoctions, and everything in between. Show that all it takes to scare a reader is a story about the one thing a protagonist can never escape: their own body. Or, worse yet, maybe somehow, they do. What then?
Let your imagination run rampant. If the story focuses on humanity vs. nature (nature being the nature of oneself) we want to read it.
Please note that we will not accept stories that use horror as a vehicle for harmful or exclusionary messages, such as those that are sexist, misogynist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, overtly ableist, or otherwise discriminatory. While these stories explore themes of imbalance or personal transformation, they should also recognize the shared human experience—we all face the same finite existence. With that in mind, aim for a sense of universality in your scares.
We encourage you to offer your unique perspective and explore the theme in imaginative ways. The strongest stories will not only evoke empathy for the protagonist but also create unsettling, memorable images. These stories should offer meaningful social commentary while avoiding sensationalism and exploitation.
Word count : 500-5,000 words, excluding title and pen name.
Author eligibility : Open to all.
Reprints : Not allowed.
Simultaneous Submissions : Not allowed – this means you cannot submit the same story to another publisher while we’re considering it – but we will try to get responses out asap.
Multiple Submissions : Allowed, maximum of two acceptances.
Publication : mid-to-late 2025 in print and digital formats.
Author compensation :
One digital copy.
Stories over 3,000 words will receive $10 USD.
Stories over 4,000 words will also receive a paperback copy of the anthology.
Submit to : short-stories@blackharepress.com
Ensure you include the word BODIES in your email subject – see our submission guideline for all other requirements.
SHORT READS
This call will be open for one month in March 2025, June 2025, September 2025, and December 2025.
Responses will be out within 2 months of the call closing.
We are looking for dark stories, in any genre.
Please ensure your first 500 words compel the reader to want to go further.
Word count : 5,000+
Please include a blurb (40+ words, we’ll work with successful entries to finesse it for publication), and a short synopsis. Include both of these in your manuscript, before your story.
Remember: we have a blind read process, which means our read team do not know any of the author’s details. Please do not include your personal information (name, pseudonym, address, email, bio, etc) in your manuscript – your story will be rejected and will not be eligible for resubmission. However, please include your personal information in the email body.
Multiple Submissions : As many as you like, but please wait for a response on one before sending the next so as not to overwhelm our read team.
Each story will be its own publication, published in digital format, and assigned to one of our new series headers.
Sequels are always a possibility, and where accepted, the first and subsequent publications will be re-directed to the “single author” stream, which includes print editions.
Monetary awards will be based on wordcounts after edits (so please don’t pad);
~5,000 to 10,000 – $20 USD
~10,001 to 17,000 – $30 USD
~17,001 to 50,000 – $50 USDNothing over 50k, please.
Plus one digital copy
Submit to : shortreads@blackharepress.com
Please allow 12 weeks for a response.
NOVELS & COLLECTIONS
WE PUBLISH A SMALL NUMBER OF NOVELS / COLLECTIONS EACH YEAR.
PLEASE QUERY BEFORE SUBMITTING
We are looking for dark stories, in any genre.
Please ensure your first 500 words compel the reader to want to go further.
Word count : 50,001+ If your story is below this, please submit to SHORT READS when it’s open
Pease include, at a minimum:
- Your full bio.
- You full synopsis. This means spoilers too!
- Your first chapter.
Author compensation : Will be agree, per acceptance.Submit to : novels@blackharepress.com
Please allow 12 weeks for a response.