Submission Guidelines for WHO LET THE GODS OUT?!

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WHO LET THE GODS OUT?!

Anthology of Horror Stories featuring Dark Gods

The old gods and the new, are stirring. Their evil shadows lengthen across our world, and their hunger grows. Wicked Shadow Press seeks original horror stories featuring dark deities for our upcoming anthology "Who Let the Gods Out?!" (Tentative release: April 2025). The final date of submission is February 20, 2025

We're looking for original horror stories featuring dark gods, elder beings and forgotten deities that explore the intersection of humanity and divine malevolence. Give us your fresh takes on cosmic horror and divine terror. We want stories that make readers question their place in the universe and tremble at what might be watching from beyond the veil.

Feel free to come up with your own story or get started with one of our writing prompts below:

1. A deaf viewer notices that movie subtitles downloaded from a website occasionally contain extra words in an impossible font, forming a message when read backwards. The messages describe a Goddess that feeds on human language itself, growing stronger as literacy rates increase across the world.

2. A paint factory worker realizes their new pigment formula exists in a wavelength that human eyes shouldn't be able to process. It lets people see things lurking at the edges of reality - and ancient beings who watch over us, and now those things know they're being watched.

3. Ocean researchers detect rhythmic patterns in deep-sea vibrations that respond directly to their inner thoughts. Each response becomes more coherent and seductive, yet carries an unmistakable sense of ancient malevolence.

4. A forgotten god trapped in an ancient temple's idol gets a joke social media page created by a bored archaeology student, but begins granting followers' actual wishes. As the account goes viral, the student returns to the temple to find out more about the deity.

5. Local children start playing a new playground game involving complex chants and geometric patterns. Their teacher realises they're recreating a ritual she has seen only once before, in a nightmare that's haunted her since her childhood.

6. A congregation discovers their church's stained glass windows change scenes when no one is watching, gradually revealing an ancient story about their god's true nature. Yesterday, you spotted your own face in one of the panels.

All Horror Sub-Genres welcome. The story must feature one or more Dark Gods.

WE ARE ACCEPTING:

Flash Fictions: (between 50-1500 words) Please send no more than TWO flash fictions per submission.

Short Stories: (between 1500-8000 words) Please send no more than ONE fiction per submission.

We are accepting TRANSLATED WORKS as well. Submission of translated works must be accompanied by a statement declaring that the translator has obtained the author’s permission and their publisher’s, if required.

Simultaneous Submissions are welcome but the author must inform us by e-mail as soon as the submitted piece is accepted elsewhere. Pieces cannot be withdrawn once Wicked Shadow Press informs the author of its acceptance for publication.

We consider reprints but generally do not publish them unless they are absolutely exceptional. Please mention in the mail body in case your submission is a reprint.

At present, we are unable to pay our contributors. Each contributor shall receive a COMPLIMENTARY DIGITAL COPY of the anthology as soon as it publishes.

Manuscripts should directly be sent to WickedAnthology@gmail.com. Please write Submission for DARK GODS in the subject line of your submission email.

Please submit your files in the following formats: .doc /.docx /.txt. DO NOT submit PDFs. 

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Wicked Shadow Press uses non exclusive rights to publish in its anthologies. Authors are free to republish their work anywhere else once it has been published.

Please submit only original pieces. Wicked Shadow Press or the editor/s of the anthology shall not be responsible for any disputes arising due to plagiarism or copyright infringement.

Each piece MUST be attached with a short bio of the author, preferably within 100 words, and if possible, a photograph to go along with publication. 

NOTE: We typically reply within a month after receiving submissions. However, replies can be delayed under unforeseen circumstances.