These magazines and anthologies publish horror fiction of various stripes: gothic horror, folk horror, monster stories, vampires, body horror, gore, sci-fi horror, dark fantasy, eerie stories, slasher stories, psychological horror, ghost stories, surrealist and cosmic horror, horror-comedy, surreal, macabre, and more.

Some calls are themed. Some outlets pay writers. Many also publish other genres, like science fiction, fantasy, suspense, or others, as well as nonfiction and poetry. Most, but not all, are open now for
submissions, or are opening soon.

Flash Phantoms: Halloween
They want horror stories of up to 1,000 words; they also accept 100-word drabbles. Currently, they want submissions on the Halloween theme. One story will also be selected for their Story of the Month page, and will be paid $25. The deadline for this call is 30 September 2025. Details here.

Angry Gable Press: Cozy in the Apocalypse Anthology
They speculative fiction and poetry (science fiction, fantasy, horror, and Weird) for this anthology. “Hoping to create contrasting emotions with apocalyptic settings, we require pieces that capture the interplay of two specific different themes in this call: cozy and apocalypse. What does cozy mean to us?
Cozy means comfortable or comforting: soft sunsets, kittens mewing in their sleep, or sipping coffee as the chickadees chirp in the morning. We want at least one scene exploring cozy in this manner.Okay… but what about apocalypse?
Apocalypse should be the setting in which you place your piece. It can be in a pre-, mid-, or post-apocalypse. And we see an apocalypse as a major event that changes the norms of a society. That includes our Earth, but any number of other Earths, or realities you feel like writing about.” They pay $25 for stories of 500-8,000 words, and $20 for poetry. They are open until filled. Details here.

Tales of Horror Magazine
They focus on stories and poems that are horrific and weird. They publish stories “from gothic horror to detective tales and adventures and sword and sorcery”. They pay $0.06/word for fiction up to 5,000 words, and $40 for poetry (send one poem). Details here (scroll down).

Skummel
They accept flash and short fiction (up to 5,000 words), as well as poetry. “We’re drawn to all forms of dark, unsettling, absurdist, and experimental literature.” They also accept reprints. Details here.

Kaidankai
“Kaidankai is a weekly podcast and online outlet for tales of the supernatural. We are a celebration of the genre in all of its forms–from poetry to personal experience, from romance to horror. It is the diversity of interpretation of the supernatural that excites us, so experiment and send us your tale(s). If it is selected, your story will be read on the podcast and posted on the Kaidankai.
The kaidankai is based on an activity from Edo period Japan, when 100 people would gather in a room with 100 candles to tell their creepy tales. After each tale, a candle would be blown out. As the room grew darker, the tales grew more ominous. When the last tale was told…well, that’s just too terrifying to talk about.” Send stories of 1,000-3,000 words. Details here and here.

The Horror Zine
They publish fiction — “not only horror, but mystery, suspense, science fiction, speculative, and most of all, good character development. I am also looking for Hitchcock-type endings, Twilight Zone-type weirdness, and/or something deliciously twisted. A surprising ending is a plus. I am also looking for good ghost stories, monster stories, vampires, but something exciting and new is even better.
And! Remember the legends….vampires are killed by stakes, werewolves by silver bullets, and zombies by a shot to the head. If you are going outside the box on any of these, make it believable for readers who are used to the status quo of legends.” They also publish poetry and art. They will reopen for submissions in October or November. Details here.

Broken Antler Magazine
“Broken Antler publishes horror and weird fiction, as well as sci-fi and dark fantasy. The editors are partial to a wide range of subgenres—body, cosmic, folk, gore, etc. …. If your work fits into the horror genre, or is some version of fucked-up, send it our way.” They also publish poetry, creative nonfiction, art, and accept queries for reviews and interviews. They pay $10 for work published online, and $20 for work published in print. They have the print journal, an online journal (BAM Quarterly) and the blog as well as home of their LGBTQIA+ creator series called The Marrow (closed now). For the online journal, the deadline is 30 September 2025. Details here.

Flame Tree Anthologies
Flame Tree often issues calls for anthologies; they usually announce these calls here. Currently they are reading for Wars in the Stars Short Stories, deadline 1^st October; Africanfuturism, deadline 2^nd November; Gilgamesh, deadline 9^th November; Helen of Troy, deadline 9^th November 2025;  as well as two other anthologies with deadlines in September, Folklore & Horror, and Christmas Ghosts – see below for these two anthologies.
— Folklore & Horror Short Stories: They want fiction for their Folklore & Horror Short Stories anthology, part of their Gothic Fantasy series. “Whisperings in the gloom of the trees, primeval mysteries, terrifying omens unfolding… within all of us lurks innate fear and subconscious respect for ancient rites. Following on from our successful Beyond & Within title Folk Horror, we now open the doors, for our Gothic Fantasy series, to more stories rooted in the dark side of the land and nature, of global mythologies and folktales, of ritual and isolation. Whether you mine the rich seams of occult traditions and esoteric practices, or the myriad fantastic elements of legend and folklore, whether the action unfolds in a rural village or remote forest, your story will have an almost tangible atmosphere of foreboding and superstition, of the untamed power of nature and the wild.” They pay $0.08/word for original stories of 2,000-4,000 words, and the deadline is 26^th September 2025. They also accept reprints. Details here. 
— Christmas Ghosts Short Stories: This is a fiction anthology. “The time of cheer and goodwill to all… Or is it? For many, Christmas falls in the bleak midwinter, in the long dark hours where cold icy fingers ever encroach upon the fire valiantly struggling in the hearth. Time-honoured literary tradition leaves us with bountiful stories of gothic chills and festive fear, tales of the dark, moody, ghastly and ghostly.
This new collection will focus on the last, most hair-raising of these – the seasonal spectre. Your story will shiver with eerie apprehension as we encounter all manner of yuletide ghosts – malevolent demons, terrifying wraiths or spirits of fateful Christmases past perhaps, seeking eternal rest.” They pay $0.08/word for original stories of 2,000-4,000 words, and they also accept reprints. The deadline is 28^th September 2025. Details here.  
(And, Fantasy Magazine, another pro-paying outlet which publishes all kinds of fantasy, including dark fantasy, is also reading fiction and poetry for its 100^th issue; the theme is Transition, Migration, and Borders: Movement in, and of the Body. They pay $0.10/word for fiction up to 5,000 words, and $50 for poetry; the deadline is 17^th September 2025. Details here and here – there is a special submission category for BIPOC writers.)

Crepuscular Magazine
Crepuscular wants “microfiction stories exploring places, characters, and questions buried in the gray areas between this and that, here and there, night and day, alive and dead, evil and good, feminine and masculine, up and down, real and unreal. If you’re not quite sure what that means, lean into that feeling. … While we lean toward speculative pieces, we have a love for those in-betweeny pieces that blur genre. We accept horror (both spec and non), fantasy, science fiction, general/literary fiction, and everything in between.” They pay $0.10/word for stories up to 250 words. Drabbles are a hard sell. Details here.

Exquisite Death
They publish horror fiction (up to 3,000 words), poetry, and music. “Exquisite Death is looking for the dark, the surreal, the atmospheric and macabre. Dark fantasy and horror only. No excessive gore or erotica.” Details here.

Sometimes Hilarious Horror
Their tagline is, ‘It’s exactly what it sounds like…’ – they accept horror fiction (including reprints) of up to 15,000 words, as well as poetry, novel chapters, and cover art. Work is released to their Ko-Fi subscribers. They pay $10-25. Details here.

Sloth & Envy Press: Toad Shade Zine – We’re All Going to Die
They’re reading for their fourth issue; the theme is We’re All Going to Die. They also have an illustration for inspiration. “Send your horror stories and your horrible arts.” They pay $20 for stories of 500-2,000 words. The deadline is 30^th September 2025. Details here.  

The Dark
They want horror and dark fantasy of 2,000-6,000 words. “Don’t be afraid to experiment or to deviate from the ordinary; be different—try us with fiction that may fall out of “regular” categories. However, it is also important to understand that despite the name, The Dark is not a market for graphic, violent horror.” They pay $0.05/word for originals and also accept reprints. Details here.

Easton Tales Publishing: Stolen – A Horror Anthology
“One of the things that terrify people is a loss of power and the feeling of helplessness. We’re looking for horror tales that tackle the theme of stolen. Whether it’s kidnapping, identities, possession, lifeforce, etc., as long it’s well-written and on theme, we want to read it. Bring us your scariest and chilling stories where the characters go through a sense of helplessness.” They pay CAD10 for stories of 2,000-6,000 words. The deadline is 30 September 2025. Details here.

Dissonance Media
They are looking for 4,000-6,000 word sci-fi horror stories for a special (audio) project. They prefer slow burn stories. “If you think that your writing has the ability to spook the pants off our listeners, then you are just who we are looking for!
If your story is accepted, our team will work hard to transform your piece into an auditory experience never to forget.” They pay $50. Details here.

Whytaker Lyon Press: Virginia Fantastic Anthology
“VIRGINIA FANTASTIC invites you to weave strange and wondrous speculative fiction that reimagines the Commonwealth of Virginia as a land of mystery, magic, and the unexpected. From the misty peaks of the Blue Ridge to the haunted shores of the Chesapeake Bay, we seek flash stories that infuse Virginia’s iconic landscapes, history, and culture with the supernatural. …. We crave tales that blend the eerie with Virginia’s natural beauty, historic depth, and quirky charm. Whether it’s a chilling encounter on the Appalachian Trail, a magical uprising in Richmond’s Fan District, or a futuristic twist on Norfolk’s naval legacy, your story should make readers see the Commonwealth in a haunting new light. We welcome speculative fiction of all stripes: fantasy, horror, sci-fi, or magical realism, that transforms Virginia’s landmarks, legends, and hidden corners into realms of wonder and unease.” And, “Stories must contain a speculative element (Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Slipstream, Magical Realism) and take place in Virginia. Feel free to mash genres and include Mystery, Romance, Western, etc.” No erotica. While stories must take place in Virginia, writers from anywhere in the world are welcome. They pay $5 for stories of 700-1,000 words. The deadline is 15^th December 2025. Details here.

Cosmic Horror Monthly
They usually have two brief reading periods, 1^st to 7^th January and 1^st to 7^th July, for weird and cosmic fiction. Occasionally, they open for special calls. They pay $0.03/word for stories up to 5,000 words; their submission portal will open during the reading period. Details here.

The Last Girls Club
This is a feminist horror magazine. Their upcoming theme is ‘Secret Police, ICE, and the Disappeared’, for which they’ll open on 1^st October and will stay open until 15^th October 2025, or until they reach their submission quota, whichever is earlier. “In America, we are living in dangerous times. Reckless raids by faceless government thugs are terrorizing our population. Some joke about what amounts to internment camps(Alligator Alcatraz). Wonder if they’ll be chuckling when they or a loved one end up there. Citizens are being kidnapped and held without due process. This is not new in the fascist overreach playbook and probably won’t end soon. That’s why we’re here. Time to rattle your sabers and pitch feces at the walls. They can’t get us all and here’s your chance to explore and extrapolate the horrors of a secret police or the ways the oppressed might rise up to extract their pound of flesh from said police. 
From the mass graves worldwide, souls cry out to be heard and remembered. Write hard.” They want works of up to 2,500 words for fiction, and up to 3 poems. Query the editors for nonfiction/reviews. Pay is $0.015/word for fiction, and $10 for poetry. Details here and here.

Ghostlight: The Magazine of Terror
“Ghostlight: The Magazine of Terror is a magazine devoted to horror fiction (500-5,000 words), art, and poetry.  It is published once a year (Spring) by the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. (It) is open to all writers, poets, and artists.  … We specialize in horror in all its guises, particularly for adult audiences. We’re open to most settings and themes, from historical, modern, supernatural, and even the future. We want our writers to push the boundaries of horror.” US writers receive a print contributor copy, and overseas writers get a digital copy. The deadline is 1 December 2025. Details here and here.

The Dread Literary Review: Horror in the Mundane
They are reading submissions on Horror in the Mundane theme (up to 5,000 words). “There are a few ways one could describe this subgenre, but, at its core, Horror in the Mundane is a subgenre of horror fiction that creates anxiety, fear, and dread from typical situations and/or objects, most often leading into a sense of threat. In many cases, the very nature of reality is thrown into question. The fragility of safety and sanity, apprehension along with the unsettling nature of day-to-day life- you get it.” The deadline for this theme is 1 October 2025. They are always open for submissions for weekly shorts and monthly magazines, and also publish poetry. Details here.

Malefic Magazine: The Long Dark
Their tagline is, ‘Literary Horror & Elegant Speculative Fiction’. This is a new magazine, they are reading for their first issue, and the theme is The Long Dark. “We seek stories that linger in the mind long after the final page—tales that disturb through subtlety rather than shock, that find terror in the familiar, and that treat horror as a legitimate means of examining the human condition. Think The Haunting of Hill House, not Friday the 13th. Think “The Fall of the House of Usher,” not Saw. We want fiction that whispers rather than screams. Winter horror themes they’re drawn to include isolation’s grip (snow-locked cabins, severed communications); cold as living malevolence; the long night’s psychology; ice-preserved secrets; and holiday darkness. They want fiction (500-5,000 words), nonfiction, and poetry. The deadline is 15 November 2025. Details here.

Blood Moon Rising
They publish all things horror. For fiction, they say, “We will accept all kinds of horror fiction, from vampire tales to “slasher” stories and anything is between (but it must not overuse profanity or other foul language. Violence is okay without going into the torture porn area.”
They also accept nonfiction, poetry, and art. Details here. 

Black Hare Press: Eerie Christmas Anthology
This is an anthology of dark, eerie fiction. “Tis the season… for something sinister. We’re looking for holiday tales wrapped in dread—haunted snowfalls, sinister Santas, cursed gifts, and festive cheer turned feral. Whether it’s ghost stories by the fire or blood on the tinsel, we want your most chilling Christmas horrors.” Stories “should be rooted in the Christmas or broader holiday season. Horror is a must—psychological, supernatural, quiet, gruesome, or somewhere in between.” They pay $5-10 for stories of 500-3,000 words. The deadline is 30 September 2025. Details here and here. 

Remains
Their About page says, “Remains is a new colour print magazine edited by Andy Cox and illustrated by Richard Wagner, who worked together on Black Static and other publications. It contains new horror fiction ranging from short stories to novellas, and various features.” Their first issue was published in January 2025. “Submissions of previously unpublished fiction are very welcome from everyone everywhere.” Details here.

The Other Folk: Fables for the Dying Series
“FftD is open to horror-themed flash and short fiction and nonfiction, prose poetry, and hybrid works. … We want horror that means something–a moral, a lesson, a life-shattering realization, a meditation on the thing that most frightens and unsettles you. In other words, FftD will happily champion thoughtful horror, especially when crafted with attention to language, character, and imagery. … We’re interested in a wide range of horror subgenres, including but not limited to psychological horror, ghost stories, surrealist and cosmic horror, horror-comedy, broody gothy stuff, body horror, and eco-horror. Really though, our tastes contain multitudes.” They do not want extreme horror. Send works up to 1,500 words. Details here and here.

Dayjob Publishing: Exit Interview Anthology
This will be their first fiction anthology. “Have you ever left a job on bad terms? Did you leave because your boss was a jerk, or because there was extreme favoritism? What did you wish you could have done? Have you ever fired someone and deep down feared what they might do? In under 4,000 words give us the scary, weird, and extreme events surrounding someone quitting their job. Think as far outside of the box as you wish.
We’re looking for horror, thriller, or mystery stories but will consider anything that excites us. No erotica, shiny vampires, wizards entering wizard school, or any shades of grey in any quantities, please.” The deadline is 30 October 2025. Details here.

The Horror Tree: Trembling With Fear
The Horror Tree, a great resource for dark / horror fiction readers and writers, also publishes fiction in a section called Trembling With Fear. They accept drabbles (exactly 100 words), the Unholy Trinity (three linked drabbles) short fiction (up to 1,500 words), and serialized fiction (up to 15,000 words – see guidelines). “We publish dark speculative fiction: horror, dark scifi, dark fantasy, and more. If it’s dark and speculative, we’d love to read it.” For short fiction, they also have various annual themed calls (reading on the Halloween theme till 13^th October) and seasonal submission periods for unthemed short fiction (the upcoming Fall submission period is 1^st to 15^th October 2025). Drabbles, submissions to The Unholy Trinity, and serials are accepted on an ongoing basis. They can pay $5 for short fiction (see guidelines). Submission is via a form on their website. Details here.  

Bindweed Christmas Ghost Horror Anthology
Bindweed wants stories for a Christmas ghost horror anthology. “We’re looking for ghost stories of up to 3000 words set during the festive season. They can be sad, sinister, funny, or even have some paranormal romance. Think supernatural horror, rather than slasher (although, if the slasher ends in a few ghosts out seeking revenge, that might work…)”. The deadline is 1^st October 2025. Details here.

Into the Deep, Dark Woods Anthology
This is a fiction and poetry anthology. “Into the Deep, Dark Woods is an anthology exploring the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness, where tangled branches create a foreboding canopy. Think of the creatures that inhabit the forest and the people who stumble upon them. Behind a towering hickory could be a fairy circle, a dragon’s lair, or a druid’s cairn. The deep, dark woods lurk everywhere—on an alien planet, in the wilderness of a virtual world, or even in your own backyard.
Your story might be about a desperate lost hiker who bargains with a forest creature to find the way home; revolutionaries who combat AI-powered logging machines; a bamboo forest with wish-granting pandas who have a twisted sense of humor; someone hiding from a deadly stalker; or a wood fairy and human whose ill-fated romance might just work out after all.” Accepted genres are fantasy, science fiction, horror, suspense, mystery, humor, and romance. “The setting of “deep, dark woods” must be central to the story. Diverse cultures and non-traditional legends and persons welcomed.” Stories must be PG-13. They pay $0.06/word for stories up to 5,000 words. The deadline is 15^th October 2025. Details here.

Night Shade Books: Best Horror of the Year
This is a reprint anthology of horror fiction and poetry that was published in 2025, edited by Ellen Datlow. “I am looking for stories and poetry from all branches of horror: supernatural, uncanny, sf horror, psychological, dark crime, terror tales, or anything else that might qualify.
This is an all reprint anthology, so I’ll only consider material published in 2025. Deadline is December 1st 2025. … If a book or magazine is coming out after my deadline, I’ll look at galleys or manuscripts.” Details here.

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Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.