BLACKHOOD HORROR SHOW
Secret Societies - Call for Submissions
"The first rule: you were never here."
Secret Societies is the first volume of The Blackhood Horror Show—an anthology of the macabre, the forbidden, and the unseen. We seek tales of shadowed orders, blood-oaths, and rituals whispered across centuries. Horror that hides in plain sight. Dark fantasy cloaked in conspiracy.
The door is open. The initiation has begun. But once you enter, you can never leave.
The Concept
A season of 10 handpicked horror/dark fantasy short stories based on 10 different “Secret Society” themes (one per week).
Each week is a micro-contest + publication opportunity.
Fee is $5/week for up to two stories (in one or two emails).
Selected writers will receive a flat payment of $50 per accepted story.
Submission Cycle
Sunday: New theme revealed on website + social media.
Sunday → Saturday: Submissions open for that theme.
Time zone buffer: Sunday is a grace day to submit both last week’s and new week’s theme (covers global differences).
Selection: 0–5 stories chosen each week. If no story fits, no selection is made.
Publication Process
All chosen stories for the season are considered for Vol. I: Secret Societies anthology.
The anthology is a paid publication—authors get a one-time payment of $50 (+ royalties if they are in more than 50% of the anthology.)
Payment & Fees
Weekly entry fee: $5 (covers up to 2 stories per theme).
Payment methods: Stripe link on the submission page.
Where the money goes:
Website hosting & design.
Editing & formatting.
Author payments.
Author Rewards
One-time payment for being in the anthology: $50 per accepted story.
Supplemental royalties for authors with stories in >50% of the anthology.
Recognition: Published authors are featured on the site & social media.
Future perk: Selected authors in Vol. I don’t pay entry fees for Vol. II.
Submissions Guidelines
1. Overview
We are seeking original short fiction in Horror, Dark Fantasy, Dystopia, or related genres for inclusion in our upcoming anthology, scheduled for publication in October 2025. The anthology will focus on weekly themes announced in advance. Writers of all experience levels, including debut authors, are welcome to submit.
2. Word Count
Maximum: 1,000 words per story.
Stories exceeding the word limit will not be considered.
3. Payment & Publication
Flat Rate: $50 USD per accepted story.
Publication: Inclusion in the October 2025 anthology (digital and/or print).
Payment will be made after the signing of a written publishing contract and upon acceptance of the final manuscript.
4. Rights
By submitting your work, you agree to grant:
First Electronic Rights (the right to be the first to publish your story electronically).
Non-Exclusive Rights for one (1) year from the date of publication, after which all rights revert to the author.
The anthology publisher retains the right to keep the work archived as part of the anthology indefinitely in the format(s) originally published.
No other rights are claimed. The author retains full copyright ownership outside the agreed publication terms.
5. Contract
A formal publishing agreement will be issued for each accepted story. This contract must be signed by the author prior to publication and prior to payment being issued.
6. Theme Requirements
One theme will be announced each week.
Submissions must correspond to the announced theme for that week.
For each theme, one or more stories may be selected, or none at all.
7. Submission Fees & Limits
Fee: $5 USD per submission set (up to 2 stories) per theme.
Limit: Maximum of 2 stories per week, sent in two separate emails from the same email address.
Authors may submit as many stories as they wish across the open submission period, but the $5 fee applies per 2-story set per week.
8. Submission Period & Response Times
All submissions must be received following each theme's deadline.
All authors who submit before this deadline will receive a response by 24 October 2025, regardless of acceptance or rejection.
While our publication date is currently set for October 2025, dates are subject to change. Any delay in publication will not affect the agreed payment or rights.
9. File & Formatting Requirements
File Type: Microsoft Word .docx only.
Format: Standard manuscript format (double-spaced, readable font such as Times New Roman or Courier, 12-point size, with author name and contact information on the first page).
Stories not submitted in the required format may be disqualified without refund of the submission fee.
10. Language
All submissions must be written in English.
Translated works are not eligible.
11. Statement on the Use of AI Writing Tools
We do not accept works that are translated, written, developed, or assisted by Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Claude, Sudowrite, or similar systems.
This includes any level of AI involvement, whether partial or full.
Submissions found to have been generated or significantly assisted by AI will be rejected outright.
Attempting to submit such works may result in a permanent ban from submitting to any of our future projects.
12. Eligibility
Open to all writers aged 18 or older.
Debut authors and emerging voices are strongly encouraged to submit.
Stories must be the original work of the author and must not have been previously published in any form, including online platforms.
13. How to Submit
Check the current week’s theme.
Prepare your story in standard manuscript format and save it as a .docx file. The submission file name must be formatted as follows: Story Title – Pen Name.
Pay the $5 submission fee via Stripe (Click here). During payment, you must enter the email address that will be used for your submission in the designated field.
Send each story as a separate email attachment to submissions@l-blackhood.com . If you have correctly filled in the field during payment, you do not need to send proof of payment.
Include in the email body:
Story title
Word count
Author name (and pen name, if different)
Contact email
Short bio (50 words max)
Please indicate whether you are a debut author, previously unpublished, or have only limited prior publication credits. We prioritise supporting and promoting new and emerging writers.
14. Legal Terms
Submission of a story does not guarantee acceptance.
By submitting, you affirm that the work is your own, that you hold full copyright, and that it is free of any third-party rights or claims.
You agree not to withdraw your work after acceptance unless both parties agree in writing.
The publisher is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected submissions.
Theme of the week: SACRIFICE
Deadline: 23 August 2025