February, 2021 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets

 HWA L.A.: February, 2021
New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes
At Minimum Pro-Paying (5 cents+ per word)

Cryptids Emerging: Tales of Dark Cheer
https://improbablepress.co.uk/blogs/improbable-press/call-for-submissions-cryptids-anthology
Payment: 5 cents a word
Story Length: up to 5,000 words
Deadline: May 1, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Contemporary supernatural or historical fantasy about cryptids living with humans, or just at the edge of our vision, stories of what the world would look like if cryptids were real.


Enchanted Conversation Magazine: Folklore, Fairy Tales, & Myths
https://www.fairytalemagazine.com/p/submissions.html?m=1
Payment: 5 cents a word
Story Length: 1,200–2,500 words
Deadline: Open only the first three days of each month
Reprints?: No
Response: NO rejections sent out. Assume rejection if not heard 10 days after close of submission window.
Description: Fairy tales that are almost or entirely new or are just new takes on old tales are all welcome. Mashups of existing fairy tales are welcome as well. CURRENT THEME: Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.”


DreamForge Magazine
https://dreamforgemagazine.com/call-for-submissions/
Payment: 6 cents a word (slightly less for reprints or online-only option)
Story Length: up to 4,500 words
Deadline: March 13, 2021
Reprints?: Yes (less pay, “about” 4 cents a word)
Response: 6–9 weeks
Description: Positive (and “clean”) science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction.


Nightmare Magazine
https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: 1,500–7,500 words
Deadline: March 14–March 20, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response: within 30 days
Description: Non-themed horror.


The Arcanist
https://thearcanist.io/sa-call-for-submissions-244f646d25a4/
Payment: 10 cents a word
Story Length: flash fiction up to 1,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: Yes
Response: 1–2 months
Description: Engaging science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories (and associated sub-genres) that are flash fiction. Focus on originality and strong/ interesting characters.


The DARK (monthly online e-magazine)
http://thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines
Payment: 6 cents a word
Story Length: 2,000–6,000 words
Deadline: Currently open, but intermittent
Reprints?: Yes
Response: between 1 day to 1 week
Description: Unique Horror and Dark Fantasy (No graphic/ violent content); fiction that may fall out of “regular” categories (Tons of great authors publish here).



***Non-PRO-Paying Market, but Eric J. Guignard’s “Pick of the Month”

GOREFEST anthology (edited by K. Trap Jones)
http://theevilcookie.com/open-calls/
Payment: 3 cents a word
Story Length: up to 3,000 words
Deadline: March 1, 2021
Reprints?: No
Response: generally within 30 days
Description: Short stories filled with gore, splatter, and extreme horror!


Black Static Magazine (TTA Press)
http://ttapress.com/blackstatic/guidelines/
Payment: 3 cents a word (ESTIMATE, as it can vary)
Story Length: up to 10,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: No
Response: usually within 2 weeks; but up to 3 months
Description: Non-themed, general audience, thoughtful horror.