October, 2025 Dark Fiction Short Story Markets

HWA L.A.: For October, 2025

New or Reopening Market Listings/ Notes

At Minimum Pro-Paying (5 cents+ per word)

Ghoulish Tales
https://ghoulish.rip/ghoulish-tales-reopens-for-submissions-9-17-10-17-2025/
Payment: 10 cents a word
Story Length: up to 5,000 words
Deadline: October 17, 2025
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Short stories that fit our personal definition of the word GHOULISH, which is “fun horror that aims to celebrate all things spooky.”


Uncharted
https://uncharted.submittable.com/submit
Payment: $200 flat
Story Length: 1,000–5,000 words
Deadline: ongoing
Reprints?: Yes (but no pay)
Response: Three months
Description: Any type of genre story: Horror (falls under Thriller/Mystery), Science Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, etc. (see submission page for additional themed 1-time calls).


No Laughing Matter (Flame Tree)
https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/no-laughing-matter-call-for-submissions
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: 3,000–4,000 words (soft range)
Deadline: October 20, 2025
Reprints?: No
Response: within 4 months of the submission deadline
Description: Looking for fiction which embraces the horror/thriller genres with elements of bleak, black humor, wry observation, a touch of irony and satire, and hints of the absurd.


Small Wonders
https://smallwondersmag.com/submissions/
Payment: 10 cents a word (1 cent a word for reprints)
Story Length: up to 1,000 words (or 1,100 words for reprints)
Deadline: Intermittent
Reprints?: Yes
Response: Unspecified, but according to online reports up to five months
Description: Non-themed short stories relating to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.


Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores
https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/guidelines/
Payment: 8 cents/ word original; 2 cents/ word reprint (range for non-fiction)
Story Length: 1,000–10,000 words (focus on shorter form)
Deadline: Opens the 1^st and 2^nd day only of each month.
Reprints?: Yes
Response: abt. 2 months
Description: Well written original stories in science fiction, fantasy, myth, fairy tales, and eldritch; in written, podcast, video, and/or graphic story form, and from around the world. We care about character, plot, ideas, and storytelling ability. We accept both serious and humorous work (no horror). Also interested in poetry and non-fiction (articles).


MetaStellar (Flash Fiction)
https://www.metastellar.com/write-for-us/flash-fiction-story-submission
Payment: 8 cents a word
Story Length: up to 1,200 words
Deadline: Open between October 1–October 31, 2025
Reprints?: Yes (unpaid) (longer word count also allowed)
Response: unknown
Description: Original speculative fiction, focusing on horror, fantasy and science fiction.



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

Humans From Earth!! (anthology)
https://daftnotions.com/humans-from-earth/
Payment: $100-$150 AUD flat rate (about $65-$100 USD). $50 AUD for reprints.
Story Length: 3,000–7,000 words
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Science fiction horror stories in which Earthlings are the boogyman to an alien race.


Drek Death and Doom (Theme of: Thanksgiving Folk Horror)
https://drekdeathanddoom.com/submissions/
Payment: between 1–4 cents a word
Story Length: 2,000–6,000 words
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Reprints?: No
Response: unknown
Description: Folk Horror stories themed around Thanksgiving. Horror, thriller, splatter, extreme; it’s all good as long as there is a story.


Made in L.A. (anthology)
https://www.madeinlawriters.com/submission-guidelines/
Payment: 1 cent a word
Story Length: up to 2,500 words
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Reprints?: No
Response: by December 31, 2025
Description: Stories that evoke nuanced feelings and leave a lasting impression. We want to meet vibrant characters, hear their distinct voices, and—as always—see the action unfold in a strong Los Angeles setting.