Approximately 15-20 award-winning horror writers have already signed up to write stories for Arkham Nightmares, so this should be a mind-blowing anthology. I have space for 10-15 more stories.
Questions? Please post them here (loisgresh.blogspot.com) rather than via email.
Editor: Lois Gresh, lgresh@gmail.com
How would you like to have a story in a beautifully illustrated Arkham House hardcover? Is this cool, or what?
Arkham Nightmares, an anthology of original short stories, will include tales ranging from traditional forms of weird fiction to bizarre dark fantasy to freakish psychological horror to moody goth tales to really “out there” science fiction. I’m open to strong new voices in dark fantasy, weird science fiction, and horror, as well as to established professionals. I prefer the unique, the strange, the dark.
The emphasis is on stories that capture the mood, atmosphere, and creative strangeness of Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Please set stories in your own worlds & avoid Mythos monsters, Necronomicon, etc.
I've received a lot of tales that have absolutely nothing to do with weird fiction or Lovecraftian mood/atmosphere. Please: no splatterpunk, no werewolves, no vampires.
Word Count: 3-5K
Payment: Upon publication, a $50.00 honorarium, a special Arkham Presentation Volume of the anthology, an Arkham Medallion engraved around the rim with your name and the book title, and the thrill of being an Arkham House author
Arkham House is the official publisher of H.P. Lovecraft, considered by many to be the finest horror writer of the 20th century. HPL single-handedly invented “cosmic horror,” the paranoid fear of the darkness created by modern science. Monsters from outer space, other dimensions, alternate realities are just a few of the creatures that threaten humanity in his tales of mind-numbing terror.
Quality of content has made Arkham House the most honored and imitated small press in the fantasy field. Established in 1939 by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei, Arkham House produces high-quality volumes featuring the finest stories in dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Arkham authors include Robert Bloch, Ramsey Campbell, Brian Lumley, Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, Greg Bear, Bruce Sterling, James Tiptree Jr, Michael Bishop, JG Ballard, Barry Malzberg, E. Hoffman Price, Clark Ashton Smith, Lucius Shepard, and many others.
Deadline: August 31, 2011
If you send a story but don't hear from me right away, please be patient. I'll read most submissions after the deadline (Aug 31, 2011).
No simultaneous submissions, no reprints.
Submit to:
lgresh@gmail.com (Subject: ARKHAM NIGHTMARES - YOUR NAME)
Make sure to put ARKHAM NIGHTMARES and YOUR NAME in the subject line.
Questions? Please post them here (loisgresh.blogspot.com) rather than via email.
Are coarse language and sexual matter frowned upon by Arkham House these days?
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYour best chance of acceptance is to send a story that captures the mood and creative strangeness of Lovecraftian horror. I wouldn't say HPL was a particularly sexual writer.
Now I wish I'd joined the HWA. See you at the Book Launch Party. I so enjoyed your reading at Conclave that now I'll have to buy the book!
ReplyDeleteRick, please feel free to submit a story. Anyone who has published novels or short stories at ESP is welcome to submit to Arkham Nightmares.
ReplyDeleteI've already received a bunch of stories and feel it's worth noting a few things:
ReplyDeleteYour best chance of acceptance is to send a story that captures the mood and creative strangeness of Lovecraftian horror.
Sure, you might have a great comedy story about a pixie and an elephant eating Cheerios, but it's probably not appropriate for a book called Arkham Nightmares: Eldritch Tales of the Macabre. Ditto, you might have a great story about the captain of a spaceship and his battle with alien Snorks, but again, it's probably not appropriate for this book.
Also, as these things tend to go, you have a much better chance of acceptance if you submit a story that's approx 4K. I'll also consider outstanding stories of approx 3K. But nothing shorter than 3K, please, and nothing longer than 5K.
Please submit only one story. If you submit multiple stories, I'll read only the first one I open.
Here are answers to a few questions that I've received --
ReplyDeleteQ: If I email you a story next month, will it arrive too late to be considered for the antho?
A: The deadline is Aug 31, 2011. I'll start reading submissions after Aug 31, 2011.
Q: Will you send editorial comments so I can make my story better and increase its odds for acceptance?
A: I won't provide editorial comments for making your story better, so please send your best shot.
Q: Should I send you more than one story to increase my chance of acceptance?
A: Please send only one story.
Q: Will you accept a 10-point Times Roman PDF?
A: Please use standard manuscript format. 12-point Courier, double spaced, 1-inch margins, story title and your name (with full mailing address, email, and phone #) on front page; title, your name, and page # on top of each page, WORD document (.doc only -- no .docx, please).
If you're not sure what is meant by standard format, please google it or ask a friend.
No PDFs. Nothing done in TeX or nroff!
Q: My story is 5,600 words. Will you accept it? If not, will you help me figure out how to delete 600 words?
A: Word count should be 4-5K. I'll also consider outstanding stories of approx 3K. I won't read anything shorter than 3K or longer than 5K.
Thanks, Lois. I'll definitely submit!
ReplyDeleteI found your request for Arkham Nightmares through HWA. Its very exciting. I'm looking forward to crafting a story...
ReplyDelete-Tim
I've received a couple dozen stories and figure I should stress once again:
ReplyDeleteYOUR BEST CHANGE OF ACCEPTANCE IS TO SEND A STORY THAT CAPTURES THE MOOD AND CREATIVE STRANGENESS OF LOVECRAFTIAN HORROR.
LOL -- one would think the initial guidelines were fairly straightforward. Do people just not read, or do they assume "My story is brilliant! The hell with your guidelines!"
ReplyDeleteHmmm, an idea formulates...
Okay ... just read the comments after sending a 6K story. :-(
ReplyDeleteWhat if the story is truly exceptional?
Lisa, the shorter the story, the better your chances. I'll consider stories up to 5K.
ReplyDeleteI have commitments from 20 top horror and science fiction writers for the anthology. If they all end up submitting stories, then I'll have space for approximately 10-15 more writers.
If a story does not meet your guidelines, will you email the writer and let them know right away? Or do we have to wait until Aug/Sept?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
T.T. Zuma
Dear TT Zuma, I won't read anything until August 31, so I'll have no way of knowing if a story meets the guidelines until then.
ReplyDeleteI am registered for this year's NECON. It'll be my first though. Will you accept a submission from me?
ReplyDeleteXsarthis,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Bring it on!
Please forgive me for being willfully dense, but- can you confirm that if I am a published author, but not an HWA member or a participant in Necon or MythosCon, my submission will not be considered for Arkham Nightmares?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I'm trying to hold down the slush so I don't go nut readings thousands of stories. With that in mind, here's what I suggest. If you qualify for pro status in HWA or SFWA (but haven't joined the organizations), sure, please send a story. I'm not sure what the current guidelines state, but it's probably along the lines of:
ReplyDelete---at least 3 stories at pro rates (we'll say 4-5 cents/word) in major venues
OR
---a novel for a minimum $2,000 advance
Hi Lois,
ReplyDelete2 questions. The story I have, has 2 Lovecraft critters in it, one is built into the storyline a Star Vampire and the other is a brief mention of Hastur. Is that acceptable?
Question 2 - By NECON writers, do you mean attendees of NECON?
Best,
Scott
I'm trying to avoid Mythos tales for this book, Scott. Really dying to read tales in the realms of the New Weird. By NECON writers, yes, I mean attendees of NECON. Hope you have something cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! I sent a fast email query and I'm working to get my story down to 5K.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Scott
I just received your email, Scott. Apparently, there's no rush, so please take your time!
ReplyDeleteThe story is on the way. I hope it's weird enough!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
-Scott
Re: "Apparently, there's no rush": is there still a bit of time for us invitees who fell massively behind? Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeleteSorry, Lucy - I did get your email this morning. It's been a hell of a week, to put it mildly. Crazy month, when you get right down to it! But... Arkham Nightmares is on hold indefinitely due to the transition in Arkham ownership. I'm waiting until the end of Dec 2010 before making any critical decisions. So I guess you have at least until the end of Dec!
ReplyDelete