As the editor of the SA HorrorFest Bloody Parchment short story competition, I am pleased to announce that I’ve opened submissions for the 2013 short story competition. For those of you who’re curious to find out more about our previous finalists and winners, do consider picking up copies of our existing anthologies:
Volume 1 (free download) Bloody Parchment: Hidden Things, Lost Things and Other Stories
Bloody Parchment: The Root Cellar and Other Stories
The aim of the Bloody Parchment short story competition is to help develop talented, fresh voices in the horror, dark fantasy and weird genres, by offering a platform and signal boost for finalists. Every year we assemble a kick-ass panel of judges who are all movers and shakers in the publishing industry, with such notables as Sarah Lotz, Joe Vaz, Cat Hellisen and others who have helped in the selection process in the past. While we’re yet to announce which publisher will be picking up where eKhaya left off, there is a fantastic first prize up for grabs for the winner: a comprehensive round of edits and manuscript assessment. The two runners-up are each awarded a round of comprehensive edits and assessment of a short story or novella-length work. The winner, runners-up and finalists then have the option to be included in the short story anthology to be released mid-2014 by Dark Continents. Authors whose stories are included in the anthology will receive US$20 flat rate payment plus one paperback contributor copy.
What are we looking for? Bloody Parchment is looking for short stories of up to 3 500 words in the horror, dark fantasy and weird genres. Yes, this includes flash fiction. Yes, you may enter multiple stories. Yes, we like flash fiction too. GLBT authors of genre fiction are welcome. Stories set in locations other than the US or Europe would tickle us pink. We love diversity. We want to know what moves you, what mysteries fascinate you, what frightens you… So long as your story clearly falls within the horror, dark fantasy and weird genres, you’re good. We want to be unsettled
What we DO NOT WANT.
Fan fiction with the serial numbers filed off: When the Saw movies were popular, my inbox was flooded with torture porn; last year it was various permutations of popular zombiepocalypses. Mercifully vampires seem to have gone into remission. Please folks, I know you’re excited by whatever’s currently trending on your Twitter feeds, but if you absolutely MUST play with the tropes, DO put a fresh spin on your offering that will be amazeballs. We want you to dig deep and find something that is truly your own. Gratuitous violence or content that is clearly aimed to deliberately shock for the sake of wiggling your jollies will be rejected out of hand.
In addition, stories that do not follow the brief will be rejected too, so no, we do not want your Christian inspirational fiction, 30 000-word novellas, chick lit or poems. (Every time an author doesn’t follow the submission guidelines, a small gremlin curls up and dies.)
Right, now that we have that out of the way, this is how you enter: mail your short story saved as a .doc file (not exceeding 3 500 words) to nerinedorman@gmail.com before October 31, 2013. Remember to put “BLOODY PARCHMENT 2013” in the subject line. Good luck! And if you have any questions, feel free to drop me a mail. I don’t bite…much.
If a finalist chooses to be included in the anthology, what would the rights apportionment be? Anthology gains the rights? Anthology has first publication rights but author retains the rest? Something else?
ReplyDeleteHI David, authors retain the rights to their story, but at time of posting, I'm still finalising the new publisher, so watch this space.
DeleteI have stumbled upon your site while looking for writing groups. Who am I to turn a blind eye to coincidence? Especially when the other eye doesn't see so good....
ReplyDeleteI will have to Submit.
NEB
I have a couple of cool horrorish ideas. However, one of them is kind of a new spin (at least, what I hope is a new spin) on the vampire legend. I noticed you were worried about that sort of thing. Is it even worth trying that one, or should I move on to something else?
ReplyDeletewrite it anyway. 3.5k is quite short,even for a short story. You could write that and still write a second story, if you're not happy to send it into BP.
DeleteEven if Bloody Parchment doesnt accept it, you will surely find another market for it.
I am looking to submit several flash fictions. Should they all be in one document, in one email, several documents in one email or several separate submissions?
ReplyDeleteMy name is Vince Gon. I am a horror writer that crosses genres, and write like the late Richard Laymon, the writer who showed me that there's no bounderies when it comes to writing. I am soon to be a published writer with stories this world has never read! The first publisher I sent the first fifteen pages to wanted me in his circle of writers. How often does that happen to a writer with his first submission? If it happens to you then your story is off the charts, if you know what I mean. I am a creative writing instructed, and I have brought forth the dormant writer in many. Ride with me because I'm going straight to the top!
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What about submitting a story that while it has not been published anywhere else, it is copyrighted at a writers website? Does it require an email to the website or do you just not consider it?
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ReplyDeleteWhen can we expect the contest results?? Giddy with excitement!
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