Explore a curated collection of literary horror stories of suspense and fear.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Baneberry - A Literary Horror Annual
Submission Details
Publication: The Baneberry Book of Horror Vol II
Our Submission Period is December 1-10, 2026. If you submit before or after those dates, your story won't be considered.
Our publication date for this book is Fall 2027.
Payment: $500 USD / $600 CDN for each story we publish
Word Count: 700 – 7,000 words for short fiction
Poetry: not accepted
Theme: literary fiction
Genre: horror, thriller
Published each fall.
We consider fiction stories between 700 and 7000 words with horror elements. We take a broad view of the horror genre, from the conceptual and ethereal to the visceral and gory. We look for prose style and thematic complexity over commercial formula.
We do not consider poetry, serials, novels, fan fiction, or non-fiction. We accept only one submission per writer per deadline.
We accept simultaneous submissions. Let us know up front and tell us as soon as it’s accepted for publication elsewhere. We do not publish reprints, including anything that has appeared on a website or podcast. We buy first-printing world exclusive rights for thirty-six months and non-exclusive thereafter. Payment will be made shortly after publication.Please make submissions in traditional manuscript format. This means .docx format in 12 point font, double-spaced, with indented paragraphs.
Include the title, your name, address, email, phone number and word length in the body of your email (and not on the story document). We do not open attachments unaccompanied by an email message.
Do not submit any material generated by AI.
To submit your story email to submit@baneberrylit.com and use the subject line: SUBMISSION: [Story Title] by [Author’s Name] [Word Count].
Please do not submit the same story more than once.
We do not accept submissions through the contact portal on this website.
Before publication we may work with the author to edit the story for length or readability. The author has final approval.
Please note our email account is set to auto reply to confirm receipt of your submission. How long it takes to hear from us depends on how many submissions we receive-- check back here after the deadline. Please don’t query us about your story submission. We don’t have the personpower to answer such queries. An editor will email you back as soon as possible with the decision about your story.
If you want to withdraw a story from consideration, please e-mail us at submit@baneberrylit.com and include the word WITHDRAW in the subject line. If you have urgent questions or comments (not a query about the status of your story), please e-mail us at our submissions address and include the word QUESTION in the subject line.
Thank you. We look forward to reading your submission!