OPEN CALL: Rats, Spiders, Wasps

RATS, SPIDERS, WASPS:

A Midnight Kind of Place is open for submissions to three themed anthologies centered on some of horror’s most unsettling creatures: rats, wasps, and spiders. Writers are invited to submit stories where these creatures play a central role.

DEADLINE:

July 31st, 2026

WORDCOUNT:

1,000 -- 10,000

PAYMENT:

£30 GBP for original stories

£10 GBP for reprints

LINK TO ORIGINAL CALL

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WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR:

I’m looking for quality, the next big voice in the horror-sphere. Creep me out. Break my heart. Make me remember. I’ll publish anyone as long as the story is brilliant. This is a quality project, not a quota project.

Rats

Who doesn’t love a good rattish tale? Stories can be around any topic or theme, but must include rats as a key part of the story.

Submission emails should have the subject – RATS (original / reprint): (Title) by (Author Name).

The successful writer who submits the best-sounding title will also receive an extra £5 and we’ll use that title as the name of the anthology.

Wasps

Don’t you just hate wasps? Aren’t they the devil’s own minions? Stories can be around any topic or theme, but must include wasps as a key part of the story.

Submission emails should have the subject – WASPS (original / reprint): (Title) by (Author Name).

The successful writer who submits the best-sounding title will also receive an extra £5 and we’ll use that title as the name of the anthology.

Spiders

Creep us out with your best spider stories. Stories can be around any topic or theme, but must include at least one spider as a key part of the story.

Submission emails should have the subject – SPIDERS (original / reprint): (Title) by (Author Name).

The successful writer who submits the best-sounding title will also receive an extra £5 and we’ll use that title as the name of the anthology.

PLEASE DON'T SEND

A note on AI: This is a human market. No AI allowed . Anyone caught sending me AI-produced submissions will be blackballed. As successful stories are edited, we’ll never input your work into any AI tool such as Co-Pilot or ProWriting Aid. We use our own eyes here.

REPRINTS?

Yes.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS?

Multiple submissions are fine (though I plead that you not flood me too much!).

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS?

Yes

FORMATTING GUIDELINES:

Each entrant should follow the standard Shunn manuscript format.

Please send a short bio in your email and feel free to tell me what your favourite short story is.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

All submissions should be sent to submissions@amidnightkindofplace.com as word doc attachments (no pdfs!).

PLEASE USE THE TITLE OF THE PROJECT IN THE SUBJECT OF YOUR EMAIL.--