Unflinching fiction 💀 Undeniable craft 💀 Unapologetically Bold
Submission Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in sharing your work with Obsidian Skull Press. We are a growing, independent press dedicated to dark, horror, and speculative fiction that challenges conventions, expands horizons, and sparks meaningful conversation. Whether you are a seasoned author, an emerging poet, a visual artist, or a first‑time submitter, we invite you to bring your unique voice to our platform.
Unflinching fiction 💀 Undeniable craft 💀 Unapologetically Bold
We believe that storytelling—and the art that accompanies it—has the power to:
Illuminate hidden truths about our world and imagined realms.
Foster empathy across cultures, identities, and experiences.
Elevate voices that have historically been under‑represented in speculative literature.
We prioritize works that center the perspectives and experiences of Latinx, Indigenous, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ creators. Our goal is to expand the landscape of genre fiction by providing a platform for voices historically underrepresented in speculative literature.
Our priority does not exclude other voices—it reflects our commitment to expanding the landscape of genre fiction by providing a dedicated platform for those whose stories are often overlooked.
MISSION & VALUES
General Submission Principles
Mission Alignment
We seek work that aligns with our mission to center voices and visions that challenge, inspire, and redefine the boundaries of genre storytelling and art. Submissions should embody:
Authentic representation of cultures, identities, and lived experiences.
Bold explorations of dark, horror, speculative, or surreal themes.
A commitment to inclusivity and respect for diverse perspectives, regardless of the creator’s background.
Originality & Respect
Submissions must be original, previously unpublished work (unless otherwise noted for specific formats like blog posts or interviews). We do not accept manuscripts or art that is AI-generated.
We respect the cultural and storytelling traditions of all communities. Creators from cultures with oral traditions or communal storytelling practices are encouraged to share their work while adhering to their communities’ ethical standards.
Submission Email
Attach a Word document with the subject line: FALSE DAWN SUBMISSION: [Story Title] - [Author Name]. Include a 50-word bio.
Send to submissions@obsidianskullpress.com.
GENERAL SUBMISSION POLICIES
Obsidian Skull Press values human creativity and craft. We will immediately reject any fiction or art submissions that are over 5% artificial intelligence-generated. This 5% threshold is an industry standard meant strictly to account for standard proofreading, spell-checking, and grammar-checking software (such as Grammarly). Generative AI prose, plotting, or artwork is strictly prohibited.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Originality: Submissions must be the original, previously unpublished work of the submitting creator.
Rights: Creators retain copyright. Obsidian Skull Press acquires First World English and Spanish print and digital rights, with a mutual 50/50 split on managed subsidiary rights (e.g., audio, translation).
Cultural Traditions: We respect oral and communal storytelling traditions. If your work draws from cultures outside your own, we require respectful representation and can provide cultural consultants if needed.
Rights & Legalities
Late-Summer Window (Open: August – September)
Summer Submission Window (Open: May – July)
Submission Windows
Fiction Submissions
Spring Submission Window (Open: February – April)
Format & Requirements
Flash Fiction: 500 to 1000 words
Short Stories: 1,000 to 7,500 words. (Our standard literary "sweet spot" is often 2,000 to 5,000 words; can stretch up to 10,000 words in some anthologies)
Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
Novella: 17,500 to 40,000 words
Novel (Short / Novella-adjacent): 40,000 to 50,000 words
Novel (Standard / Debut target): 50,000 to 100,000 words (general fiction usually aims for 70,000–90,000 words; debut novels ideally sit around 75,000–90,000 words)
Submit an initial query letter, synopsis (500–1,000 words), and a short bio.
Manuscript Format: Standard Industry Format (Double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, page numbers) submitted as a .docx file.
Cover Letter: Include a professional greeting, a brief author bio (50–150 words), and any relevant thematic connections to our mission.
Compensation
Short Fiction: $50.00 flat fee + 5% royalties digital/ezine and 7.5% on print, should print be an option (1-year contract).
Novels: $250.00 to $1,000.00 advance + 7.5% print retail royalties + 20% ebook/audiobook net receipts (3-year contract).
Contributor Copies: 10 (Harback/Paperback) and unlimited ePub for Novels. 5 (Harback/Paperback) and unlimited ePub for short stories featured in our anthologies
General Guidelines
What We're Looking For: Short stories and novels that inhabit the realms of dark and speculative fiction—horror, dark fantasy, gothic sci-fi, magical realism with a darker edge, and anything in between that explores the human (and non-human) condition through a heightened lens. We prioritize narratives that authentically represent and amplify Latinx, Native American, and other marginalized experiences.
Themes: We encourage stories that challenge conventions, explore social issues through speculative frameworks, delve into cultural myths and folklore, and present compelling, diverse characters.
Beneath the False Dawn of Concrete Gods: Dark Tales of the American Nightmare
Definitions:
The False Dawn: The illusion of progress built on the graves of the dispossessed.
Concrete Gods: The cold, unfeeling systems that perpetuate systemic injustice.
Aesthetics: Marry ancient ritual, folklore, or mythologies (specifically Mesoamerican, Latin American, and Native American traditions) with modern anxieties and material dread.
Tone: Uncompromising, dark, visceral, and thought-provoking.
Word Count: 3,000 to 8,000 words.
Window: October 2026 – February 2027
Editors: TL Hutton, Katie Dockeray, Kennedy Walsh, Draften Scribez
Submission Process: Attach a Word document with the subject line: FALSE DAWN SUBMISSION: [Story Title] - [Author Name]. Include a 50-word bio. Send to submissions@obsidianskullpress.com.
ACTIVE SPECIAL PROJECTS
For our upcoming anthology, Beneath the False Dawn of Concrete Gods, we are seeking raw, visceral horror that explores the "American Nightmare"—the chilling reality of Indigenous and immigrant experiences, systemic exploitation, and cultural erasure—interwoven with the primal dread of mythologies that refuse to stay buried. Do not send sanitized campfire stories; bring us narratives designed to unsettle.
The Cannibalistic Cog: Systems that literally or metaphorically consume their own people to keep running, and the complicit citizens who look away.
The Rotten Cure: Dark medicine, biopunk, and medical dystopias exploring the grotesque lengths to which a society will go to cheat death.
Ruined Heavens: Visceral noir and speculative horror about breaking the wheel, confronting self-made gods, and burning down corrupt social structures for true justice.
Word Count: 500 to 1,000 words maximum (strictly enforced).
Genre: Biopunk, Noir, Horror, Dark Speculative Fiction, Dystopian.
Pay Rate: $0.05 per word.
Window: October 12, 2026 – November 30, 2026 (Closes at 11:59 PM CST)
Editors: Katie Dockeray, Kennedy Walsh, Draften Scribez
Theme and Design: Lee Gelwicks & TL Hutton
Submission Process: Attach a Word document with the subject line: EZINE FLASH SUBMISSION: [Story Title] - [Author Name]. Include a 50-word bio. Send to submissions@obsidianskullpress.com.
“You’ve devoured thousands of people over the decades, so why should she be any different? Don’t be a hypocrite.”
– Lily Lachance, For One More Mouthful of Manna.
Anatomia Socialis (Ezine Issue #1)
Inspired by our flagship feature story by Lily Lachance, we want gritty, morally complex flash fiction that targets the corrupt machine of state, the horrific science of survival, or the terminal spark of rebellion. Authors must choose one of three dark, overlapping lenses to dissect societal rot:
HOW TO SUBMIT
Send all general submissions via email to: submissions@obsidianskullpress.com.
Subject Line Formats:
General Fiction: Fiction Submission: [Title]- [Author Name]. Art Submission: [Portfolio Link/Title]
Art Submissions
What We're Looking For: We are seeking captivating visual art for potential cover art, interior illustrations, and website imagery. We especially wish to showcase artists whose work resonates with the dark and speculative genres and authentically portrays Latinx, Native American, and other marginalized cultures and experiences. We equally commission new pieces and license existing art with both Exclusive and Non-Exclusive rights.
Medium: Digital art, traditional art (high-quality scans/photos), photography, mixed media.
Style: Dark, evocative, atmospheric, culturally resonant, and impactful.
Submission: Please do not attach large image files directly to your email. Instead, provide a link to your online portfolio (e.g., ArtStation, Behance, personal website) in your email. If you do not have an online portfolio, you may attach 3-5 low-resolution sample images (under 1MB each).
Include: A brief artist bio (50-75 words) and a short artist statement outlining your artistic vision and how your work aligns with Obsidian Skull Press's themes.
Pay:
Zine & Website Art (Spot Illustrations / Page Art): $25.00 to $100 per piece depending on complexity + contributor copies + promotions on the Obsidian Skull Press Website and Social Media
Cover Art: $100.00 to $500.00 per cover + contributor copies + promotions on the Obsidian Skull Press Website and Social Media
Contact
General Inquiries: info@obsidianskullpress.com
Editorial Director: tlhutton@obsidianskullpress.com
Senior Editor: katie.dockeray@obsidianskullpress.com
Note for Creators: If your work draws from traditions or cultures outside your own, we encourage you to engage in ethical, respectful representation. We may connect you with cultural consultants upon request.
Submit your compelling fiction and art to Obsidian Skull Press and contribute to a platform that amplifies diverse voices and explores the intricate beauty and darkness of the unerrepresented experience.
© 2025-2026 Obsidian Skull Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Ink & Shadows
Causes we Support
Obsidian Skull Press is dedicated to amplifying transformative narratives through the lens of marginalized global communities. We operate with integrity, transparency, and a fierce commitment to representation.
Cultura Nocturna ARC Group
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