Negative Space 3: The End of All Sanctuary
Compiled & Edited by Aric Sundquist
Short Story Submission Call: OPENING SUMMER 2025
Short Story Submission Call: OPENING SUMMER 2025
Negative Space 2: A Return to Survival Horror, will once again focus on the survival horror genre of video games, made popular by such legendary franchises as Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Dead Space. Although the term "survival horror" was first coined for Capcom's 1996 release of Resident Evil, it is now a widely used term in video game verbiage. Overall, our main goal of this anthology is to incorporate elements of the survival horror tradition into narrative fiction writing.
So, what kind of stories are we looking for this time around? Exactly the same as last time. We want stories featuring characters trapped in hostile environments. We want stories full of deadly monsters, makeshift weapons, and unspeakable horrors. We want stories that start with events already in motion, or in media res, and characters facing ever-increasing odds, relying on their wits and skills to survive.
We're looking to publish around twelve stories for this anthology. If you want to read more about what survival horror is, check out our first submission call HERE, or read the first book in the series, Negative Space.
So, what kind of stories are we looking for this time around? Exactly the same as last time. We want stories featuring characters trapped in hostile environments. We want stories full of deadly monsters, makeshift weapons, and unspeakable horrors. We want stories that start with events already in motion, or in media res, and characters facing ever-increasing odds, relying on their wits and skills to survive.
We're looking to publish around twelve stories for this anthology. If you want to read more about what survival horror is, check out our first submission call HERE, or read the first book in the series, Negative Space.
- Title: Negative Space 2: A Return to Survival Horror
- Theme: Survival Horror.
- Type: Creature feature, thriller/suspense, supernatural horror, serial killer, cosmic horror, sci-fi horror. Please note: this is NOT a market for military horror, space opera/adventure, or weird western horror.
- Accepted authors: Eric J Guignard, Benjamin DeHaan, JW Schnarr, Stephen Kozeniewski, Scotty Milder, Kristin Kirby, SR Miller, Xariffa Suarez, Rosemary Thorne, Scott McCloskey, Ashley Lezak, Brad Kelechava, Richard Beauchamp, MJ Mars.
- Cover Art: Mikio Murakami.
- Word Count: 2,000 - 7,500 words.
- Payment: $50.00 + digital copy.
- Rights: We are seeking first time rights for 1 year after publication. After that time all rights revert back to the author. The publication will appear in both print and digital formats.
- Reprints: None. Previously unpublished only.
- Multiple Submissions: None.
- Simultaneous Submissions: Yes, but state in your email that it is a simultaneous submission, and please email us immediately if the story is sold elsewhere.
- File Format: Include your story as an attachment in MS Word (DOC or DOCX), LibreOffice, or Rich Text Format.
- Manuscript Format: Use the Modern Shunn Format. Include a short bio in the body of your email. Your subject line should read NS2 Submission: ("Title") by (Author's Name). For Example, NS2 Submission: "The Black Phone" by Joe Hill. Attach the story as a separate document.
- Response Time: 2-3 weeks after submissions close, if not sooner.
- Submission Period: Sept 1 - Oct 31, 2021 (reopening to submissions from June 15 - July 15, 2022). Stories sent before or after will be deleted unread.
- Send Submissions to: darkpenpress (at) gmail (dot) com
Influential Games/Series: Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Clock Tower, Fatal Frame, Dead Space, Rule of Rose, Siren, Parasite Eve, Amnesia, Haunting Ground, Obscure, Tomb Raider (2013 reboot), Eternal Darkness, Outlast, The Evil Within, Tormented Souls.
Influential Novels & Novellas: The Mist by Stephen King, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Off Season by Jack Ketchum, Bird Box by Josh Malerman, The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft, The Terror by Dan Simmons, The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey.
Influential Movies/TV: The Descent, The Thing, Alien(s), Cube, Predator, Crawl, Night of the Living Dead, Deliverance, Jaws, Rogue, Wrong Turn, Green Room, The Edge, A Quiet Place, 28 Days/Weeks Later, Open Water, The Ruins.
Influential Novels & Novellas: The Mist by Stephen King, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Off Season by Jack Ketchum, Bird Box by Josh Malerman, The Shadow Over Innsmouth by HP Lovecraft, The Terror by Dan Simmons, The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey.
Influential Movies/TV: The Descent, The Thing, Alien(s), Cube, Predator, Crawl, Night of the Living Dead, Deliverance, Jaws, Rogue, Wrong Turn, Green Room, The Edge, A Quiet Place, 28 Days/Weeks Later, Open Water, The Ruins.
Note added on 9-4-21: Deadline has been extended by a month (now open from Sept 1 to Oct 31, 2021), just to make it easier on those wanting to submit. There are a lot of great submission calls opening from other publishers, so we want everyone to have plenty of time to write and/or polish something up. Good luck!
Note added on 5-20-22: Reopening to submissions soon. Looking for 6 - 7 stories to fill out the TOC. Send us your killer survival horror story. Would really love to see a lot more stories from women authors!
Note added on 6-28-22: Bid date is extended by 2 weeks! Now open from June 15 - July 15, 2022.