CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

THE THING IN THE DARK

An International Anthology of Micro Fiction

Submissions email: specialanthologyfreshwordsmag@gmail.com

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/freshwordsmagazine/announcements

There are things we see in the dark.

And then there are things we are certain we saw.

A shadow at the end of the hallway. A voice from an empty room. A child who knows the name of someone who died years ago. A door that was never there before. A photograph that seems to change when nobody is looking.

Or perhaps the thing in the dark is not supernatural at all.

Perhaps it is a memory.

A secret.

A regret.

A stranger.

A part of ourselves.

For Halloween 2026, Fresh Words invites writers from around the world to send us their micro-fiction for an anthology of brief, unsettling, mysterious, strange, funny, frightening and unexpected stories.

THE THEME

THE THING IN THE DARK is deliberately open to interpretation.

Your story may involve ghosts, monsters, witches, haunted houses, strange encounters or unexplained events—but it doesn't have to.

We are equally interested in stories where the "thing" in the dark is psychological, emotional, absurd, symbolic or entirely human.

A story can frighten us without containing a monster.

It can disturb us without containing a ghost.

It can make us laugh and still leave something unsettling behind.

WE WELCOME

• Horror

• Gothic fiction

• Supernatural fiction

• Ghost stories

• Psychological fiction

• Dark comedy

• Absurd and surreal fiction

• Speculative fiction

• Mystery

• Folklore-inspired fiction

• Magical realism

• Literary micro-fiction

• Stories with an unexpected or ambiguous ending

POSSIBLE STARTING POINTS

You may write about:

• Something moving outside the window

• A voice calling your name

• An empty house

• A forgotten grave

• A photograph

• A childhood fear

• A stranger who knows too much

• A room nobody enters

• A message received from the dead

• A creature that only appears after midnight

• Someone who returns home after many years

• A Halloween costume that cannot be removed

• A shadow that does not belong to its owner

• The last person awake in a sleeping city

These are suggestions, not restrictions.

Surprise us.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Genre: Micro Fiction
Maximum length: 500 words per story
Number of submissions: Up to 5 stories per contributor (submit in a single email)
Language: English
Deadline: 30 October 2026

Please submit only original work.

Previously unpublished work is preferred, although previously published work may be considered if the contributor retains the necessary rights.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for stories that do something with their limited space.

A 500-word story should not feel like the beginning of a much longer story. We are interested in pieces that create a world, situation, character, revelation or disturbance quickly and leave a lasting impression.

A twist is welcome, but a twist is not required.

Atmosphere, voice, originality and emotional or intellectual impact matter more than simply making the reader jump.

SUBMISSION

Submissions email: specialanthologyfreshwordsmag@gmail.com

Please send your submission as a Word document or in the body of your email. Only one email containing all works).

Please include:

Title of the story
Author's name
Country
Short bio (50–100 words)
Email address

Email subject:

SUBMISSION — THE THING IN THE DARK

There is no submission fee.

RIGHTS & PUBLICATION

Fresh Words seeks non-exclusive first publication rights for accepted contributions. Copyright remains with the author.

Accepted contributors will be notified after the editorial selection process.

The anthology may be published in digital and/or print editions.

DEADLINE

30 OCTOBER 2026

Because some things are best written before the lights go out.

Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT

An International Anthology of Three-Page Plays

Email all submission to: dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com 

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/freshwordsmagazine/announcements

At 11:59, it is an ordinary night.

At midnight, the door opens.

Who is standing outside?

And why were they expected?

Fresh Words invites playwrights, dramatists and writers from around the world to submit original three-page plays for a special Halloween anthology.

We are looking for short dramatic works that can create a complete theatrical experience in just two pages.

The play may be frightening.

It may be funny.

It may be absurd.

It may be tragic.

It may be mysterious.

It may be something we cannot easily name.

The only requirement is that something happens when the door opens.

THE PROMPT

THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT.

Take the prompt literally—or don't.

The door could be:

• The door of a house

• A hotel room

• A hospital

• A classroom

• A prison

• An apartment

• A theatre

• A train

• A dream

• Another world

• The past

• The future

And the person—or thing—on the other side could be anyone or anything.

WE WELCOME

• Horror

• Gothic drama

• Dark comedy

• Absurdist drama

• Existential drama

• Supernatural drama

• Psychological drama

• Mystery

• Surrealism

• Experimental theatre

• Monologue-based drama

• Two-hander plays

• Minimalist drama

A Halloween play does not have to contain a ghost.

It only needs to contain a reason for us to wonder what happens next.

TWO PAGES. ONE DRAMATIC WORLD.

The challenge is deliberate.

Your play must not exceed three pages.

Within those three pages, we want to see:

• Characters

• A dramatic situation

• Conflict, tension or discovery

• Dialogue and/or theatrical action

• A sense of movement

• An ending

The ending may resolve the situation.

Or it may leave the audience with a question.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Email all submission to: dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com 

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/freshwordsmagazine/announcements

Genre: Short Drama / Play
Maximum length: 3 pages
Number of plays: Up to 5 plays per contributor  (in a single email)
Language: English
Deadline: 30 October 2026

Standard play formatting is preferred.

Please include the title and author's name on the first page.

Stage directions are welcome.

Minimal sets and small casts are encouraged, but there is no mandatory restriction on the number of characters.

POSSIBLE PROMPTS

You may use the central prompt directly or develop your own Halloween-related situation.

For example:

The door opens at midnight.

Someone who died yesterday knocks.

Two strangers discover they are waiting for the same ghost.

A child refuses to open the bedroom door.

A couple hears their own voices outside the house.

A man receives a visitor who claims to be his future self.

A theatre audience discovers that the actors are not acting.

These are only starting points.

We want your interpretation.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are especially interested in plays that understand the difference between a short story and a short play.

Give us voices that need to be heard aloud.

Give us conflict that can exist on a stage.

Give us silence that means something.

Give us an ending that makes an audience sit quietly for a moment before deciding whether to laugh, scream or applaud.

SUBMISSION

Email all submission to: dramaanthologyfreshwords@gmail.com 

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/freshwordsmagazine/announcements

Please send your play as a Word document or Pdf.

Include:

Title
Author's name
Country
Short bio (50–100 words)
Email address

Email subject:

SUBMISSION — THE DOOR OPENS AT MIDNIGHT

There is no submission fee.

RIGHTS & PUBLICATION

Fresh Words seeks non-exclusive first publication rights for accepted plays. Copyright remains with the author.

Selected plays may appear in the anthology in digital and/or print editions.

Contributors will be notified after the editorial selection process.

DEADLINE

30 OCTOBER 2026

The door opens once.

Make sure your play is ready when it does.

Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

HAIKU AFTER DARK

An International Halloween Haiku Anthology

Email all submissions to: specialanthologyfreshwordsmag@gmail.com

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/freshwordsmagazine/announcements

The moon is awake.

The house is quiet.

Something moves behind the curtain.

Halloween is often associated with ghosts, monsters and the supernatural—but darkness can also reveal something quieter:

a falling leaf, an empty street, a distant light, a child's fear, an old photograph, the sound of footsteps, the silence after midnight.

Fresh Words invites poets from around the world to submit haiku and senryu for a special international Halloween anthology.

We are looking for poems that capture the atmosphere of Halloween through image, silence, mystery, humour, nature and the uncanny.

THE THEME

HAIKU AFTER DARK is open to many interpretations.

Your poem may be:

• Frightening

• Mysterious

• Gothic

• Melancholic

• Funny

• Playful

• Surreal

• Atmospheric

• Philosophical

• Quietly unsettling

• Inspired by nature

A poem does not need to mention Halloween.

Sometimes a moonlit road is enough.

Sometimes the empty chair is enough.

Sometimes the three words we never expected are enough.

POSSIBLE IMAGES

Writers may explore:

• Moonlight

• Autumn leaves

• Pumpkins

• Candles

• Shadows

• Fog

• Empty houses

• Old cemeteries

• Bats

• Owls

• Cats

• Abandoned places

• Masks

• Costumes

• Children's voices

• Midnight

• Wind

• Doors and windows

• Footsteps

• Ghosts

• Memories

• Death and remembrance

• The changing seasons

• The boundary between the living and the dead

These are suggestions only.

HAIKU & SENRYU

We welcome both haiku and senryu.

Traditional approaches to haiku are welcome, including attention to season, nature, image and moment.

We also welcome contemporary and experimental approaches.

For writers submitting senryu, human behaviour, irony and dark humour are especially welcome.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Genres: Haiku and Senryu
Number of poems: Up to 10 poems per contributor in a single email. Either typed in the body of email or attached with email as MS Word doc/Pdf.
Language: English
Deadline: 30 October 2026

Email all submissions to: specialanthologyfreshwordsmag@gmail.com

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/freshwordsmagazine/announcements

We encourage concise, image-driven poems rather than explanatory or overly abstract pieces.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are not looking for poems that simply tell us that something is frightening.

Show us the darkness.

Show us the empty swing moving in the wind.

Show us the light beneath a door.

Show us the footprints that stop suddenly.

Show us the moon reflected in a puddle beside an old grave.

Let the reader discover the haunting.

SUBMISSION

Please send your poems as a Word document or in the body of your email.

Include:

Author's name
Country
Short bio (50–100 words)
Email address

Email subject:

SUBMISSION — HAIKU AFTER DARK

There is no submission fee.

RIGHTS & PUBLICATION

Fresh Words seeks non-exclusive first publication rights for accepted poems. Copyright remains with the author.

Selected poems may be published in digital and/or print editions of the anthology.

Contributors will be notified after the editorial selection process.

DEADLINE

30 OCTOBER 2026

Before the pumpkins disappear.

Before the candles burn out.

Before the night becomes morning.

Send us your haiku.

Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine

CALL FOR GUEST EDITORS

International Poetry & Flash Fiction Anthologies

Fresh Words – An International Literary Magazine

• Website: Fresh Words Announcements

• Contact & Applications: freshwordsmagazine@gmail.com

Fresh Words is expanding its international horizons. To celebrate diverse literary traditions and amplify global voices, we are launching a series of language-specific seasonal anthologies in late 2026.

We are seeking experienced, detail-oriented, and dedicated Guest Editors to curate and manage these upcoming volumes. Editors are required for both our Poetry (Haiku and Tanka) and Flash Fiction anthologies in the following languages:

• 🇩🇪 German (Poetry & Flash Fiction)

• 🇵🇱 Polish (Poetry & Flash Fiction)

• 🇪🇸 Spanish (Poetry & Flash Fiction)

• 🇯🇵 Japanese (Poetry & Flash Fiction)

If you possess a keen editorial eye for contemporary literature, a deep appreciation for short-form storytelling and micropoetry, and strong connections within your target language's literary community, we invite you to collaborate with us. Applicants may choose to edit the poetry anthology, the flash fiction anthology, or both for their respective language.

Role & Responsibilities

As a Guest Editor, you will help shape the creative identity and vision of your language’s anthology. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Theme Development: Collaborating with the Fresh Words team to adapt our seasonal themes to suit specific linguistic and cultural nuances.

• Curation & Selection: Reviewing and selecting original poetry or flash fiction (up to 300 words) submitted in your target language.

• Editing & Proofreading: Providing light structural edits and proofreading to ensure high literary standards while preserving the author's unique voice.

• Community Outreach: Actively promoting the call for submissions within regional writing networks, literary organizations, and localized social media channels.

• Editorial Preface: Authoring a brief, engaging introduction to anchor the final published volume.

Requirements

• Language Proficiency: Native or bilingual fluency in the target language, coupled with a strong working command of English for administrative and structural communication with our core executive team.

• Editorial Experience: Prior experience in editing, publishing, translating, or working within a literary magazine or creative writing environment is highly preferred.

• Project Management: A proven ability to strictly adhere to formatting guidelines, editorial deadlines, and content policies.

• Literary Passion: A demonstrated commitment to mentoring emerging writers and expanding global literary landscapes.

Timeline

• Application Deadline for Guest Editors: December 25, 2026

• Guest Editor Selection Announcement: January 15, 2027

• Public Submission Window Opens: Late February 2027

• Anthology Publication: Late Autumn / Winter 2027

 Compensation & Benefits

• Prominent Billing: Your name and biography will be featured prominently on the cover, title page, and within the editorial preface of both the print and digital editions.

• Global Promotion: Extensive feature and promotion across all Fresh Words social media platforms, website channels, and newsletter distributions.

• Professional Networking: An exceptional opportunity to helm an international project and build meaningful, lasting connections with contemporary global writers.

• Please Note: Fresh Words is an independent, non-paying market. This is a volunteer, project-based collaborative role.

 How to Apply

Please submit your application to freshwordsmagazine@gmail.com with your subject line formatted exactly as follows:

Guest Editor Application – [Language] – [Poetry/Flash Fiction/Both] – [Your Name]

In the body of your email, please include:

1. Genre Preference: Clearly state whether you are applying for the Poetry anthology, the Flash Fiction anthology, or both.

2. Cover Letter: A brief statement (1–2 paragraphs) outlining your interest in the role and your editorial vision for the anthology.

3. Literary Biography: A short bio (approx. 200 words) written in the third person, highlighting relevant publication, translation, or editorial experience.

4. Portfolio/Links: Links to your personal website, past editorial projects, or professional social media profiles (if applicable).

Join us in building bridges across languages, where small poems and short stories continue to hold enormous truths.

Application Deadline: December 25, 2026

Fresh Words

Where small words hold big magic.