Shallow Waters: Something Followed You Home
Crystal Lake Publishing
Closes 30 Nov 2026
- Length
- Up to 1,500 words
- Pay
- Not stated
- Fee
- No fee
- Simultaneous
- Not stated
- Reprints
- Reprints welcome
What they accept
Shallow Waters is Crystal Lake Publishing's monthly flash fiction contest, feeding its Shallow Waters anthology line; this month's theme is 'Something Followed You Home.' It takes horror flash of up to 1,500 words, reprints included, one story per writer, free to enter, through the end of November 2026. The top 15 to 20 entries are posted for patron voting, and only the top three are paid: $0.04 per word for the winner, $0.03 for second place, and $0.02 for third.
HorrorOther / not listed
- Anonymous reading
- Not required
- AI policy
- AI must not be used to create the words; programs with AI support may be used, mainly to edit.
More like this
| Publication | Length | Pay | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macabre Magazine Also publishes Horror | 500 to 5,000 words | Unpaid | No closing date |
| Grimalkin Press Also publishes Horror | 1,000 to 5,000 words | Not stated | Closes 31 Dec 2026 |
| Iron Faerie Publishing Also publishes Horror | 500 to 2,500 words | Not stated | Closes in 10 days |
| Bag of Bones Press Also publishes Horror | 500 to 4,000 words | 0.005 GBP per word | Closes 31 Jan 2027 |
| Mythmount Press Also publishes Horror | 2,000 to 5,000 words | 0.05 USD per word | Closes 1 Jan 2027 |
| Lycan Valley Press Also publishes Horror | 1,500 to 7,500 words | Contributor copy | Closes 31 Dec 2026 May close early |