General Guidelines

 

THE RACK is not a traditional “themed” anthology. There is no specific trope or theme, but more of a “vibe” to the stories it will feature.

 

If you are not familiar with Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix, that would be a good place to start to understand THE RACK. You can also check out Volume I for the type of story to submit.

 

Simply put, THE RACK is a throwback to the glorious 70s/80s-era mass market paperbacks. Think satanic panic, nature revenge, creepy kids, dolls/puppets, slashers, bugs, kids on bikes, etc.

 

Submissions from writers of underrepresented populations are welcome and encouraged. This includes, but is not limited to, writers of any race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, class, and physical or mental ability. Great stories reflect the diversity and creativity of the human species. The goal is to include stories from these communities.

 

Word count can be anywhere between 2,500 and 10,000 words, with the sweet spot being 4,000-6,000 words.

 

Please submit your story in standard manuscript format. Here’s a link that explains Shunn format: https://www.shunn.net/format/story/1/.

 

Submissions will be accepted ONLY between November 1st, 2024 and December 31st, 2024.

 

Publication date will be late summer/fall of 2025.

 

 

THE RACK will NOT accept:

 

• Middle Grade or Children’s stories

• Reprints. This includes any form of digital self-publishing

• Multiple submissions

• Fan fiction

• Partial novels or screenplays

• Inappropriate content involving animals or children

• Extreme sex or violence

• AI assisted writing

 

Payment and Rights

 

Payment is $.06/word upon acceptance and executed contract.

 

Rights include First English Anthology Rights and First English Print Rights for publication in the English language worldwide, exclusive for six months following the original publication date.

 

The anthology will be published in ebook, paperback, and hardcover editions.

 

 

Response Time

 

Depending on the quantity of submissions received, response time will vary. The goal is to respond within sixty days with and acceptance, rejection, or a short-list notification.

 

All responses will be sent by February 15, 2025 at the absolute latest.

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A valid email address is required to access the submission form below.