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Cold Open Stories publishes short stories and fast fiction in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and mashup. We actively seek new talent to join our creator-owned family, and are only interested in publishing original content in which the original creators retain the rights.
WHERE YOU'VE MET OUR FRIENDS
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Winter 2024 Call for Submissions (Closes November 30, 2024)
Are you ready to unleash your creativity and take readers on a journey beyond the ordinary? Interested in collaborating with the award-winning creative team at Cold Open Stories to bring your next story idea to life? We want to hear from the most imaginative minds out there!
At Cold Open Stories, we are passionate about pushing the boundaries of fiction and exploring the uncharted realms of storytelling. If you’re a writer with a unique voice, speculative visions, and a penchant for the extraordinary, we invite you to submit your work to us.
What we’re looking for:
- Engaging and thought-provoking speculative fiction that bends genres together (science-fantasy, western-thrillers, horror-romance, etc.)
- Original and inventive storytelling that challenges norms
- Compelling characters and vivid, immersive worlds
- Stories that leave a lasting impression and resonate with our diverse audience (in 3,000-5,000 words)
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Suitable for future audio adaptation.
Whether your tales lean towards science fiction, fantasy, horror, or a genre-defying blend of them all, we want to be captivated by your narrative prowess.
What we offer:
At Cold Open Stories, we’re dedicated to helping writers discover and refine their unique voice. Our editorial team offers personalized support to elevate your storytelling, from plot development to character depth, ensuring your story reaches its full potential. We provide detailed feedback, offering insights to help you craft a narrative that truly shines.
For those looking to take their work even further, we offer the exciting option of having your story turned into an audio adaptation. Under the direction of award-winning creative director Colyn DeGraaff, your story could come to life in a fully produced audio drama, immersing listeners in the world you’ve created. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your writing or hear your words performed, we’re here to support your journey every step of the way.
Submission deadline is November 30, 2024 @ 11:59 PM ET
Ready to submit your story? Follow the steps to submit your manuscript. If you want some feedback before you submit, share your story in the Cold Open Stories Discord Channel.
STEP 1
Format your entry submission according to the Standard Manuscript Format, and follow British English spelling conventions. The University of Oxford Style Guide is a great reference for this.
STEP 2
Save your entry submission as a .docx or .doc and attach it to an email.
STEP 3
In the body of the email, provide a brief paragraph that includes your name, the title of the short story, word count, your social media (or website if you have one) and a maximum 100-word short bio about yourself.
STEP 4
Edit the email’s subject line so it reads: ORIGINALS – WINTER 2024 SUBMISSION [STORY NAME] followed by Title of Your Story
STEP 5
Email your formatted email and entry submission to coldopenstories.editors@gmail.com
Stories that are selected for publication with Cold Open Stories will receive the professional support of a volunteer editor.
This support will assist the author with constructive critiques to identify what works, what needs work, and to help plan final drafts and revisions of the story. Due to the large number of submissions we receive, Editorial assistance is limited to those stories that are chosen for publication. However, feedback and critique are offered to all submissions upon request, as it is our goal to guide, educate, and support aspiring authors as they strive for self-publishing or working within established intellectual properties.
Terms & Conditions
COLD OPEN STORIES is a place for authors to share their talents, get seen, and celebrate fandom. We are committed to helping new and emerging voices get recognized, and no money exchanges hands through our site. We believe that diversity in fiction in an excellent way to find new voices and stories. We want this to be reflected in our content and welcome submissions from every race, nationality, gender, and sexual orientation.
Want to learn more about how your Short Fiction submission will be presented, promoted, and potentially adapted into an audio drama? Expand one of the categories below for more details.
Reply Process
1. Upon submission, writers will receive an email confirming that their entry has been received.
2. If the piece does not meet submission criteria, the writer will receive an email explaining why the piece has been rejected. If the writer does not receive a letter of rejection at this point, then the piece has met all submission criteria and will be passed on to the editing team for review. (This review process may take some time, potentially several weeks depending on the size of the amount of submissions received during any given period.)
3. Once the piece has been reviewed, the writer will either receive a letter of rejection if the piece needs more work, or an offer to continue with the revision process in preparation for publication.
4. Upon acceptance, the writer will work closely with the editing team in order to further revise the piece and come up with an end product that all parties are satisfied with.
5. Once the piece is ready, both parties will sign a contract allowing Cold Open Stories permission to publish the piece. More about this process can be found below.
Our average initial response time is one to three days, however the tides of the Warp are ever-changing and some astropathic emails may be missed! If you haven’t heard back from us after a week, feel free to contact us as coldopenstories.editors@gmail.com.
Publishing
1. The Author grants Cold Open Stories permission to reproduce and publicly distribute the short story in digital form on the Cold Open Stories website (http://www.coldopenstories.com).
2. Authors maintain the ability to publish their work with other partners or websites, blogs, subreddits, but a “First published on www.coldopenstories.com” is greatly appreciated.
3. The Author agrees that the short story was written for non-commercial entertainment.
4. The Author agrees that any edits to the short story’s content will be offered for review and consideration, and that creative control over these edits remain with the Author. Control over these edits are waived for formatting requirements necessary for posting on the Cold Open Stories website (font size, colour, page breaks).
5. The Author will maintain ownership of the short story. Publishing, submission, and selling rights remain with the Author if the story goes to print or it is shown there is a demand for it.
6. The Author will receive written credit on the Cold Open Stories website with a “Written By” acknowledgement preceding the short story. The Author will receive links to their social(s) and website (if available) and will provide Cold Open Stories with a brief biography to include on the site.
Promotion
1. The Author assigns to Cold Open Stories the permission to promote the short story across social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for the purposes of directing traffic, generating readership, and reader entertainment.
2. The Author grants Cold Open Stories the permission to include extracts or passages of the short story in promotional materials.
Adaptation
1. The Author gives Cold Open Stories the option to adapt the story into an audio drama or dramatized narration (digital format) which would include dialogue by actors, composition of original music, and sound design. Creative control to make edits or changes to the short story to fit this adaptation is understood. Authors have the option to opt-out if they are not comfortable with this.
2. The Author grant Cold Open Stories permission to publish, reproduce, and publicly distribute the produced audio drama or dramatized narration across streaming services (Apple Podcast, Soundcloud, Podbean, Spotify, YouTube) in serialized and completed formats.
3. The Author will receive verbal and written credit in the Cold Open Stories adaptation with a “Story By” acknowledgement.
4. The Author agrees that Cold Open Stories receives an exclusive first right of refusal for other proposed fan audio adaptations.
Financial
1. The Author agrees that the work performed in writing the short story was done on a volunteer, non-commercial basis and acknowledges that there is no employment relationship, remuneration, or salary offered by Cold Open Stories for the actions of publishing, promoting, or adapting the short story online.
2. Individuals or organizations who are interested in financially supporting Cold Open Stories or the Author will be directed to support the Author directly on their website or social accounts, or to donate to a charitable organization, identified by Cold Open Stories, which is committed to improving accessibility for multi-barriered populations.
Looking for inspiration? Here are some of our favourite films and novels to spark your imagination:
The Substance (Film, 2024) – Dive into eerie body horror, with strong social messages, in this recent sci-fi horror that blends satire and the grotesque.
The Mummy (Film, 1999) – Adventure and the supernatural collide in this beloved classic that serves as a perfect blend of action, humour.
Arrival (Film, 2016) – A thought-provoking exploration of language, time, and humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life.
The Haunting of Hill House (Television, 2018) – This adaptation weaves psychological horror into a multi-generational ghost story that will leave you questioning reality and the power of grief.
Skeleton Key (Anthology, 1985) – One of the most impactful horror short story collections of its time, includes tales like The Mist, The Jaunt, and The Monkey.
The Gargoyle (Novel, 2008) – A gripping, genre-bending love story that spans centuries, filled with romance, pain, and the supernatural.
Tender is the Flesh (Novel, 2017) – A dystopian novel where humans are harvested as livestock. Disturbing, provocative, and unforgettable, it pushes the boundaries of ethical storytelling.
Shadow of the Wind (Novel, 2001) – A literary mystery wrapped in post-war Barcelona, this novel is rich in atmosphere, dark secrets, and deeply personal mysteries.
WHAT WE DO
Distinct Characters
While we appreciate well-realized worlds, we favour distinct characters with goals, internal & and external struggles, and personal stakes.
Genre-Bending
We love to mash-up themes and genres. Science-Fantasy? Western-Thriller? Horror-Romance? We love to mix tones and styles in one sandbox.
World Limit
Stories must have a beginning, middle, and end - all within 3,000 to 5,000 words. We also dislike open-ended cliffhangers (unless it's thematic to do so).