HAG News: #5
Featuring: Team news, new releases, events, craft and indie insights, and magazines currently accepting submissions.
The British Horror Authors Guild is a professional community for independent British horror writers. Our mission is to support, connect, and empower writers working in horror and dark fiction by providing a space for shared knowledge, practical advice, and peer support.
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Guild Desk
News
Elections
Thank you to those who put themselves forward to join the the Guild Council, the pitches will be processed and the election will be commence on the 9th June. Remember, only members can vote, we really appreciate you helping us choose our next leaders.
Writers Group
One of our most popular features is the writers’ group on our Discord server. We are a mix of experienced published authors and fresh-faced writers.
Join us on Mondays at 19:30 GMT. Bring approximately 400 words of your own work, and we will critique each other’s pieces together. Not only is it an excellent opportunity to sharpen your craft, but it’s also an opportunity to banter with your peers.
Article Submission
Since the newsletter has started, two of the most popular segments have been the Craft Corner and the Indie Business Corner. If you would like to feature in HAG News, then we invite you submit articles to bhauthorsguild@gmail.com .
Updates from the team
Newton Webb, Editor, Co-Founder
Greetings, my wicked darlings.
Egads, I could use a week off to recover from my birthday. Thank you, everyone, for the birthday wishes. I’m currently regenerating by consuming my body weight in pizza and watching Spider Noir. If you haven’t had the pleasure, then EVERYONE should watch it. Nicolas Cage is perfectly cast, and the cameo from Andrew Robinson of Hellraiser and DS9 fame was a delight.
Last month, I was busy releasing free short stories to my readers. I’m gearing up for the release of Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 5 in November, so I released Brides of Dracul, Night of the Expo and The Better Half.
Bookwise, I read eight books this month, the standouts being Sick F*ck V, VI and VII by Ash Ericmore, Pop Goes The Weasel, by M. J. Arlidge and The Mermaid’s Singing, by Val McDermid.
Sweet Screams!
Newt
British New Releases
FREE Short Stories
Things you don’t want to hear on a night shift: Scratching In The Funeral Home
Dare you read this week’s tiny ghost story? “Just Staying For One Night”
Craft Column
Trending YouTube Shorts
The Scientific Reason Behind ‘The Witching Hour’ with Tracy Fahey.
Why Hollywood’s ‘Male Gaze’ is so Problematic with Tracy Fahey.
Community Notes
Did you know we have a horror writing group?
Join us on Mondays at 19:30 GMT. Bring approximately 400 words of your own work and we will critique each other’s pieces together.
Opportunities Board
ANOMALY
Submissions open on the 1st through the 7th of every month
Dark Sci-fi wanted.
Anomaly is interested in science fiction stories under 300 words in length, for publication on their Patreon, with the right to collect stories into a future anthology. We’re looking for dark and disruptive stories that have strong emotional resonance. We like stories that stick with us after reading, that get us thinking about the twisted use of technologies, the way the world may be, or how characters might react to an evolving technological future.
• Length: up to 300 words
• Payment: .08 USD per word
• Submission Guidelines: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124086163?collection=1379866
Apex Magazine
Currently open for submissions
Exceptionally well-written science fiction, fantasy, horror, and all its sub-genres.
• Length: up to 9,000 words
• Payment: .08 USD per word
• Submission Guidelines: http://www.apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines
AUREALIS
Submissions open March 1st - 31st, 2026
Aurealis is an Australian publication looking for science fiction, fantasy or horror short stories between 2000 and 8000 words. All types of science fiction, fantasy and horror that are of a “speculative” nature will be considered, but we do not want stories that are derivative in nature. We do not publish horror without a supernatural element.
• Length: between 2,000 – 8,000 words
• Payment: A$20 and A$60 per 1000 words, but assume the lower rate for unsolicited submissions
• Submission Guidelines: https://aurealis.com.au/submissions/
Crepuscular Magazine (drabble/flash fiction)
Submissions open (ongoing)
Microfiction stories exploring places, characters, and questions buried in the gray areas between this and that, here and there, night and day, alive and dead, evil and good, feminine and masculine, up and down, real and unreal. If you’re not quite sure what that means, lean into that feeling... While we lean toward speculative pieces, we have a love for those in-betweeny pieces that blur genre. We accept horror (both spec and non), fantasy, science fiction, general/literary fiction, and everything in between.
• Length: up to 250 words (micro fiction)
• Payment: .10 cents a word
• Submission Guidelines: https://www.patreon.com/posts/submission-85137677
THE DARK
Submissions open (ongoing)
The monthly e-zine publishes horror and dark fantasy. Sean Wallace is the founder, publisher, and editor of The Dark, and has also edited for Clarkesworld and Fantasy Magazine.
• Length: 2000 - 6000 words
• Payment: .05 USD per word
• Submission Guidelines: https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/
MERGNASER MAGAZINE
Merganser Magazine is a free online literary magazine, featuring an array of fiction, poetry, and visual art. We aim to publish many writers and artists whose work transcends disciplines and genres. We are now accepting submissions - we encourage you to submit!
Length: up to 2,000 words
Payment: .08 USD per word
Submission Guidelines: https://mergansermagazine.com/submit/
THE NO SLEEP PODCAST
Submissions currently open
All things horror. We are a horror anthology podcast, so we exclusively want horror. Any type. All types. If it’s within the realm of the macabre, scary, or unnerving, we want it.
Stories with great audio cues. Our production relies heavily on good suspense complimented with audio cues.
We have a strong preference for stories written in first person perspective. If third person perspective is necessary to tell the story in the most effective way possible, that’s fine, so long as the piece lends itself well to audio. If a story can be adapted into first person, we recommend it.
• Length: up to 8,000 words (sweet spot is 2,000 – 2,500 words)
• Payment: Flash fiction (up to 1199 words): $60, Regular stories (1200+ words): $250
Submission Guidelines: https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/submissions