Taking Submissions: Crooked Spine Issue 1
SpiritStyle,Manifested Shadows, Whimsy & Spice, Healthy Habits Hub, and The Daily Explore
Crooked Spine is now accepting submissions for Issue 1, seeking horror fiction, poetry, and artwork for its debut release. The publication is open to all shades of horror, with an emphasis on slow-burn unease, ambiguity, and lingering dread.
Submission Details
Publication: Crooked Spine Issue 1
Submission Window: May 6 – June 17, 2026
Payment: Fiction: $20 + contributor copy, Poetry: $5 + contributor copy, Art: $20 + contributor copy
Word Count: Fiction: 1,500 – 3,500 words
Flash Fiction: No
Poetry: Yes
Theme: Open horror / debut issue horror fiction
Genre: Horror
About This Submission Call
Crooked Spine is looking for horror stories, poems, and artwork that favor atmosphere, tension, and emotional unease over excessive gore or shock value. The editors are especially interested in strange, haunting concepts like brushes with death, uncanny broadcasts, and unsettling experiences that linger long after the final page. Reprints and AI-generated work are not accepted, and submissions should follow Shunn manuscript format.
Submission Guidelines
Issue 1: Crooked Spine
▸ Theme: All shades of horror are welcome for the debut issue
May 6 – Jun 17, 2026
closes in 1 month
Short fiction, poems, and art for our first issue. A brush with death (and he was weeping), the show that aired only in your house. 3500 word max for fiction.
What we want
Short fiction, poems, and art for our first issue. A brush with death (and he was weeping). The show that aired only in your house. Slow-burn unease over splatter. Ambiguity over answer.
What we don’t want
- Reprints
- Slurs or ***ual violence used as shock
- Any Ai generated work. All work will be screened for Ai use
The basics
- Fiction: 1,500–3,500 words. Pays $20 plus a contributor copy.
- Poetry: pays $5 per poem plus a contributor copy.
- Art: within 2500 px height 1600 px width. pays $20 per piece plus a contributor copy.
- Shunn Manuscript Format, sent as a DOCX
- Response within 2 weeks of close
More Submission Opportunities
Looking for more speculative fiction submission opportunities?
Browse more speculative fiction submission calls.
Submission FAQ
When is the submission deadline?
Submissions for Crooked Spine Issue 1 close on June 17, 2026.
What genres are accepted?
Crooked Spine is seeking horror fiction, horror poetry, and horror-themed artwork.
What is the word count limit?
Fiction submissions must be between 1,500 and 3,500 words.
How much does the publication pay?
Fiction: $20 plus a contributor copy, Poetry: $5 plus a contributor copy, Artwork: $20 plus a contributor copy
Are reprints allowed?
No. Reprints are not accepted.
Via: Crooked Spine Press.
SpiritStyle,Manifested Shadows, Whimsy & Spice, Healthy Habits Hub, and The Daily Explore
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