October Theme: Oh, the horror!
Could it be time to try something terrifying?
Welcome to October, Ladies and Ghouls
The month of Old Hallows Eve. Halloween if we’re being familiar. If you were paying particular attention last month, you might have noticed we studiously avoided any focus on the Horror genre. That’s quite simply because we wanted to save all the skin-crawling goodness for this month.
Now before you back away, hands up as if greeted with the corpse of a dinner guest reanimated and hungry for a fresh meal. The Lord of the Hallows Gallows (Paul Mansfield, it’s his birthday month in October) has given us a particular direction this month that leaves things far more open to all writers.
Each of our prompts will challenge you to write an approachable sort of horror story that gives you both structure and constraints. Just enough to trigger that muse and get her firing shotguns at shadows. Even if you’ve never written a true horror story, like me, you can try your hand at these. (May More; you tried Fantasy last month, you in for this?)
A few things are happening this month, which if you follow us on Twitter, you may have seen a few clues. If you missed them, then maybe give us a follow to stay in the loop.
This month we’ll ask you to:
- Write a particular kind of horror story each week
- We’ll challenge you to write between 500–750 words
That is, if you want to be part of something special…
The Microcosm Horror Anthology
We rarely focus on a single genre. So this month provides us with an opportunity to collect the Top 20 stories into a single volume to unleash upon the world.
- We’ll invite a few of our best writers to take part
- We’ll use our editorial opinions and reader engagement as a guide for the rest
Fine Print:
- Each participating writer will be credited on the cover and, of course, get a digital DRM-free copy. So go mad, share it with whoever you want.
- This is a promotional tool; hell, if we get pirated, that’s a life goal I can check off my list.
- All supporters of the publication will receive a free digital copy and be thanked within the Acknowledgements.
- You’ll give (please) us the rights to publish your work in this anthology and on the publication (as usual)—specific details on this in future micro-updates.
- We’ll likely keep this digital-only for now, with a print edition available for purchase later.
But, you know, Why?
There’s a piece of advice that’s going around, it crops up from time to time, and it’s lodged in my brain:
If it’s not a fuck yeah, then it’s a no.
This advice comes to me from Ryan Holiday, the annoyingly prolific writer based in Texas. Owner and operator of his own classic styled bookstore too. He writes at least one non-fiction bestseller a year. It’s also a rule used by many others, including Derek Sivers, another super successful entrepreneur.
The premise is pretty obvious; if the ask doesn’t truly excite you, don’t do it.
This is a Fuck Yeah for me. It’s so ridiculously challenging, so exciting. So tempting. I don’t think once the idea took hold that I could let it go even if I got hit with a ton of “sense.” I’m not even telling my wife because she’d cackle then slap that sense into me.
If it is for you, then take part and write from the heart.
Share something truly terrifying. A horrifying tale that speaks the truth captures a real fear or sets alight your nerves as you write.
We want your best work.
Prompts for October
Wanting an anthology of our own was inspired by the Science Fiction themed collection for SciFi Shorts, edited and collected by Rod Castor and J.A. Taylor.
They’ve got another one coming, so while you’re waiting, write to one of their Empty World-inspired New Worlds lovingly crafted by a team of writers!
