Unsettling Settings
Description
Note: one submission only.
The sixth 2026 Dead Birds Publishing anthology will bring to life the darkest atmospheres, haunted locations, and unsettling settings. We want short stories about environments that come alive in the most horrific of ways. Environmentities, if you will.
The story should have a dark environmental setting, where the setting itself plays a significant role. It’s not enough for your character to wander through a graveyard. The tombstones need to significantly affect the characters and story! While we prefer a good horror story, writing can include magical realism, science fiction, fantasy, or even satire. Just make sure it fits a horror anthology. If you’re not familiar with Dead Birds Publishing, please have a look at our most recent collection, Supernatural Parables, to get a sense of what we’re after.
The sixth 2026 Dead Birds Publishing anthology will bring to life the darkest atmospheres, haunted locations, and unsettling settings. We want short stories about environments that come alive in the most horrific of ways. Environmentities, if you will.
The story should have a dark environmental setting, where the setting itself plays a significant role. It’s not enough for your character to wander through a graveyard. The tombstones need to significantly affect the characters and story! While we prefer a good horror story, writing can include magical realism, science fiction, fantasy, or even satire. Just make sure it fits a horror anthology. If you’re not familiar with Dead Birds Publishing, please have a look at our most recent collection, Supernatural Parables, to get a sense of what we’re after.
Market Submission Schedule
- Permanently closing for submissions on May 1, 2026 (Begins 81 days from now)
Market Genres
Genres
FantasyHorror
Humor
Science Fiction
Market Types, Lengths & Pay Scale
Originals
Short Story
2000 to 6000 words
Royalties Only
Reprints
Short Story
2000 to 6000 words
Royalties Only
Market Submission Types
AI Submissions?: Not Allowed
Electronic Submissions?: Yes
Postal Submissions?: No
Multiple Submissions?: No
Simultaneous Submissions?: No
Translations: Original Language Only
Electronic Submissions?: Yes
Postal Submissions?: No
Multiple Submissions?: No
Simultaneous Submissions?: No
Translations: Original Language Only
Market-Provided Data
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Market Response Data (User-Reported)
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numbers will be so please be sure to log all of your submissions here and not just your rejections or acceptances.
Count:
There are 0 completed reports in the past 12 months.
Pending:
There are 3 pending responses.
(5 min | 6.66 average | 6 median | 9 max days waiting)
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Listing added: 3 February 2026
Last officially checked: 3 February 2026