Submission Guidelines

ENTER THE EMPORIUM

The Emporium of the Weird is looking for original horror, science fiction, dark fantasy and strange fiction from established and emerging writers.

We want stories with atmosphere, personality and something unusual beating beneath the surface—forgotten places, impossible creatures, unsettling futures, supernatural encounters and journeys into the darker corners of the imagination.

Selected stories will be presented free at the Blood, Brains & Aliens website as part of our growing collection of illustrated, vintage pulp-inspired digital books.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We welcome:

  • Horror
  • Science fiction
  • Dark fantasy
  • Weird fiction
  • Supernatural stories
  • Psychological horror
  • Creature features
  • Retro pulp adventures
  • Stories that cross genres or resist easy classification

We are particularly interested in original ideas, memorable characters and stories with a strong sense of atmosphere.

STORY LENGTH

Stories should generally be between 2,000 and 8,000 words.

We may consider stories outside this range if the work is especially suited to the Emporium.

ORIGINALITY

All submissions must be the writer’s own original work.

We do not accept:

  • Fan fiction using characters or worlds owned by someone else
  • Plagiarised or uncredited material
  • Stories that infringe upon another person’s copyright
  • Substantially AI-generated stories

AI-assisted spelling, proofreading or editing tools may be used, but the story itself must be conceived and written by the submitting author. Any substantial use of generative AI must be disclosed when submitting.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

Previously published stories may be considered, provided that the writer currently controls the necessary rights and discloses where and when the story originally appeared.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Please let us know immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere or is no longer available.

CONTENT

The Emporium is a home for horror and strange fiction, so mature subject matter, disturbing themes and fictional violence are welcome when they serve the story.

However, acceptance remains entirely at the discretion of Blood, Brains & Aliens. Material that is hateful, unlawfully exploitative or created primarily to shock without creative purpose will not be considered.

Please include a brief content warning with your submission if the story contains potentially distressing material.

PAYMENT

The Emporium of the Weird is currently an unpaid publishing platform.

There is no submission fee, no reading fee and no charge for writers whose stories are selected.

The finished stories will also be made available to readers free of charge through the Blood, Brains & Aliens website.

RIGHTS

Writers retain full copyright ownership of their work.

If your story is accepted, Blood, Brains & Aliens will request non-exclusive permission to:

  • Publish the story digitally through the Blood, Brains & Aliens website
  • Present the story using an illustrated Emporium of the Weird layout
  • Use the story’s title, cover artwork, author name, biography and short extracts to promote the story and the Emporium
  • Keep the story available within the Emporium archive

Because these rights are non-exclusive, writers remain free to publish or submit their work elsewhere.

Full publication terms will be provided for the writer’s approval before the story is published.

PRESENTATION AND ARTWORK

Selected stories may be edited for spelling, grammar, clarity and house style in consultation with the writer.

Blood, Brains & Aliens will oversee the visual presentation of each selected story, including its cover, interior layout and promotional material, to maintain the distinctive vintage pulp identity of the Emporium.

Submission does not guarantee publication, artwork or editorial feedback.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email your submission to:

bloodbrainsandaliens@gmail.com

Use the following subject line:

EMPORIUM SUBMISSION — [STORY TITLE]

Attach your manuscript as a .doc or .docx Word document and include the following information in the body of your email:

  • Your name
  • Your preferred publishing name or pen name
  • Story title
  • Genre
  • Word count
  • A short synopsis
  • A brief author biography
  • Any relevant content warnings
  • Details of any previous publication
  • Details of any substantial generative AI use

Please submit only one story at a time. Do not paste the complete manuscript into the email itself.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Every submission will be considered for its suitability for the Emporium.

Due to the number of submissions we may receive, we cannot guarantee individual feedback or an immediate response. Please do not repeatedly follow up regarding the status of a submission.

If we would like to publish your story, we will contact you to discuss editing, presentation and publication terms before proceeding.

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT

By submitting, you confirm that:

  • You are the author and copyright holder of the work
  • You have the authority to submit it for publication
  • The work does not knowingly infringe upon another person’s rights
  • You understand that submission does not guarantee publication
  • You understand that publication in the Emporium is currently unpaid

The shadows are lengthening. The shelves are waiting.

Send us something weird.

DO NOT PRESS