n?-Lovecraft horror anthology

[ajfrench]

Hey guys . . .

I?m pleased to introduce another fine Static Movement anthology that I will be editing. This one is entitled ?The Shadow of the Unknown? and it will feature Lovecraftian horror stories. This is not a market for Cthulhu Mythos although I will tolerate a teensy bit of elder god name-dropping. But not much. I am more interested in Lovecraft-inspired stories and other types of metaphysical horror. Think Thomas Ligotti, Joe S. Pulver, Jay Lake, Simon Strantzas, and Laird Barron. These are n?-Lovecraft horror writers who have taken Grandpa Theobald?s style and ideas to the next level. This new level, in my opinion, is much more enigmatic and metaphysical in nature. These are stories where reality is never quite what it appears to be, and usually it?s discovered that one?s reality is often horrific, delirious, and dreamlike. The narratives of these stories have a very subjective and often claustrophobic feel (like Lovecraft), and so when the weird stuff starts happening you sometimes don?t know if it?s in the narrator?s mind or if it?s really real. Weird Tale and New Weird are also welcome, but I am specifically seeking the kind of Lovecraftian fiction mentioned above.

I prefer stories around 4000 words, though I will look at longer and shorter lengths, but no flash. Keep cursing, sex, and gore to a minimum unless it?s essential to the plot. A focus on atmosphere and mood will take precedence over shock tactics. Total word count for the book will be roughly 70,000 ? 80,000.

Please send your submissions to me at lovecraftantho@gmail.com Attach your story as an rtf file. Please also use the standard formatting as set forth by Chris of Static Movement: single-spaced, no spaces between paragraphs, and half-inch tab indentations. No single quotation marks for dialogue (curly quotes). One space after periods instead of two. Open until filled. Response time: 2 weeks. Reprints accepted. If not formatted correctly, stories will not be read. Proofread carefully and give me your very best. I will be sending copies of the book to various Best Of compendiums after everything is said and done.

This is a ?for the love anthology? so there is no payment or copy, but there will be some descent exposure.

A.J. French

Writers:

I’ve got another quick word about the fortheluv aspect of this anthology. As is totally understandable, I’ve seen some posts around the forums from writers expressing their concern and reluctance to submit because of no compensation. I totally understand, but I would just like to say that I have no intention of exploiting the hard work of writers. The publisher cannot afford contributor’s copies, nor payment for the writers, and I’m not permitted to pay my contributors because it would be unfair to the contributors of the other anthologies put out by the publisher. However, I can promise a quality product (in terms of editing, book quality, and story selection) that will be produced under a professional attitude. What I can do for the writers is promise them advertisement for the book in at least one pro-market magazine (which I will pay for myself), along with a blurb from an established author, and tentatively an introduction from an established author as well. I’ll have a story in the book too, so in a sense I’m in the same boat as all of you, and I want the best for my story. I’ll also purchase print copies and send them to Datlow and some book reviewers. This is not a statement to try and entice stories out of you, but I just don’t want writers feeling taken advantage of by submitting here. Payment for this will come, not in the form of a copy, but as ambitious hard work on the part of the editor. Thank you for your time.

A.J. French

PS: This is will be the last fortheluv anthology I will be bugging you guys about, for I just recently agreed to edit my next anthology project under a publisher who can afford to supply the contributor's with copies. I'm very excited about that. But until then, I've got to make this one the best it can be first.

[Jaqhama]

I think for the love of writing is fine...provided readers of the anthologies aren't expeted to pay for copies. Once readers start paying for copies then somebody, somewhere, is making money from them. Even if it's only a few bucks.
If the publisher isn't making money from the books...then why go to the trouble and expense of publishing them at all? Who sets out to lose money right from the start? Okay, an ecentric millionaire maybe. Don't see many of them.

If it was truly a for the love of writing/publishing affair then the stories would be better off posted up for free at an online website or downloadable as a free PDF or similar.

Asking for free submissions and then expecting readers to pay for copies just doesn't sit right if the authors of the stories aren't getting a red cent from the production.

I used to have a different opinion of this situation but changed my mind after chatting with a couple of profesional writers and publishers.
You want authors to submit work for free...then publish for free.
That's it right there.

I've subbed stories for free to websites/webzines that allow the readers to access the material for free.
But if I'm subbing to a publisher that charges money to read my work then I want some form of legitimate payment.

Legitimate payment isn't a free copy of the published work. Legitimate payment is actual money.

[ajfrench]

I think what little money this publisher does make is used to cover printing costs and cover art costs, meaning that quality artwork can be purchased, and that a reputable, professional printer can be used---rather than something like Lulu or Createspace. The rest of the money is used to cover the printing costs of the dozen or so other anthologies the publisher is putting out, and so forth. But I agree with everything you said. Legitimate payment is actual money. It's just not doable with this particular publisher, unfortunately---which, I fully understand, can turn some people off.

[ajfrench]

Deadline for this is now set for July 1st. Two established professional horror writers have each agreed to donate a story, and if you'd like to have your story among some very esteemed company, then the time to submit is now! I have room for maybe two or three more. Thanks! lovecraftantho@gmail.com

[ajfrench]

Last day to submit for this one is today!