Into the Deep, Dark Woods Anthology A project of WordFire Press (see other related projects). Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (October 2025). We provide the following information as an archive. About The deep, dark woods—a place of mystery, where beauty and danger walk hand in hand among fallen leaves, dappled sunlight, and twisted shadows. A place of fairy tales, secrets, and monsters.Into the Deep, Dark Woods is an anthology exploring the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness, where tangled branches create a foreboding canopy. Think of the creatures that inhabit the forest and the people who stumble upon them. Behind a towering hickory could be a fairy circle, a dragon’s lair, or a druid’s cairn. The deep, dark woods lurk everywhere—on an alien planet, in the wilderness of a virtual world, or even in your own backyard.Your story might be about a desperate lost hiker who bargains with a forest creature to find the way home; revolutionaries who combat AI-powered logging machines; a bamboo forest with wish-granting pandas who have a twisted sense of humor; someone hiding from a deadly stalker; or a wood fairy and human whose ill-fated romance might just work out after all.Make us shiver. Make us wonder. Be mysterious, humorous, dark, romantic, or spine-chilling. But your story must take place in the one setting where anything is possible—the deep, dark woods.Step off the path and into a world where every tree tells a story and every clearing offers a choice. The deeper you go, the darker it gets. The darker it gets, the more interesting the light becomes.Welcome to the woods. Try not to get lost. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2025 Publication Media & Frequency Audio Publication Audio PublicationOne-time publicationElectronic Publication Electronic PublicationOne-time publicationPrint Publication Print PublicationOne-time publication Collapse section Fiction Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres Horror Open to all/most Subgenres Mystery/Crime Open to all/most Subgenres Romance Open to all/most Subgenres Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres Suspense/Thriller Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Dark, Humorous, Mainstream.Topics: Other: See guidelines, excluding May vary.Payment:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $0.06/word.Submissions:Method: Moksha submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are NOT allowed.Multiple entries: Unknown.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres Horror Open to all/most Subgenres Mystery/Crime Open to all/most Subgenres Romance Open to all/most Subgenres Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres Suspense/Thriller Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Poem: No line limits known.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Dark, Humorous, Mainstream.Topics: Other: See guidelines, excluding May vary.Payment:Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Professional payment. Details: USD $0.06/word.Submissions:Method: Moksha submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are NOT allowed.Multiple entries: Unknown.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to project webpage Report: Correction/Update Into the Deep, Dark Woods Anthology Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: All Categories Fiction Poetry Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 57 reports from 57 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 2 min | 25.2 mean avg | 18.5 median | 83 max days (25.1 std dev) Responses 98.25 % Acceptances: 3.51 % of submissions accepted (65.5 avg. days per acceptance) | 3.51 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 94.74 % (22.9 avg. days per rejection) | 25.9 % personal, 57.4 % form, 16.7 % unspecified | 19.3 % shortlisted Non-Responses 1.75 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: 1.75 % (59.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals - Other Information Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 03 Dec 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 18 Oct 2025. Date compiled: 07 Sep 2026 19:37 UTC (less than a minute ago). Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsConfounding Cupids: When Love Goes Awry CLOSEDFeisty Felines and Other Fantastical Familiars Anthology DNQMerciless Mermaids Anthology DNQMirror, Mirror Anthology DNQMonsters, Movies, and Mayhem Anthology CLOSEDSuperheroes, Super Problems NEW!UnMasked: Stories of Risk and Revelation DNQ Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 22 May 2026 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only