Off the Broken Path Dark Tales of Enchanted Forests A project of Cracked Anvil Press Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (June 2026). We provide the following information as an archive. About Cracked Anvil Press is accepting submissions for it’s Off the Broken Path: Dark Tales of Enchanted Forests anthology–a collection of grimdark and horror tales featuring enchanted forests.Tell us tales of enchanted forests. Stories filled with grit and gore. Tales of warning and woe. And if your story ends happily… make sure your characters bleed for it.We like to be surprised. Excited. Engaged. Preferring short, compact prose to long, drudgy sentences. Stories that move quickly, with subtle set ups and brutal pay offs. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2026 Publication Medium & Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationOne-time publication AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Fiction Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres Horror Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Other: See guidelines.Payment:Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) Token payment. Details: USD $5.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.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 Off the Broken Path 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: Group by submission Accuracy We have received 12 reports from 12 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 52 min | 64.4 mean avg | 61.5 median | 109 max days (17.0 std dev) Responses 100.00 % Acceptances: 16.67 % of submissions accepted (76.5 avg. days per acceptance) | 16.67 % 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: 83.33 % (61.4 avg. days per rejection) | 10.0 % personal, 70.0 % form, 20.0 % unspecified Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals - Pending 1 response is pending (135 days waiting). This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information Submissions are acknowledged within 6 days on average. Most recent response reported was received on 06 Aug 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 15 Jun 2026. Date compiled: 08 Oct 2026 01:31 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! 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: 15 Jun 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