Emerging Voices in Speculative Horror Prize

A project of NECKSNAP Magazine

Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (June 2026). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

This collaborative contest is seeking to highlight emerging voices in speculative horror.
As a collaborative contest, we are looking for work that contains speculative elements, such as magical realism, the paranormal, and/or sci-fi. We want the odd, the exciting, the experimental. Give us your weirdest.
NECKSNAP centers around experimental horror, while M E N A C E focuses on speculative fiction with a horror bent. Think about how you might blend these elements in your contest submission.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, except for BIPOC or historically marginalized writers for the first week of the contest.
The fee is USD $5 (below average for contests).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States

Established in 2026

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication: One-time contest

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

Fiction Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Horror Subgenres: Magic Realism, Paranormal, Science Fiction Horror

Lengths:

Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $300 grand prize.

Submissions:

Method: Online form.
Reprints: Unknown.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

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Go to contest webpage

Report:
Correction/Update

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Emerging Voices in Speculative Horror Prize 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.

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Accuracy

We have received 5 reports from 5 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

6 min | 38.0 mean avg | 41.0 median | 58 max days (22.1 std dev)

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $3.00.
Most recent response reported was received on 08 Aug 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 15 Jun 2026.
Date compiled: 17 Sep 2026 19:03 UTC (4 hours, 36 minutes ago).

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Before Submitting

We 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.

Dates

Last Updated: 15 Jun 2026