Iron & Salt Press: Short Story Free Tip Jar Option

We're OPEN for short stories in the areas of mystery, horror, crime, and thriller!

We want to see: layers, plot-driven narratives, and delicious foreshadowing. We’re not afraid of monsters, gore, or the gritty, dark alley... but everything should serve a purpose.

Limit: up to 5,000 words

Please use Modern SHUNN format (omit your physical address and phone number).

Helpful, but not necessary, to include one of our section headers for your piece:

A Clue: for mysteries
It’s Inside: for horror—all forms but we’re especially fond of cryptids
The Crime Log: for crimes and police procedurals
Wait For Me: for thrillers that fit us but don’t really fit the other categories

AI Statement: ABSOLUTELY NO GENERATIVE AI at any point of the process.

Rights: Iron & Salt Press requests the right to digitally publish and archive, exclusive for six months, selected pieces received through open submissions. Authors retain copyright.

Short story submissions are always free and open to the public. New stories available every other Saturday.

Short story contributors receive a three-month subscription, including archive access to the mystery, horror, crime, and thriller sections.

All selected contributors are invited to complete a short, text-based interview.

Category: Fiction
File types: .doc, .docx, .odt
Number of Pieces: 1 piece

Anonymous submissions are not required.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Reprints are allowed. (Please cite your previous publication.)
Multiple entries are not allowed.

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