Tainted Glass Press

Tainted Glass Press is an independent publisher of literary horror, gothic, slipstream, and speculative fiction.

We think that all good stories begin with a question. We invite our contributors to approach from different perspectives, not necessarily to agree, or even to find a definitive answer. We're drawn to fiction that examines the familiar until it becomes strange, approaches the unknown with curiosity, and trusts the reader to discover meaning for themselves.

We believe our contributors are both collaborators and partners. We see collections as conversation between distinct voice.

Quota: This project has established a quota. Submissions will close when it is reached.

General Call Free Open

Closes on Sunday, November 15, 2026 11:59 PM CST (in 44 days).

Tainted Glass Press is accepting fiction for our inaugural open reading period, October 1 through November 15, 2026. We welcome submissions of literary horror, gothic, slipstream and speculative fiction. Please review the guidelines before submitting your work. We look forward to seeing what you bring to the conversation.
We anticipate curating a selection of 6 to 8 stories for publication, depending on length and composition.
Preferred Length: 2,000–8,000 words
Word count should reflect the story itself, including title, epigraphs, footnotes, end-notes, and any text that forms part of the narrative.
We are also accepting submissions of artwork,primarily for cover art, and anticipate selecting 1 to 2 pieces of interior artwork.

We do not accept PDF submissions for fiction. PDFs are excellent for finished books and terrible for editorial work. They create unnecessary complications during review, editing, and production, and ultimately create headaches for everyone involved, including you.

File Naming
CallName.LastNameFirstName.StoryTitle

Formatting
• Times New Roman
• 12-point font
• 1.5 line spacing
• 1-inch margins
• Left alignment
• Last Name,Story Title, and Page number in header

Simultaneous Submissions
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. We only ask that you notify us if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
Previously Published Work
We generally prioritize original, unpublished fiction. However, we will consider reprints on a case-by-case basis.r
Artificial Intelligence
We are interested in work created through human authorship.

Before You Submit

Ask yourself:
• What question inspired your piece?
• Why does that question matter to you?
• What compelled you to explore it?If you can answer those questions, we'd like to read your work.
Compensation
Contributors whose work is accepted for publication will receive a $10 honorarium and participate in a shared royalty pool. A full explanation of the royalty structure, including how royalties are calculated and distributed, is available on the submissions page of our website at https://www.taintedglasspress.com/#submissions We encourage all prospective contributors to review these terms before submitting.

Submit