The 300 Project Hollowpoint Press Gold Star Program Gold Star

The 300 Project: Issue #3

Rebirth from the Hearth

Holiday Horror Edition

Open Call for Submissions

Thematic Concept

We demand flash fiction that drags Holiday traditions into the unglimpsed dark. We want all subgenres of horror—psychological, supernatural, body, splatterpunk, folk, cosmic—used to craft terrifying, brutal holiday stories. The hearth, once the heart of the home, must become its charnel house where the concept of "rebirth" is not a gentle renewal but a violent, often grotesque, emergence from destruction. We are not seeking gentle tales with a dark twist; we want stories that are visceral and unflinching in their horror. The connection between the Holidays, the hearth, and this monstrous rebirth must be the unshakeable spine of your submission, whether the rebirth is literal, psychological, or metaphorical. Make us fear the sound of a crackling fire forever.

Submission Categories

- Flash Fiction (=2,500 words): not including the title.

- Visual Art: Depict your darkest vision of the theme. We want disturbing for this holiday.

Possible Interpretation Prompts

Domestic Horrors

1. The Christmas morning when a child's wish for a sibling is granted through the fireplace ashes

2. A family discovers their newly renovated fireplace contains the remains of previous owners who emerge each December 25th

3. Every 10 years, a Christmas Eve tradition where one family member must be sacrificed to the hearth to ensure the household's survival

4. A home security camera captures what really happens when the fireplace burns out each night

5. The Christmas ornaments aren't glass but crystallized ashes of previous inhabitants

Supernatural Manifestations

1. An ancient entity uses Christmas carols as summons, emerging from hearths where yule logs once burned

2. Santa's elves aren't making toys but rebuilding themselves from fireplace ashes each Christmas

3. The ghost of Christmas present manifests through soot stains that form living images on hearth stones

4. A cursed advent calendar opens a portal each day, bringing forth entities born of chimney ash

5. The Christmas star is actually a celestial being that descends through chimneys to collect souls

Festive Flesh

1. The Christmas turkey begins to reform and regenerate each time a piece is carved, with each regeneration becoming more human-like

2. A family discovers their Christmas tree ornaments are actually the preserved body parts of previous holiday guests

3. The gingerbread house they've built begins to develop a heartbeat and eventually consumes its creators

4. Christmas lights that pulse with the blood of the household members, growing brighter as their life force diminishes

5. The tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa takes a dark turn when Santa begins consuming the children of the family members who leave the offerings

Submission Call Details

Writers may use these prompts or create their own interpretations of the theme. All submissions must contain both Christmas/holiday elements and an interpretation of the concept "Rebirth from the Hearth" as central to the story.

Timeline

Submission Period: September 1, 2026, to October 24, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. MST

Publication: December 5, 2026

Submission Guidelines

1. Flash Fiction

Word Count: Maximum 2,500 words (not including the title)

Format: .docx only

Formatting: 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced. Include your name and email in the header.

We seek all subgenres of horror, from psychological to splatterpunk, to manifest as terrifying, brutal tales in which the holiday hearth becomes the hellish epicentre of a disturbing, grotesque rebirth.

2. Visual Art

Medium: All visual media are welcome (painting, illustration, photography, digital art, collage, etc.)

Submission: Single high-resolution image (minimum 300 DPI, longest dimension at least 2000 pixels) in .png format.

Content: Abstract or representational work is fine, but it must clearly engage with the theme of “Rebirth from the Hearth.”

Simultaneous Submissions: Accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Previously Published Work: No. All submissions must be original, unpublished work.

Rights: We acquire all first publication serial rights and the right to archive the work online for future artist spotlight. All entries will be considered for publication in an anthology by way of Honourable Mention. All entrants acknowledge that selected entries may be used as cover art or published content without additional royalties or fees. By submitting work, creators warrant that they have the full rights to grant this permission. All other rights revert to the author/artist upon first publication. Submitting to the contest is considered consent to the terms.

Payment: We are pleased to offer an anthology publication to First-, Second-, and Third-place winners, as well as selected Honourable Mentions. First place: $50 and one Print copy, Second Place: $25 and one print copy, Third Place: One Print copy.

Visual Arts: First Place: $25 and One Print Copy, Consideration for Cover.

How to Submit: Submit through Duosoma Submission Manager. Please attach your file(s) and include a brief third-person bio (up to 50 words) with your submission; if chosen, this will be published, so keep it polished as well as your story. Art submissions should include a title for the piece. Currently, submissions are not anonymous. There is also a link to the Duosoma submission manager on our website at www.hollowpointpress.ca/submissions.

What We're Looking For:

We demand flash fiction that drags Holiday traditions into the unglimpsed dark. We want all subgenres of horror—psychological, supernatural, body, splatterpunk, folk, cosmic—used to craft terrifying, brutal holiday stories. The hearth, once the heart of the home, must become its charnel house where the concept of "rebirth" is not a gentle renewal but a violent, often grotesque, emergence from destruction. We are not seeking gentle tales with a dark twist; we want stories that are visceral and unflinching in their horror. The connection between the Holidays, the hearth, and this monstrous rebirth must be the unshakeable spine of your submission, whether the rebirth is literal, psychological, or metaphorical. Make us fear the sound of a crackling fire forever.

Editorial Focus

At Hollowpoint Press, we love to push the boundaries and create the most memorable and emotionally scarring Holiday Horror you have ever experienced. Authors, bring your darkest tales and let's make our readers afraid to sit comfortably around their cozy hearths.

Submit