Submission Guidelines
Januart 26, 2026
Correction: We're not closing subs temporarily.
We're closing up shop forever after ONE more issue.
That's right.
After three years, hundreds of dollars, and much deliberation, we have decided that March 2026 will be our final issue.
I began this project after a long illness as a way to get into the habit of writing short stories regularly. I knew if a readership kept me accountable, I'd write more. And I did. Then we invited other writers to submit. Over the last three years, I've gotten to work with some exceptional writers, editors, and artists who have helped make our mag a really unique, varied, passionate publication you simply cannot find anywhere else.
Plus, we scared the hell out of our readers, produced some hearty guffaws, and helped a bunch of writers join HWA if they so desired. We also had the pleasure of publishing a bunch of first-timers. We feel good about all that, even as we close our doors and inbox.
That said, the Mentally Oddcast will continue.
All proceeds from the KoFi page will transfer to the show.
Thanks to everyone for your support.
--Wednesday Lee Friday
& H.
(updated Jan 5, 2026)
--Have an idea for a feature article or a regular column? Pitch us all about it. Pay negotiable.
How do we want it? Your submission should be in a doc or docx format. 12 point type in a reasonable font. Double-spaced. One space after a full-stop. No headers, footers, or page numbers.
Hi, and thanks for your interest in submitting to Sometimes Hilarious Horror.
We're really proud of our little mag and excited to check out your submission.
If selected, we’ll include your submission in an upcoming issue of Sometimes Hilarious Horror, which can be found on the Sometimes Hilarious Horror Ko-Fi page. Payment for selected original short stories is $25. In addition to publication of your story, we’ll ask you to complete a short interview so our readers can get to know you. Guest authors are encouraged (though not required) to market their appearance on social media and to your existing readership, families, etc. Sometimes Hilarious Horror magazine also supports the Mentally Oddcast.
What are we looking for? Great Question!
If selected, we’ll include your submission in an upcoming issue of Sometimes Hilarious Horror, which can be found on the Sometimes Hilarious Horror Ko-Fi page. Payment for selected original short stories is $25. In addition to publication of your story, we’ll ask you to complete a short interview so our readers can get to know you. Guest authors are encouraged (though not required) to market their appearance on social media and to your existing readership, families, etc. Sometimes Hilarious Horror magazine also supports the Mentally Oddcast.
What are we looking for? Great Question!
--Original, unpublished short horror stories of up to 15,000 words
(pay $25)
--Submissions of 1-4 original, unpublished horror-centric poems with a central or connecting theme (pay $25).
--Reprints (previously published work that you currently own the rights to) of the above categories. (pay $10)
--Novel chapters will be considered provided they are a complete narrative. (pay $10)
--Cover art (pay $25). Accepted artists are also invited to be interviewed for the issue in which their work appears.
--Submissions of 1-4 original, unpublished horror-centric poems with a central or connecting theme (pay $25).
--Reprints (previously published work that you currently own the rights to) of the above categories. (pay $10)
--Novel chapters will be considered provided they are a complete narrative. (pay $10)
--Cover art (pay $25). Accepted artists are also invited to be interviewed for the issue in which their work appears.
--Have an idea for a feature article or a regular column? Pitch us all about it. Pay negotiable.
How do we want it? Your submission should be in a doc or docx format. 12 point type in a reasonable font. Double-spaced. One space after a full-stop. No headers, footers, or page numbers.
Art should be in jpg or png format. Watermarks are preferred for both of our protection. If your work is accepted, we'll get clean copies from you before publication.
Simultaneous subs are okay so long as you let us know if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
What if my horror is actually very dark comedy? We would very much like to read it. We suggest always using the most inclusive definition of horror possible. Horror fan straddle many genres, and its own subgenres can leap into other genres as well. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t forget to scare us or make us laugh in a deeply dark way.
How long after I submit will I know if I’m accepted? Oh gosh...we really dropped the ball on this. We honestly can't say. We have hundreds of submissions and only 8 slots for a quarterly mag. While you're waiting to hear from us, why not subscribe? When I was coming up as a writer, it was considered bad form to submit to a publication you didn't read at least once.
Can I use generative AI to write my story or make my cover art? In a word: No. Your contract will stipulate that your work is entirely created by humans. If AI wants to publish AI work, it can start its own magazine.
What if my horror is actually very dark comedy? We would very much like to read it. We suggest always using the most inclusive definition of horror possible. Horror fan straddle many genres, and its own subgenres can leap into other genres as well. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t forget to scare us or make us laugh in a deeply dark way.
How long after I submit will I know if I’m accepted? Oh gosh...we really dropped the ball on this. We honestly can't say. We have hundreds of submissions and only 8 slots for a quarterly mag. While you're waiting to hear from us, why not subscribe? When I was coming up as a writer, it was considered bad form to submit to a publication you didn't read at least once.
Can I use generative AI to write my story or make my cover art? In a word: No. Your contract will stipulate that your work is entirely created by humans. If AI wants to publish AI work, it can start its own magazine.
Note: How you edit your own prose is your business. But if your sub starts with "Sure! Here's that same story with more suspense:" we will reject your story and ask you not to submit to us ever again. We will not forget.
Is Sometimes Hilarious Horror in print? Not yet. But we will be when we have enough subscribers. We’d love to make it a quarterly print publication.
Is Sometimes Hilarious Horror in print? Not yet. But we will be when we have enough subscribers. We’d love to make it a quarterly print publication.
Why isn't Sometimes Hilarious Horror available on Amazon? Amazon supports fascism. We do not. Find us on Kofi.
How many stories do you feature? Right now, eight per issue. Our hope though, is to bring in as many as ten new authors with interviews in every issue. We know the talent is out there and we want more than anything to put it on blast.
Will my work get edited? Yes. Your work will be read and returned to you with suggested edits. You, not we, make the final editing decisions. That said, your work should be free from errors and presented to us as if it won’t be edited. Like the old spaghetti sauce commercial used to say—perfect is a great place to start.
Where do I sent it? wednes@sometimeshilarioushorror.com
Include a cover letter detailing your publishing history, other things you’ve written, your website or social media links. Thanks!
How many stories do you feature? Right now, eight per issue. Our hope though, is to bring in as many as ten new authors with interviews in every issue. We know the talent is out there and we want more than anything to put it on blast.
Will my work get edited? Yes. Your work will be read and returned to you with suggested edits. You, not we, make the final editing decisions. That said, your work should be free from errors and presented to us as if it won’t be edited. Like the old spaghetti sauce commercial used to say—perfect is a great place to start.
Where do I sent it? wednes@sometimeshilarioushorror.com
Include a cover letter detailing your publishing history, other things you’ve written, your website or social media links. Thanks!
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