What’s this all about?
The mission of MicroHorror.com is to be the Web’s premier free repository for horror microfiction. We went live on May 7, 2006. Come and enjoy the stories, and if you’re a writer, we invite you to contribute.
What is microfiction?
Microfiction is also referred to as flash fiction or short-short stories. The general goal of a microfiction author is to tell a story, set a mood or depict a scene in as few words as possible. There is no official limit on how long a story can be before it no longer qualifies, but on MicroHorror.com, you will find no stories longer than 666 words.
What’s so special about horror microfiction?
Unfortunately, this is a question that can only be answered by an opinion. As for me, I’m a horror fan just like I assume you to be. I like to be scared and disturbed by what I read. I also love short-short stories, and love the emotional impact that can be crammed into a few well chosen words. Horror, I’ve come to believe, is particularly well suited to the microfiction form, and the best horror microfiction can be as brief and shocking as a punch to the stomach.
What are the guidelines for submitting stories?
There are three main rules for submissions: Stories need to be in the horror genre, they need to be under 666 words, and most importantly, they need to be written by you.
Who’s in charge around here?
That would be me, I suppose. Nathan Rosen. Nice to meet you. I’m the founder and editor, and I’m extremely pleased that I’m not the only writer. Anything you see around here written in the first person (other than stories, of course, but you knew that) probably refers to me. Any questions, comments or submissions can be sent to me at microhorror@gmail.com.
How can I send you a story I’ve written?
Just E-mail me at microhorror@gmail.com. Please make sure you include the following:
- The text of the story, of course, either in the body of the E-mail or as an attachment.
- The title of the story.
- Your full name and/or nom de plume.
- The copyright year of the story. If you leave this out, I’ll assume that the story was written this year.
- This is optional, but if you’re a first-time contributor, I’d love to hear how you found out about MicroHorror.com.
Can I submit a story written by somebody else?
No. I’m sorry, but I can only accept stories submitted by their authors.
I wrote this story, but I’ve already published it in print/elsewhere on the Web. Can I still submit it to you?
Absolutely. I’ll gladly accept submissions that appear elsewhere, as long as you, the author, still hold the copyright.
May I send you more than one story at once?
Yes, absolutely. Multiple submissions in a single E-mail or attachment are very much welcome.
Do you publish stories in languages other than English?
I’m sorry, but no. I apologize to all international horror fans. English is my first and best language, and is the only language in which I feel comfortable performing the duties of editor, so MicroHorror.com must be, of necessity, an English-only site. HOWEVER! I am also moderately skilled at speaking Spanish, so if Spanish is your first language, I may be able to translate your stories into English for you. E-mail me if you have any questions.
Who holds the copyright to the stories on MicroHorror.com?
All stories are copyright their authors. MicroHorror.com assumes only the limited right to publish submitted stories on this site.
I submitted a story, but you never wrote me back to say if it was accepted or not. What kind of lazy, inattentive bum are you?
I try to respond to all submissions as quickly as possible, and my turnaround time is usually three days at most. If I know I’ll be out of town or otherwise incommunicado, I’ll make a note of it on the front page. That said, sometimes glitches happen, whether technological or anthropogenic. If you submit a story and don’t hear back from me within 7 days, I probably never saw your E-mail. Please notify me and resend it.
I submitted a story, but I don’t want it to be up on MicroHorror anymore. How can I get it removed?
It’s always sad to lose a story from the archives, but if you submitted a story and want to change your mind for any reason, just E-mail me and I’ll remove it immediately.
You published my story. Can you post my bio or a link to my site?
It would be my pleasure. E-mail it to me and I’ll put it up.
I wrote a story which appears on MicroHorror, but I didn’t submit it to you!
No editor wants to have to face something like this. Suffice it to say that I will take any accusations of plagiarism very seriously. If I ever find out that somebody has submitted a story that he or she didn’t write, not only will the plagiarized story be deleted, but so will everything else the plagiarist has submitted, and the submitter will be permanently banned from making any submissions in the future. I’m trying to run a clean ship here, and plagiarism is the one sin I can’t overlook.
I would like those submission guidelines phrased more legally, please.
No problem.
By the act of submitting a story to Nathan Rosen and MicroHorror.com, you agree that you grant us the nonexclusive right to publish your work on our World Wide Web site. All other rights to the work belong to you. You guarantee that this work is your own and that you have the right to grant us the use of it. We will print a copyright notice in your name and, if requested, a publication history along with the work. It is the author’s responsibility to register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office or other relevant government body if desired. We will encode your work in HTML format for Web publication. Minor alterations to the text and/or title may be made to correct spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. You may withdraw permission to publish at any time by sending written notice to microhorror@gmail.com, and your work will be removed from our website within one week of receipt of such notice. These policies may be subject to change.
Note: I hate to have to say this explicitly, but I can’t guarantee that every submission I recieve that meets the guidelines will be published. I’m the owner and editor, so I’ve got the dictatorial fiat. Believe me, I’m trying to build the archives as fast as I can, but if I don’t want to publish a story for whatever reason, I won’t publish it. Sorry.