Before You Submit
Whether you’re ready to submit your story or just want to understand the process, please take a moment to review the rules before submitting below. It’s important to ensure everything is in order before you take the next step.
Contest Rules
- No entry fee is required.
- Open to all writers worldwide. No prior publication experience is required.
- One submission per entrant. Submissions are final. No revisions to a work will be accepted after submission.
- All entries must be original works of fiction written by the submitting author. Plagiarism or content generated or created by software or artificial intelligence will be disqualified.
- Word Count: Stories must be between 1,500–4,000 words. Entries outside this range will not be considered.
- Entries must be submitted electronically.
- Manuscripts must be clearly formatted and readable. Double-spacing is recommended but not required.
- All entries must have a cover page with the title of the work, author’s name, pen name (if applicable), email, and word count. No personal identifying information is to be in the manuscript beyond the cover page.
- Submissions must be in .doc or .docx format. All other file types will not be accepted.
- Rights:
- Authors grant one-time print and digital publication rights for inclusion in the XXXX anthology.
- The Hollow Archives also retains the right to reprint the anthology in future editions or formats (for example, if additional copies are printed after the first run).
- The Hollow Archives reserves the right to include accepted stories in a future “best of” collection (such as a volume featuring past winners). Authors will be notified in advance if their work is selected for reprint.
- No other rights are claimed. After a six-month exclusivity period, all rights revert fully to the author.
- The Hollow Archives may make minor grammatical or typographical corrections to accepted stories to ensure consistency in the final anthology. Substantial edits will not be made without the author’s approval.
Theme and Content
The Hollow Archives Presents: The Book of Thresholds
Theme: Doorways and Thresholds
Doorways mark the places where one world ends and another begins. They are moments of pause, thresholds where intent matters and where choice carries weight. Some doors open easily. Others may resist, demand keys, rituals, or sacrifice.
Beyond the frame lies change. A crossing may grant knowledge, freedom, or power, but it may just as easily take something in return. A familiar room may give way to a vast and impossible space. A simple passage may lead somewhere that was never meant to be found.
This anthology explores doorways, thresholds, and points of entry, both literal or symbolic, where the known gives way to the unknowable. Whether your story centers on an ancient gate, a forgotten room, a social boundary, or a moment of irreversible transition, the crossing must matter. Once the threshold is passed, there is no guarantee that anything remains the same.
- Stories should explore speculative fiction with an emphasis on the uncanny, the liminal, and the unknown.
- Stories should emphasize atmosphere, tension, and a sense of the unknown over excess or shock value. Disturbing, dark, or unsettling elements are welcome when they serve the story, but gratuitous violence, explicit sexual content, or extreme material included solely for provocation is discouraged. Speculative fiction is at its strongest when suggestion, implication, and consequence carry the weight of the narrative. Submissions that rely primarily on excessive gore, explicit content, or vulgarity may be disqualified at the judges’ discretion.
- Great speculative fiction thrives on atmosphere, ambiguity, and the power of implication. Whether rooted in horror, fantasy, or science fiction, the most lasting stories often explore the unknown through restraint, mood, and discovery rather than excess. If you’re looking for points of reference, the authors below are known for work that lingers or invite wonder. Your story does not need to imitate their styles, but their writing offers insight into how speculative ideas can resonate beyond the final page.
- Ursula K. Le Guin
- Arthur Machen
- Clive Barker
- Ray Bradbury
- John Langan
- Laird Barron
- M.R. James
- Gene Wolfe
- Shirley Jackson
- Thomas Ligotti
Submission and Judging
- Submissions must be received by April 15, 2026. Submissions after this date will not be considered.
- Winners and selected stories are expected to be announced by Mid-February 2026.
- Winners will be contacted prior to the announcement date via email.
- A panel of judges will evaluate based on:
- Adherence to Theme
- Does the story meaningfully incorporate doorways, thresholds, or acts of crossing either literal or symbolic?
- Does it engage speculative elements in a way that supports atmosphere, tension, or transformation?
- Originality & Creativity
- Is the story unique and imaginative?
- Does it bring a fresh perspective or unexpected twists?
- Writing Quality
- Is the prose engaging, clear, and well-crafted?
- Does the writing enhance the mood and atmosphere?
- Narrative & Structure
- Is there a strong beginning, middle, and end?
- Does the story flow logically while maintaining tension and engagement?
- Emotional & Psychological Impact
- Does the story leave a lasting impression through a sense of discovery, transformation, or unease?
- Does it evoke wonder, curiosity, or tension as the narrative unfolds?
- Stories that resonate beyond the final page or push creative boundaries may stand out.
- Adherence to Theme
Prizes and Awards
- There will be four cash prizes:
- A First Prize of $150
- A Second Prize of $100
- A Third Prize of $50
- A Contributor Award of $20 (awarded to a number of stories selected for inclusion in the anthology print.)
- All prize winners and all accepted stories will also receive a physical copy of the “The Hollow Archives Presents: The Book of Thresholds” anthology.
- Authors under the age of 18 whose work is selected for publication or receives a cash prize must have a signed consent form from a parent or legal guardian before payment is issued and publication proceeds. Failure to return a signed consent form within 14 days of notification may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate recipient.
READY TO SUBMIT?
If you’ve reviewed all the rules and you’re ready to share your story with us, click the link below to begin your submission process. We can’t wait to read your work!