General Submission Guidelines
Macabre Magazine – General Submission Guidelines
Updated: 21 October 2025
Macabre Magazine is a professional horror publication devoted exclusively to genre storytelling and dark artistic expression. We publish fiction, poetry, nonfiction, artwork, and multimedia that explore the full scope of horror—from the psychological to the supernatural, from the quiet to the grotesque. Our mission is to uphold the highest standards of craft, creativity, and professional integrity within horror publishing.
Accepted Formats
Specific requirements for each category are detailed on their respective submission pages.
We accept submissions year-round in the following categories:
Fiction
Jimmy Blakemore
Poetry
Jimmy Blakemore
Nonfiction
Jimmy Blakemore
Artwork
Jimmy Blakemore
Short Film and Video
Jimmy Blakemore
General Considerations
• Submissions are open year-round and accepted exclusively through Duosuma.
• Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but contributors must notify us immediately if a work is accepted elsewhere.
• Previously published work will not be considered, except by prior arrangement with the editorial board.
• All work must be original and submitted by the creator.
• Contributors may have one active submission per category at a time. A new submission may be sent only after a decision has been issued on the prior one.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and the Blind Review Process
Macabre Magazine adheres to a strict blind review process designed to ensure fairness, impartiality, and absolute integrity in editorial evaluation. Every submission is reviewed without any identifying information visible to the editors or reviewers until a final decision—acceptance or declination—has been rendered.
Our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion is grounded in the principle of true equality through impartiality. We believe that the only meaningful path to inclusion is one that removes all forms of bias—positive or negative—from the submission and review process. Accordingly, we do not request or consider personal demographic data, identity markers, or cultural affiliations at any stage of editorial review. This means that no contributor receives preferential or prejudicial treatment based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, political affiliation, or any other personal characteristic.
In practice, this ensures that every piece accepted for publication in Macabre Magazine is chosen solely for its artistic merit, technical execution, originality, and alignment with our mission to advance the art and genre of horror.
Rights and Terms of Publication
Upon acceptance, Macabre Magazine acquires the following rights:
• Exclusive First Serial Rights — Exclusive publication rights for six (6) months in English following release. During this period, the work may not appear elsewhere in print or online. However, exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the editorial team upon prior written notice from the contributor, for approved reprints or special features, provided that any subsequent publication includes the acknowledgment: “Originally published in Macabre Magazine.”
• Archival Rights — Non-exclusive, perpetual rights to display and preserve the work in Macabre Magazine’s digital archives, anthologies, or affiliated platforms.
• Promotional Rights — Perpetual rights to reproduce excerpts, stills, or short clips from the work for marketing, publicity, and review purposes that promote both the contributor and the magazine.
• Syndication and Reprint Rights — After the six-month exclusivity period, Macabre Magazine may feature selected works or excerpts in curated “Best Of” editions or offer reprints to recognized horror-genre outlets (e.g., Rue Morgue, Daily Dead, Horror DNA) with full contributor credit and clear acknowledgment of Macabre Magazine as the original publisher.
• Anthology Rights — Non-exclusive right to republish accepted works in future anthologies, special editions, or collected volumes, with full contributor credit.
• Audio Rights — Non-exclusive right to produce, publish, and distribute narrated or audio-adapted versions of accepted works on Macabre Magazine’s official media platforms.
• Audio-Visual Rights — Non-exclusive right to adapt or incorporate accepted works within multimedia presentations, promotional videos, or editorial showcases. The contributor retains all film, television, dramatic, and theatrical rights.
• Video and Short Film Rights — Non-exclusive, perpetual archival and exhibition rights to host, stream, and maintain accepted short films or video submissions on Macabre Magazine’s official websites and official distribution channels. These rights include use of stills or excerpts for promotional or editorial purposes. All other commercial and distribution rights remain with the creator.
• Award and Nomination Rights — Right to nominate accepted works—written, audio, or film—for professional or genre-recognized awards, prizes, or external anthologies, including but not limited to the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, the Bram Stoker Awards, and reputable film festivals (e.g., Horrible Imaginings Film Festival, Panic Fest, Nightmares Film Festival). Nominations will always be made in the creator’s name with full credit to Macabre Magazine as the original publisher or exhibitor.
All other rights revert to the contributor six (6) months after publication. Copyright remains with the creator at all times. Macabre Magazine claims no ownership beyond the rights listed above.
Editing and Publication
Accepted works undergo professional editing, including line editing, copyediting, and proofreading, in accordance with The Chicago Manual of Style and Macabre Magazine’s internal editorial standards. Edits serve solely to ensure clarity, correctness, and consistency without altering authorial voice or creative intent.
Macabre Magazine publishes on a bi-monthly schedule, releasing online and digital issues on the thirteenth (13th) of every other month. Selection for inclusion in the digital or print edition is at the discretion of the editorial board.
Compensation and Membership
• Macabre Magazine does not currently offer monetary payment.
• Contributors whose work appears in the digital or print edition may receive a complimentary digital copy of the issue, subject to inclusion and availability.
• All accepted contributors, regardless of edition or format, may elect to receive a one-year complimentary membership to the American Horror Society, granting access to professional resources, networking, and member-only events.
Final Provisions
Submission to Macabre Magazine constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of these terms in full. The editorial board reserves the right to revise these guidelines without prior notice; however, such revisions shall not retroactively alter the rights of works already accepted for publication.
