What we are seeking for this collection: Original, short stories created by the author submitting the story. We do not want reprints as part of our goal is to bring fresh stories to readers. We are purchasing first, exclusive rights to both print and digital publishing of this work in the world. The collection will be available in Kindle Unlimited for a period of 1 year from date of publication. After this time, the print and ebook will still be available, but the Kindle Unlimited exclusivity will be allowed to expire. Story ranges from 2500-9000 words. All sub genres of Science Fiction are acceptable, please include the sub genre you feel the story falls into if you like. This is purely for informational purposes for the selection committee. All voices are encouraged and acceptable, diversity is a wonderful thing. This extends to the characters in the stories as well. Delight and entertain us with your unique characters and the worlds they live in. Please submit your story in .DOC or .DOCX format. This will make it easier to compile the accepted submissions. Preferably 12pt, Times New Roman, 1.5 spaced for ease of reading.

Beneath the polished pages of every story lies a world shrouded in shadows—a world where the act of creation transforms into psychological madness fraught with terror. “Writers Retreat: Tales of Writing and Madness” is an anthology seeking to peel back the layers of the literary process to reveal the psychological horrors writers face daily. From the dreaded writer’s block to the malevolent spirits of rejection, this collection delves into the darkest corners of the creative mind, where the lines between reality and imagination blur. Think stories surrounding the psychological monster of writer’s block; fans who stalk their favourite authors to dangerous heights; newbie authors who make deals with cosmic overlords to get their work published; best-selling authors who secretly plagiarize material through witchcraft; editors who receive death threats from ghosts who were previously rejected. This anthology seeks to present the different facets of torment faced by those who dare shape their ideas into words with the wielding of a pen. The mundane nuisances of the writing world—plagiarism, pressure from fans, and incessant self-doubt—are what woven into narratives of chilling intensity, elevated by the infusion of supernatural elements and the exploration of the twisted depths of human nature.

Aries. Taurus. Gemini. Cancer. Leo. Virgo. Libra. Scorpio. Sagittarius. Capricorn. Aquarius. Pisces. It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying. Guidelines: Authors can submit multiple entries of one from each zodiac category, but only one of your pieces will be selected to allow as many names as possible in the collection. New writers take priority over any repeats from previous volumes. There is a cap of 6 repeat authors. If you have submissions in 2 previous volumes, then you are disqualified from this submission. Please email any final draft submissions to the email below with title and Zodiac sign you are selecting.