Submission Call: Uncertain Stories
As well as producing our own anthologies, The Fiction Desk handles submissions for our partner publisher, Uncertain Stories.
Deadline: Open now. Deadline Friday, 30th January , 2026.
Word count: 1,000-15,000 words
Submission fee: standard (see submission guidelines).
Payment and rights: standard (see submission guidelines).
How to submit: Read the submission guidelines, then send us your story through our submission form. We read all submissions we receive with both houses in mind, but if you think your story is particularly suited to Uncertain Stories, choose the ‘Uncertain Stories’ submission type at the top of the form.
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In some ways, Uncertain Stories was founded as a dedicated home for The Fiction Desk's increasingly inadequately-named 'New Ghost Stories' series of anthologies (which have always included much more than just traditional ghost stories). We're looking for the kind of supernatural and speculative fiction that takes place more-or-less here, more-or-less now.
If you've read any of The Fiction Desk's 'New Ghost Stories' anthologies (New Ghost Stories IV is available now), you'll have an idea of what to expect, and what we're looking for. You can also find out more about the first Uncertain Stories anthology, and order your own copy, here: Broken Ground from Uncertain Stories.
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Notes
- Any story submitted through The Fiction Desk's form will be read with both publishers in mind.
- If you'd prefer not to be considered for a certain publisher, that's fine too! Just pop a note in the 'synopsis' section of the form, and we'll rule that publisher out for your work.
- If you feel your story would be particularly well suited to Uncertain Stories, just chose that option in the 'submission type' dropdown at the top of the submission form.
- Consideration for both publishers is included in our submission fee, at no extra cost.
- You'll still just receive a single response, covering our decision for both publishers.
- You can find out more about Uncertain Stories at www.uncertainstories.com.
