SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Thanks to everyone who submitted. Acceptances and rejections will go out in January.
What We Want: VIRGINIA FANTASTIC invites you to weave strange and wondrous speculative fiction that reimagines the Commonwealth of Virginia as a land of mystery, magic, and the unexpected.
From the misty peaks of the Blue Ridge to the haunted shores of the Chesapeake Bay, we seek flash stories that infuse Virginia’s iconic landscapes, history, and culture with the supernatural.
Picture the historic streets of Williamsburg as a stage for ghostly revolutionaries, or the caverns of Luray hiding ancient, otherworldly secrets. What if the James River were a conduit for time-traveling spirits, or the neon glow of Virginia Beach’s boardwalk masked a portal to a cosmic realm? Imagine Monticello as a hub for arcane experiments, or the battlefields of Manassas whispering with restless specters plotting their return.
We crave tales that blend the eerie with Virginia’s natural beauty, historic depth, and quirky charm. Whether it’s a chilling encounter on the Appalachian Trail, a magical uprising in Richmond’s Fan District, or a futuristic twist on Norfolk’s naval legacy, your story should make readers see the Commonwealth in a haunting new light. We welcome speculative fiction of all stripes: fantasy, horror, sci-fi, or magical realism, that transforms Virginia’s landmarks, legends, and hidden corners into realms of wonder and unease.
What We Don’t Want:Your trunk stories with a couple of references to the Virginia bolted on.
Requirements: Stories must contain a speculative element (Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Slipstream, Magical Realism) and take place in Virginia.
Feel free to mash genres and include Mystery, Romance, Western, etc. The only thing we won’t accept is Erotica.
Remember Virginia use to look like this:
And this:
Sex, Violence & Language: We’re looking for the equivalent of PG-13. No gore. No explicit sex. In CHARLOTTESVILLE FANTASTIC we had one F-bomb in the entire anthology.
Word Length:700 to 1000 words. Strict Limits
Original Stories Only: No reprints
Format: Shunn Standard or Modern Manuscript Format. If you’re not familiar refer to this website: https://www.shunn.net/format/
Use three asterisks to indicate a scene break. Italics for italics. Curly (not straight) apostrophes and quotation marks. DOC or DOCX file format. DON’T USE THE TAB KEY.
We’re are conducting blind submissions. Follow the Shunn Format, but remove your name.
Eligibility: While stories must take place in Virginia, writers from anywhere in the world are welcome.
You must be 18 years of age by January 15, 2026 or have the permission of a parent or guardian to submit.
Simultaneous Submissions: Don’t. This is the fastest way to get on our list.
Multiple Submissions:You may submit up to five stories. Two stories (MAX) per author will be chosen for the anthology.
Generative AI: No
Payment:
U$5 upon publication
eCopy of the book
Digital copy of the audiobook (if produced)
Right to buy unlimited author print copies at 40% of retail price.
Rights:
We are buying exclusive worldwide English language rights (print and electronic) for one year after publication day. And the non-exclusive worldwide English language rights (print and electronic) in perpetuity.
Acceptances:
We will not be sending out acceptances (or rejections) until after the submission period closes on December 15th.
Projected Timeline:
September 15, 2025 – Submissions Open
December 15, 2025 – Submissions Close
January 31, 2026 – Acceptances go out. Contracts signed.
February 1-28, 2026 – Copy Editing
March 1, 2026 – Cover Commissioned
March 1-13, 2026 – Proofreading
April 1, 2026 – ARCs go out to advanced reviewers/blurbers
May 19, 2026 – PUBLICATION DAY
Questions? Email us at WhitakerLyonPress [at] Gmail.com