Submissions

Introduction

HoundsGate Press is assembling a small anthology of work by writers who backed Zerowriter Ink or Zerowriter Fold.

Publication is planned for May 2027.

Eligibility

Open only to backers of Zerowriter Ink or Zerowriter Fold. Proof of backer status must be included: either a receipt for your Zerowriter purchase or a screenshot of your backer number, which we will verify with Zerowriter. Entries without valid proof will be denied. While we focus mostly on science fiction and fantasy, all genres will be accepted for this anthology!

One submission only. Pick one category: short story, flash fiction, poetry, or a short play / audio manuscript. Do not send more than one piece.

Who can submit: Anyone 18 or older, from anywhere in the world. Only pieces written in English are accepted at this time.

Theme

“Zero“
Zero doesn’t have to be named, but it should be implied in the work. Bonus points if you sneak it in with some wit in a genre or story where it’s not obvious 😉

The work should stand on its own for a reader who has never used a Zerowriter — this is a theme of Zero, not a piece about the Zerowriter tool.

What we accept:

• Short stories, up to 8,000 words will be considered but preference will be given to those under 6000 so more stories can be shared.
• Flash fiction, up to 1,000 words.
• Poetry: 2 small poems up to 50 lines each, or 1 long poem up to 100 lines
• Short plays (one-act only), screenplays, or audio manuscripts, up to 8,000 words (about 55 script pages), written to be performed or recorded. Full-length plays are not accepted. We will consider plays up to 8,000 words, but shorter plays will be given preference.

All genres are accepted in this Anthology. State the genre in the cover note. If the piece contains sexual content, graphic violence, or other material a reader should know about before opening the file, say so.

What we will not read or accept

No on-page rape. No child exploitation, child abuse, or child sexual content, in any form, on the page. Do not send it.

Death is permitted and, for this theme, expected. Sustained graphic violence that in no way moves the plot will likely be declined.

AI policy

AI-generated work is not accepted. We will consider AI-assisted work only when the assistance is limited to spell check, grammar check, and similar tools.

How finished the work should be

Submit work you would be willing to read in a public venue. Edit it before you send it. Minor edits may be requested after acceptance. We will not do a full developmental edit at this time.

Previously published work

Unpublished work will be given priority; however, reprints are allowed. If the piece has appeared anywhere a reader could find it, tell us where and when, and confirm you have the right to reprint it. Self-publication counts as previous publication. If it’s been placed in the Discord for people to read, let us know.

Rights

You keep your copyright to your individual pieces.

If accepted, you grant HoundsGate Press:

• Exclusive English-language rights to publish the work in this anthology, in print and ebook, for six months from the anthology’s publication date.
• A non-exclusive right, after that window, to keep the work in this anthology and to list and sell the anthology on the HoundsGate website and the usual retail platforms.
• Audio rights for this anthology only, if an audiobook is produced — exclusive for the same six months from publication, then non-exclusive, and only as part of the anthology audiobook

A short play or audio manuscript is accepted for the book and, if an audiobook is made, for performance in that anthology recording only. We do not take stage, film, or standalone audio rights.

We do not take rights to publish the piece alone, in another book, or in translation. After the exclusive window you may reprint the work anywhere.

Acceptance is confirmed only when both sides sign a short agreement. That agreement will state the rights between you and HoundsGate Press.

Payment and proceeds

No payment, royalty, or advance.

Proceeds means money left after print costs, ebook fees, and production costs. Those net proceeds from sales will be donated during the first year of publication. The recipient of said donation will be a cause approved by Zerowriter staff and HoundsGate Press, named before publication.

Contributor copies are not guaranteed at this time.

Format

Short stories and flash in standard manuscript format:

• .docx preferred, or .rtf. No PDF.
• 12-point Times New Roman or Courier
• Double-spaced, 1-inch margins, first line of each paragraph indented, no extra space between paragraphs
• Scene breaks marked with a centered #
• Title, your name or pen name, email, word count, and genre on the first page
• Header with last name, title, and page number

Poetry may be single-spaced, in the same font and file type.

Short plays and audio manuscripts may use standard play format: character names centered or in small caps, dialogue under the name, brief stage or audio directions in parentheses. Same font, file type, title page, and header as above. Cap is 8,000 words (about 55 script pages); one-act plays only, no full-length plays.

Do not paste the piece into the body of the email.

File name: Lastname_Title.docx

What to send in the email:

One email. Manuscript attached. Cover note included. Cover note can be in the body of the email or attached as its own file.

• Legal name and pen name (if a pen name is used)
• Email
• Title, category, word or line count, genre
• Content note, if needed
• Previous publication details, or a statement that the work is unpublished
• Proof you backed Zerowriter Ink or Zerowriter Fold
• A bio of up to 50 words, as you want it printed in the anthology
• A statement that the work is yours and that you have the rights you are offering
• An AI statement. Generative AI prose and verse are not allowed. Spelling, grammar, and similar assistive tools are allowed.

How to submit

Email: HoundsGatePress@gmail.com

Subject line: Zero anthology: Title

Dates

We do not send confirmation that a submission was received. If you have not received an acceptance or denial email one month after submitting, please send us an inquiry about the status of your submission.

Simultaneous submissions

No. Do not send work that is under consideration anywhere else. This press cannot manage a withdrawal queue. If the piece is out elsewhere, wait until it is free, then submit.

Where will it be published?

This will likely be placed on Amazon so it can be accessed worldwide and printed on demand without juggling suppliers and shipping.

Edits after acceptance

If any edits are requested, they will be approved by the author before publication.

Questions

Any other questions? Please reach us through our contact form.