Submissions for Fall Issue Open

Worlds of Mystery Magazine’s first issue will haunt the stacks on the fall equinox, September 23rd. Rev up your morbid imagination and craft a spine chilling mystery tale that’s will keep our readers turning pages. Submissions are now open, but be careful, the coffin slams shut on August 23rd, 2026.

We are looking for a complete range of mystery stories from cozy mysteries to offbeat experimental yarns. As long as there’s a mystery to solve, send it our way. Be sure to send previously unpublished, original work only.

Fiction

Please submit your story in Shunn format. We’re looking for anything between 2500 to 5,000 words for short stories, we will need a true crime story of 2,000 words and a work in Spanish. The Spanish will be printed in the original language along with its translation. Translation will be completed in house with collaboration with the writer.

Poetry

For poetry we’re looking for 15 lines minimum with a maximum of 35. For these poems, think Poe. We like macabre, mysterious, haunting.

Artwork

Line drawings or half tone renderings will be accepted digitally or sent via snail mail. Our only stipulation or request is no AI. If you send using the post, include a self-address stamped envelope. We prefer digital copies, jpeg’s or png’s, simply to save postage for yourself and us.

Simultaneous Submissions

We don’t mind it; just drop us a line if you place it elsewhere. Good luck.

Payment

We pay in US dollars to contributors using PayPal. Our structure is as follows

Short stories: $35

True Crime: $20

Poetry: $20

Artwork: $25

We pay on acceptance.

First North American serial rights. After 90 days of publication these reverb back to the author.

Please send submissions to editor@worldsofmystery.com. Include the word “submission” in the subject line and paste the text into the body of the email. Response time is 2 weeks to a month. If you are sending artwork, drop us an email for physical contact information.

Good luck.