Anthology 2: Sine Die

Submissions Are Open

The Capital Horror Presents

Sine Die: An Anthology of Political Horror

Horror lives where those in power seek to control.

The Capital Horror is accepting submissions for our second standalone anthology, a collection devoted entirely to political horror.

We are looking for short fiction that explores the terror of organizations, power structures, procedure, rules, and consensus. Think Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory or George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.

We are not interested only in corrupt politicians; we want to see the rot that festers deep inside the structures of society.

What We're Looking For:

We love fiction that is character-driven, voice-forward, and willing to take risks. Your work should feel inevitable in retrospect and deeply unsettling in the moment. Political horror can be broad, but it must also be personal. We are talking about the people inside the system, not just the system itself.

We are drawn to work that treats its characters as fully human even as it dismantles them. In other words, character and relationships first…horror second.

Some concepts to help contributors guide their submission choices:

Bureaucracy, borders, surveillance, custody, elections, inheritance, public health, debt, and labor.

Fictional governments, officials, or institutions are strongly encouraged.

Stories set during actual historical periods are welcome, provided actual people are not depicted engaging in invented actions.

We are not looking for political satire.

We also will not accept submissions that name any actual politicians, political parties, or current/historical government officials. This includes any thinly-veiled stand-ins who are clearly identified as historical figures or organizations.

We reserve the right to request revisions for or decline any submissions that read as direct attacks on any actual officials or organizations.

Submission Guidelines

Open to: Short fiction Maximum length: 6,000 words (no minimum) Reading fee: $5. Simultaneous submissions: Permitted. Notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere. Multiple submissions: Not permitted. Previously published work: Not accepted. AI-generated content: Not accepted, in whole or in part. Format: MSWord, Shunn Classic Manuscript Format Cover letter: Required. Include a brief bio.

Response time: Please allow 60 days before querying.

Submit at the link below.

 Questions: submissions@capitalhorror.com

If we include your piece in this anthology, you will be eligible to receive one copy of the book at cost. If you submit, but are not accepted, your reading fee can be applied as a discount to purchase a copy of the book when it is released.

Capital Horror publishes work that takes the genre seriously. We are based in Washington, DC, and we believe horror literature is doing some of the most important imaginative work being written today.