FLASH OF THE DEAD: SNAKES
Anthology of Horror Flash Fiction featuring Snakes
They do not strike without purpose. They do not coil without intent. And when they shed their skin, something older than memory crawls out.
Wicked Shadow Press invites writers to submit original horror flash fiction for our upcoming anthology, Flash of the Dead: Snakes (Expected Release: July/August 2026). We seek stories that twist, constrict and poison the reader. Tales where serpents are not mere monsters but instruments of dread, symbols of betrayal, body horrors or psychological ruptures.
We want snakes that remember, haunt. Snakes that wear your face.
The submission deadline is June 16, 2026.
Feel free to come up with your own storyline or get started with one of our WRITING PROMPTS:
- You begin finding shed snaked skins all over your house. Your hear its hiss in your dreams all night. You are determined to find the elusive snake, and kill it.
- The snake you nearly killed as a kid comes back as a beautiful Indian woman who crosses your path when you are on a soul-searching solo trip of India.
- The enchanted serpent judges every raider who enters the tomb, granting worthy seekers a shot at the gold, while mercilessly devouring the rest.
- A young child learns to mimic the snakes’ hiss perfectly. Now, other snakes have begun to respond to her. They are communicating…
- The serpent promised knowledge, like the one in the Garden of Eden. It delivered. Now you can’t look other people in the eye, knowing what you know about them…
- A snake charmer’s flute plays a tune that makes human spines undulate. You feel your vertebrae unstack, your ribs loosen, as the snake coiled within young begins to rise.
WE ARE ACCEPTING
Flash Fiction: (between 100-1500 words) Please send no more than TWO flash fictions
We are considering TRANSLATED WORKS as well. Submission of translated works must be accompanied by a statement declaring that the translator has obtained the author’s permission and their publisher’s, if required.
Simultaneous Submissions are welcome but the author must inform us by e-mail as soon as the submitted piece is accepted elsewhere. Pieces cannot be withdrawn once Wicked Shadow Press informs the author of its acceptance for publication.
We consider reprints but generally do not publish them unless they are exceptional. Please mention in the mail body in case your submission is a reprint.
At present, we are unable to pay our contributors. Each contributor shall receive a COMPLIMENTARY DIGITAL COPY of the anthology as soon as it publishes.
Manuscripts should directly be sent to WickedAnthology@gmail.com
Please write Submission for SNAKES in the subject line of your submission email.
Please submit your files in the following formats: .doc /.docx /.txt. DO NOT submit PDFs.
Wicked Shadow Press uses non exclusive rights to publish in its anthologies. Authors are free to republish their work anywhere else once it has been published.
Please submit only original pieces. Wicked Shadow Press or the editor/s of the anthology shall not be responsible for any disputes arising due to plagiarism or copyright infringement.
Each piece MUST be attached with a short bio of the author, preferably within 100 words, and if possible, a photograph of the author to go along with publication.
NOTE: We typically reply within a month after receiving submissions. However, replies can be delayed under unforeseen circumstances.
