Tag: creative-writing

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Call for Submissions!

Book Worms Issue 10 – Apocalyptic Horror!

Submission Guidelines

We’re kicking off 2026 with all the optimism of a Threads viewing—yes, the 1984 nuclear war drama, not the app.

If you recognize our Wormy cartoon to the left, then you’ve seen it—and you know. If not, buckle up. There’s a reason it’s considered one of the scariest films ever made.

For our 10th issue of Book Worms Horror Zine, we’re chasing that same level of end-of-the-world dread. If our current political climate gives you the creeps, channel it. Or take us somewhere entirely different—your own futuristic nightmare is fair game, as long as the vision is dark.

We’re looking for stories and poetry that dive into nuclear winters, climate catastrophes, algorithmic uprisings, techno-anarchy, or whatever fresh brand of apocalypse your twisted imagination can conjure.

Have fun with the devastation. We certainly will.

SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES:

Please read ALL of the following before submitting!

Deadline: January 10, 2026 (must be received by deadline, so please mail early).

PAYMENT: 8 cents a word for fiction (1500 words or less). $25 flat fee for poetry (20 lines or less)

No reprints, please. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.

ACCEPTING MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS ONLY! (*see exception below)

Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007

Decision notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address and your mailing address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted. Also, if you have a social media presence, please include those beneath your email.

A few new things to know:

  • Send only one submission, meaning don’t send multiple short stories or poems or a combination of both. Send only one piece and send your best.
  • DO NOT send your submissions using registered mail or any kind of correspondence requiring a signature. It probably won’t get to us and you’ll be wasting your money.
  • *If you’ve had work previously published in Book Worms (you know who you are) you may email your submission to bookwormssubmissions@gmail.com (same deadline) Please write Returning Author Submission in the subject line.
  • Please use the EXACT mailing address listed above. Please don’t write Book Worms on the address. This is a side project and our mailman might get confused. The mailbox is in a huge industrial complex and unfortunately, letters have gotten lost in the past, so please follow the instructions and mail as early as possible.

Editor’s Note:

Each submission period, we have to pass on many wonderful stories—not because they lack quality, but because the authors didn’t follow the guidelines. Common issues include exceeding the word count, missing the deadline, straying from the theme, or sending work via email instead of the required method (exceptions notwithstanding).

Please don’t be discouraged if your story isn’t selected for this issue. We receive many more submissions than we can publish, and the competition is always fierce. Often, the final decisions come down to word count limits or maintaining a balance of story types. If your piece isn’t chosen this time, we hope you’ll keep writing and submitting—your voice matters, and we’d love to see your work again.

Curious about what kinds of stories we publish? Pick up a copy of Book Worms here!

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The Million Word Rule

A little under four years ago, I made the decision to start tracking my word count using an Excel document. As of today, I have surpassed the half a million mark. In the world of writing, there’s a popular belief, often attributed to Ray Bradbury, that one must write a million words to achieve mastery. In all honesty, I may already be close to or have exceeded that milestone. My first novel was published seven years ago, following numerous years of writing short stories and screenplays. I won’t include blog posts or school assignments, nor those handwritten attempts at first novels stashed away in the attic. But for the sake of organization and accuracy, let’s consider that I’m halfway to that million-word goal.

If I write another eight to ten novels (mine are typically on the shorter side), I should have a better grasp of what I’m doing by then. The key, I believe, is to persist in the same activity with increasing dedication; eventually, clarity will emerge. As long as I’m not just endlessly typing like Jack Torrance, but also actively editing, shaping, and daring to publish these words in some form, improvement is inevitable.

Make sure to listen to James DeFeo and my weekly podcast, The Right Brain Café, for invaluable insights into writing and creativity. This week, we delve deep into the concept of failure in creativity. It’s time to realize that perhaps those million words are just a warm-up to one’s greatest achievement.