Dark Animus

Subscriptions

Why subscribe? Dark Animus has a limited print run each issue, so don't miss out on 80-pages of chilling fiction and poetry spiced with art, posted to your door. Don't delay, jump onboard, surprise your wife or mother - support the writers and artists of tomorrow!

Subscription (4 issues), Australia $25.00 AUD postage paid
Subscription (4 issues), International $25.00 USD postage paid

Mailing Address is - PO BOX 750, KATOOMBA, NSW 2780, AUSTRALIA

Writers Guidelines

Dark Animus is interested in original, dark, gritty pulp fiction (science fiction, horror, fantasy, weird - other) that captures the imagination of the reader.

I'm after stories up to 8,000 words (2000-4000 words is ideal) and bear in mind that shorter stories have a greater chance of acceptance. Query if you have longer stories. If something can hold my attention, and I think it's brilliant, I will not refuse it.

Electronic submissions can be emailed as an attached rtf file to Dark Animus Submissions

Please put the words 'SUBMISSION:' in the title. Authors details, and email address must be included in the submission as well as a short bio. Also state if the story is a reprint or not.

Mail submissions will only be accepted upon arrangement. In general, I no longer accept mail submissions. Let's just say, I got sick of too many people sending me mail submissions, with no IRCs, or insufficient or no postage. There were many fine people who did the right thing, but there were many who did not, so no more.

Dark Animus is geared towards an adult audience and I am not easily offended. I will not restrict stories by genre but content must be justified by storyline. Send me horror, westerns, crime fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction - I don't care as long as it's well written and original. I am after visionary stories with a powerful storyline and strong characterization. I do not appreciate gratuitous sex and violence. I will also not consider anything racist, sexist, or which conveys a message of sex or cruelty to animals or children. Finally, if you have someone bonking a corpse, it'll have to be a damned good story before I accept it.

Things to definitely avoid: stories with copyrighted characters (unless you have the rights), stories with well-known characters eg. Dracula, Satan, Jesus Christ, etc, stories that have RPG overtones, children's or YA stories, stories written in the style of another author eg. Terry Pratchett. If you're not Terry, don't mimic his work.

Things to try an avoid: journal-style stories, stories with elves, stories with strong pop-culture references, re-written fairy tales, tales where the storyline centres about a cursed object, stories containing torture, rats (or swarms eating people), what I call grim stories, and stories written in present tense. I will not automatically reject such stories but you will have a harder time getting me to accept your submission if you send me this style of fiction. There are always however, exceptions to the rule.

Things I'd like to see more of: crime fiction, humour, science fiction and fantasy. Remember, it all has to be slanted with that dark, pulpy Dark Animus feel.

I would recommend all writers order a copy of the magazine to get an idea of the sort of fiction we are publishing.

Note: Dark Animus is a not-for-profit magazine and ALL proceeds from sales go back into the magazine itself in one form or another.

Currently contributors receive one contributor copy of the issue in which their work appears. For stories written by two authors, you will receive one copy of the magazine each.

Note: As of Dark Animus #8, new fiction only will receive 0.5 cents AU per word payable upon publication via Paypal. We will not pay for reprinted stories; these will only receive one contributor copy.

Copyright remains with the author - Dark Animus generally seeks First Print Rights, one use only. No simultaneous submissions. No multiple submissions.

WE ONLY ACCEPT REPRINTS IF YOU QUERY FIRST.

Any enquires at all, please contact me.

Response time at this stage is up to ASAP-8 weeks

Artists Guidelines

Important message: We're currently full up on artists at this point of time. If you'd like me to review your work, by all means send it through but bare in mind Dark Animus has a pretty full stable so I may so no.

If you are interested in doing some art for Dark Animus, I would like to hear from you. Please send a query email with an attached sample of your work, or even better ,a URL to a web site where your work is displayed. I will look at your style and see if I can use you in the magazine.

The magazine has a colour cover and an internal b/w illustration for each of the included stories and poems. The cover will relate to a story as well, but will generally be done by a different artist than the one who did the internal illustration within the magazine itself. I think different artistic interpretations are important on the story which is basically being used to promote the magazine.

Dark Animus is a showcase of emerging illustrators and artists and the magazine provides an opportunity for new talent to have their work displayed. Along those lines it is good if you have a web site yourself so I can link to you and display the URL of your site within the magazine along with your bio.

Electronic submissions can be emailed as a MS Word, or rtf file to Email Submissions

Please DO NOT send me artwork in the post unless requested.

Illustrators need only supply a single representative sample of their work or a URL of your site, so I can get an idea of their style. Artwork required by the magazine will be related to included stories.

At this stage internal illustrators receive one contributor copy of the issue in which their work appears. Cover illustrators receive two contributor copies.

Copyright remains with the artist of each work - Dark Animus generally seeks First Print Rights, one use only and the right to use the work to promote the issue of the magazine in which your work appears or to promote Dark Animus in general.

Any enquires at all, please contact me.

Poetry Guidelines

Poetry submissions and queries to Poetry Submissions

We're after dark, gritty, original, literary poems that will not exceed one page in the magazine. Poems which stir the emotions, poems which disturb or shake the sensibilities of your modern life. We want the voice of the shadow in your subconscious, heart and dreams. Don't send us cliche works or happy rhymes. Save your 'Ode to the Buttercups' for another publication and damnit, don't send us any limericks. If you want a good idea of the sort of poetry we are after, please purchase and read a copy of Dark Animus.

Does your poem work on at least two levels?

Before you send me your poem read it over and ask yourself, does it work on at least two levels?

I'm after dark and visionary poetry, but if you're poem doesn't also make me think, doesn't inspire or instil your vision, then it won't be a good fit. Simple horror poetry will probably not be enough for acceptance. You have no idea how many poems I receive about psychopaths or depressive self-absorbed pieces of tripe. Go outside of yourself. Follow your muse and see where she leads - then send your completed work to me.

Note on the use of Rhyme:

I'd caution against the use of rhyme. Rhyme is a very powerful poetic tool, which can often overshadow the poet's voice. If rhyme does not accentuate your message, for example, by instilling a necessary rhythm, then don't use it. If you use it anyway, don't send it to me.

Sending your work to me:

Make poems no more than 30 lines and embed them in the body of an email.

On the subject line have:

'POETRY SUBMISSION' your name and the number of poems in the submission.

In the body of your email, include your full name, postal address, email address, and publishing credits.

For poems: NO ATTACHMENTS WILL BE OPENED
NO REPRINTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
NO SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS.
EMAIL SUBMISSIONS ONLY.

Poem contributors receive one contributor copy of the issue in which their work appears. If more than three poems are published in a single issue, then two contributor copies will be paid.

Copyright remains with the poet - Dark Animus seeks First Print Rights, one use only.

Response time for poems is generally ASAP-4 weeks

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