Short Story Anticipated FAQs

updated 8/12/2024

What is the submission window?

Winter/NYE contest: July 15 through August 21.
Valentine’s Day contest: August 12 through October 16.

When will I know if my story has been accepted?

Ideally, all winners from the Winter/NYE contests will know if they have been accepted by August 23.
All winners from the Valentine’s Day contests will know if they have been accepted by November 1.

Who can submit to these contests?

This contest is open internationally. Short stories should be previously unpublished OR authors should hold the rights to publication.

Can I submit to both anthologies per contest?

Yes. You can do so on the same form.

Why are you asking for a submission fee?

I am literally doing all of this out-of-pocket, so I’m hoping the small submission fee will help cover some of the costs of production, printing, cover design, and promotion/marketing. And I’m intending to provide feedback to all who enter, so that $10 is not going to “waste” in any way!

What is the publishing plan for the anthologies?

Release for both of the Winter books will be in November. Winter will release one week before NYE. Valentine’s Day anthologies will be released in January 2025. All will be printed as paperbacks and released as ebooks. They will be promoted/marketed as budget allows, and ideally, authors included in both anthologies will do their part to promote the collection, as well.

Beyond the possibility of being published in this anthology by a brand-new publishing company with no sales history, what is the benefit of submitting to this contest?

Ideally, I want this company to be a stepping stone for authors. I work with many who get to the bottom of query letters and are unable to say they’ve ever published a story or an essay in a collection, magazine, or journal. I work with many more who have never worked with a professional editor before, who have never received a professional critique or edit because it’s simply outside of their budget to do so. I want to be able to offer those experiences to authors who need them, and by creating an opportunity such as a short story contest, and setting up this company in a traditional way, I may be able to give twenty or so authors those experiences.

If accepted for publication in these anthologies, you will:

  • Be out $10

  • Receive 1 to 2 rounds of developmental editing

  • Receive 1 to 2 rounds of line/copy editing

  • Have input in cover design

  • Have input in publicity/marketing brainstorming

  • Be invited into a private Discord community with the other authors in your anthology, ideally making bookish friends for life ;)

  • Receive a TBD number of free author copies of the paperback edition of the book. If you are an international author, shipping may make this difficult. We’ll chat.

  • Receive a discount for copies you want to purchase of the book

  • Be able to say you’ve been published, if you have not yet been

  • Be able to tell agents/editors that you’re familiar with the traditional publishing process

I noticed that you partnered with another editor for the Valentine’s Day anthology set. I’m an editor and have an idea for an anthology that I’d like to discuss with you. Are you open to these discussions?

Absolutely! There’s no way I can do all of this alone. Email me directly at nicolefrailbooks@gmail.com or fill out my contact form.

If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to email me!