WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Stories may include:

• Mystery and detective fiction

• Noir and neo-noir

• Psychological and literary crime

• Thrillers and suspense

• Historical crime

• Crime-scene and forensic photography

• Photojournalists and professional photographers

• Surveillance and photographic evidence

• Darkrooms, film, negatives, and contact sheets

• Missing, hidden, stolen, or altered photographs

• Obsession, voyeurism, blackmail, and secrets

• Photographs that reveal something never meant to be seen

Photography can be profession, evidence, weapon, obsession, alibi, motive—or the key to solving a crime.

Stories may explore everything from traditional film photography and darkrooms to photojournalism, crime-scene photography, surveillance, smartphones, digital manipulation, and the billions of images documenting modern life.

What matters is that photography plays a meaningful role in the story.

WHO MAY SUBMIT

All writers are welcome to submit.

We welcome established authors, emerging writers, and previously unpublished writers.

We are interested in distinctive voices and fresh approaches to both crime fiction and photography.

No professional knowledge of photography is required, but stories involving specialized photographic techniques, equipment, professions, or processes should be convincing and well researched.

THE STORY COMES FIRST

DARK ROOM is a crime fiction anthology.

We want memorable characters, distinctive voices, atmosphere, emotional complexity, and narrative drive.

A story does not need to explain photography or demonstrate technical expertise. Photography should serve the characters, crime, mystery, and story—not the other way around.

It needs to tell a compelling story.

CONTENT AND APPROACH

Dark Hours Books publishes fiction willing to enter difficult territory. Crime fiction can contain violence, sexuality, obsession, exploitation, addiction, trauma, corruption, and other disturbing subjects. We are not looking for sanitized stories.

We are also not looking for darkness simply for shock value.

We welcome difficult, provocative, morally complicated work when the story earns its darkness.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Genre: Crime fiction, mystery, noir, suspense, or thriller

Length: Approximately 2,500–7,500 words. Exceptional stories slightly outside that range may be considered.

Language: English

Publication status: Previously unpublished stories preferred. Reprints may be considered if the author controls the necessary rights and provides original publication information.

Simultaneous submissions: Permitted. Please notify us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere.

Multiple submissions: Up to two stories per author. Submit each separately.

Submission fee: None.

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT

Submit manuscripts in standard manuscript format:

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• 12-point readable font, double-spaced

• One-inch margins

• Author name and contact information

• Story title and approximate word count

• Page numbers

Please do not submit PDFs.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email submissions to:

submissions@darkhoursbooks.com

Use the subject line:

DARK ROOM — Story Title — Author Name

Attach the manuscript rather than pasting it into the email.

In the body of the email, include:

Author name
Pen name, if applicable
Story title
Word count
Email address
Brief author bio (50–100 words)
Previous publication information, if applicable

Please do not send photographs, promotional materials, reviews, or extensive publication histories.

SUBMISSION SCHEDULE

Submissions open: January 1, 2027
Submission deadline: June 1, 2027
Expected notification: By August 1, 2027

Please wait until after the notification date before querying about submission status.

COMPENSATION

Dark Hours Books is a paying market.

Compensation will be determined individually based on story length, publication rights, and other editorial and contractual considerations. Payment terms will be agreed upon before execution of the contributor agreement.

Contributors will also receive complimentary copies of DARK ROOM.

Authors retain copyright to their work. Rights licensed to Dark Hours Books will be clearly defined in the contributor agreement.

EDITORIAL PROCESS

Selected stories may receive developmental, line, and copy editing. Editors will work with contributors while respecting each author's voice and intent. Material changes will be discussed with the author, and acceptance may occasionally be contingent upon revision.

WHAT WILL MAKE A STORY STAND OUT

Give us a photograph we can't look away from.

An image that shouldn't exist.

A secret caught in the background.

A photographer who saw too much.

A picture that proves everything—or nothing.

Give us memorable characters, unexpected crimes, dangerous obsessions, and images that change everything once they're seen.

Surprise us. Disturb us. Move us. Make us look twice.

Above all, tell us a hell of a crime story.