✦ Gothic Mystery Flash Fiction Anthology ✦

Call for Submissions – 1,000 Words Max
Terms of Participation
Open to Once Upon A Crime members only.

Guidelines

Word Count: Up to 1,000 words (flash fiction).
Tone: Dark, eerie, atmospheric. Gothic thrives on mood as much as plot.
Mystery Element: Every story must centre on a mystery — a crime, disappearance, secret, or unexplained event. Resolution may be neat or ambiguous.
Setting: Must include at least one gothic element. This can be historical or modern, realistic or with hints of the supernatural.
Style: Lean into description and sensory detail. With so few words, let atmosphere do some of the storytelling.

You don’t need all of these — just pick a few that spark your imagination.

The Gargoyle’s Watch: On a stormy night, a gargoyle falls from a cathedral — crushing a man below. Was it an accident, or did the stone guardian finally act?
The Forgotten Tower: A castle’s highest tower is sealed. When a storm breaks it open, the villagers discover why.
Moors at Midnight: A figure is seen crossing the moors each night. No footprints are ever found. Then a villager goes missing.
The Cursed Heirloom: An old family ring surfaces during an inheritance dispute. Each claimant soon meets a chilling fate.
The Stranger at the Gate: A traveller seeks shelter in an isolated manor. By dawn, the master of the house is dead.
Echoes in the Abbey: A choir is heard singing in ruins abandoned for centuries. The sound leads to a chilling discovery.
The Shattered Portrait: Every generation, the portrait of a woman in red cracks across the eyes. This time, a body is found beside it.

Begin with atmosphere. A single image — a candle guttering, a storm breaking, footsteps on stone — sets the tone instantly.
Focus on one mystery. With only 1,000 words, keep the plot tight and let the setting heighten the tension.
Leave space for ambiguity. The gothic loves unanswered questions. Not everything needs explanation.
Use sensory detail. What does the stone feel like under your hand? What does the air smell of? What sound breaks the silence?
End with impact. A twist, a revelation, or simply a final chilling image.