The 300 Project: Issue #2

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The Gathering

Open Call for Submissions

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Thematic Concept

“The Gathering” evokes multiple interpretations that could create a rich, cohesive anthology. It suggests convergence, collection, and assembly of people, memories, forces, or phenomena. The theme allows for both literal and metaphorical explorations across horror, weird fiction, and psychological narratives.

 

Submission Categories

- Micro Fiction (≤300 words): Capturing a single moment of convergence or the essence of a gathering

- Flash Fiction (≤1,500 words): Developing the tension or dynamics of a gathering

- Visual Art: Depicting gatherings of the unsettling, strange, or horrific

 

Possible Interpretation Prompts

 1. The Human Gathering (Prompts)

- Convergence of strangers at a remote location with dark purposes

- Family reunions where generational trauma manifests physically

- Cult assemblies where the boundaries between members blur

- Support groups for impossible afflictions or supernatural experiences

- Crowds that develop a collective consciousness or hive mind

 

 2. The Supernatural Gathering (Prompts)

- Gathering of spirits at a liminal space between worlds

- Summoning rituals that go horribly wrong

- Convergence of parallel universe versions of oneself

- Assembling of body parts to create new beings

- Meeting places where different dimensions intersect

 

 3. The Internal Gathering (Prompts)

- Gathering of fractured personalities within one mind

- Accumulation of memories that manifest physically

- Collection of trauma that takes tangible form

- Gathering of suppressed desires that erupt violently

- Assembly of one's past selves confronting the present

 

 4. The Environmental Gathering (Prompts)

- Gathering of natural phenomena with devastating consequences

- Collection of strange artifacts that alter reality

- Accumulation of pollution that creates new life forms

- Convergence of ecosystems that shouldn't coexist

- Gathering of atmospheric conditions that reveal hidden worlds

 

Submission Call Details

You may use any of the prompt ideas above and craft them into your own vision, or use your own original ideas to craft your interpretation of “The Gathering.”

 

Timeline

Submission Period: May 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. MST

Notification: July 31, 2026

Publication: August 31, 2026

 

Submission Guidelines

1. Micro Fiction

 Word Count: Maximum 300 words (not including the title)

 Format: .docx only

 Formatting: 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced. Include your name and page numbers in the header.

 Content: All genres are welcome, but the story must clearly engage with the theme of “The Gathering.” The darker, the better!

 

2. Flash Fiction

 Word Count: Maximum 1,500 words (not including the title)

 Format: .docx only

 Formatting: 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced. Include your name and page numbers in the header.

 Content: All genres are welcome, but the story must clearly engage with the theme of “The Gathering.” The darker, the better!

 

3. Art

 Medium: All visual media are welcome (painting, illustration, photography, digital art, collage, etc.)

 Submission: Single high-resolution image (minimum 300 DPI, longest dimension at least 2000 pixels) in .png format.

 Content: Abstract or representational work is fine, but it must clearly engage with the theme of “The Gathering.”

 

 

Simultaneous Submissions: Accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

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Previously Published Work: No. All submissions must be original, unpublished work.

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Rights: We acquire all first publication serial rights and the right to archive the work online for future artist spotlight. All entries will be considered for publication in an anthology by way of Honourable Mention. All entrants acknowledge that selected entries may be used as cover art or published content without additional royalties or fees. By submitting work, creators warrant that they have the full rights to grant this permission. All other rights revert to the author/artist upon first publication. Submitting to the contest is considered consent to the terms.

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Payment: We are pleased to offer an anthology publication for First-, Second-, and Third-place winners, along with selected Honourable Mentions. First place: $50 and one Print copy, Second Place: $25 and one print copy, Third Place: One Print copy.

Visual Arts: First Place: $25 and One Print Copy, Consideration for Cover.

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How to Submit: Submit through Duosoma Submission Manager. Please attach your file(s) and include a brief third-person bio (up to 50 words) with your submission. Art submissions should include a title for the piece. Currently, submissions are not anonymous. There is also a link to the Duosoma submission manager on our website at www.hollowpointpress.ca/submissions.

 

What We're Looking For

Across all categories, we value work that is: Intense and Focused: Directly engages with the theme without ambiguity.

Emotionally Resonant: Elicits a powerful response in the reader or viewer.

Technically Adept: Demonstrates skill and craft in its chosen medium.

Original: Offers a fresh perspective on a universal experience.

 

Editorial Focus

We seek work that explores the tension between individual identity and collective force. Pieces that examine what happens when boundaries dissolve, and separate entities merge. Narratives that capture the horror or wonder of transformation through convergence. Art that visualizes the unsettling beauty or terror of assembly.

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We look forward to experiencing your work, and thank you for trusting us with your piece. Please allow up to 4 weeks from the end date for reading and decision-making, but we will aim to be much sooner. You will be notified either way.

Happy writing and good luck!