Horrific Scribes
an online archive of the provocative, scary, and strange
L. Andrew Cooper, editor
Horrific Scribes is an expanding online archive of dark short fiction (and some poetry) by authors who share the Horrific Scribblings imprint’s dedication to the provocative, scary, and strange. It collects dark, transgressive fiction, mostly horror (all subgenres, bloodless to extreme, nothing off limits) and “horror-adjacent” work in areas such as dark fantasy, dark sci-fi, the surreal, and the experimental.
Works in the archive are intended for mature readers and often contain graphic violence, explicit sexuality, profanity, and other material that some readers may find triggering or offensive. By continuing, you acknowledge that you read at your own risk.
Extremely Weird Splatter is here!
Because gloriously countercultural splatterpunk fiction tends toward grounded, all-too-possible types of horror, while the more fantastic category of “weird” fiction has become far too respectable, we need for EXTREMELY WEIRD SPLATTER, an anthology of stories that highlight the awesome potential released when extreme aesthetics and splatter savvy fuse with the way-out weird that leaves “grounded” behind.
JG Faherty, Christine Morgan, Jason Nickey, Monica J. O’Rourke, Steve Rasnic Tem, and many other outstanding talents stretch the boundaries of the acceptable and the rational beyond their breaking points in EXTREMELY WEIRD SPLATTER. See the Books page for more.
NEW EXHIBIT!
For frights this time of year, we usually think of ghosts and zombies, but this season a special fear is in the air: rampant paranoia. People are plotting, and they’re plotting against you. Horrific Scribes, Exhibit Six: They Already Have You demonstrates, in appropriately unconventional ways, that they’re everywhere, and more likely than not, they already have their eyes on your activities and their hands around your throat.
Best, "Ethically Sourced"
Degni, "Notes from the Dark Web"
Dutton, "Praise Be"
Fekete, "The Well"
Ferro, "The Loyal Readers"
Hirsch, "The Look on Your Face"
Ilett, "Pockets"
Kostelnik, "Inevitable"
Kumar, "The Interval Tenants"
MacCulloch, Plots of Meat in Meter: Five Conspiratorial Verses
Lene MacLeod, "If Their Eyes Offend Me"
Shawn Montgomery, "The Service"
Kirsty Syder, "Prepped"
Horrific Scribes does not have “issues” like a magazine. However, it does have “Exhibits,” selections of stories and poems collected because of commonalities (themes, subgenres, images, etc.) and united by an introduction and cover art. Selections appear in a sequence that highlights meaningful connections.
Reading an Exhibit is like reading an anthology. Past Exhibits remain available:
ARCHIVED FEATURES
After time in the feature spotlight (below), Scribes and their Scribbles (or Scribblings) remain in the archives according to the months when their works first appeared. Browse the archival depths! For a specific author, try the “Authors” link above. For specific types of stories, try “Categories,” above. For something else, try the “Search” option at the bottom of the screen.
FEATURED SCRIBES AND SCRIBBLES
(SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST)
J.W. Bodden
Joined September 1, 2026
When not prepping for doomsday, he’s an unapologetic wanderer of alternate worlds.
Read more.
“Twink Death“
An aging hustler defies his inevitable Twink Death by searching for a legendary pimp.
Read “Twink Death” (~3800 words)
Author Keywords: Dark fantasy, urban fantasy, horror.
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Sex Work, Gun Violence.
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Eric Fomley
Second Scribbling, September 2, 2026
Writer of scifi, fantasy, and horror flash fiction.
Read more.
“Inhuman Cravings“
Side effects not included.
Read “Inhuman Cravings” (100 words)
Author Keywords: Alien Horror, Body Horror, Scifi Horror
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): None.
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
J.S. Douglas
Third Scribbling, September 3, 2026
J.S. Douglas transforms anything that disturbs her into prose and poetry so that it can disturb you, too.
Read more.
Four Poems of Violence and Revenge
Poems that probe various facets of violence and vengeance.
Read Four Poems of Violence and Revenge (~600 words)
Author Keywords: spontaneous human combustion, blood, revenge, suicide, social media, violence, and domestic violence
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): violence, domestic violence, and suicide
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Lena Ng
Third Scribbling, September 4, 2026
Lena Ng lurks in the catacombs of Toronto, Canada, and is a ravenous member of the Horror Writers Association.
Read more.
“Happy Birthday, Baby“
A birthday brings a gruesome new chapter.
Read “Happy Birthday, Baby” (100 words)
Author Keywords: Birthday, chrysalis
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): implied gore
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Eric J. Guignard
Joined September 8, 2026
A writer and anthologist of dark and ghostly fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles
Read more.
“Monster at The Black Heart“
“All right,” Baby said in a voice that dropped all emotion. “I’ve got to get this off my chest. I’m three-lived, like I’m three-eyed.”
Read “Monster at The Black Heart” (~2300 words)
Author Keywords: Weird Fiction, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Original Monster, Hollywood, Dive Bar, Baby Blue
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): n/a
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Ken MacGregor
Joined September 10, 2026
Ken MacGregor is the writer and editor of deeply creepy, frequently funny, Speculative Fiction.
Read more.
“Together at Christmas“
This story has a very sticky end…
Read “Together at Christmas” (351 words)
Author Keywords: Xmas, Horror, Family, Christmas
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Unsettling visuals.
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Josh Pearce
Joined September 15, 2026
Published in top magazines including Analog, Asimov’s, Clarkesworld, and more!
Read more.
Deathwatch and Others
The death of a fly, the haunting sound of a deathwatch beetle, and all the stars in the sky don’t bode well for humanity.
Read Deathwatch and Others (three poems, ~200 words)
Author Keywords: beetle, spider, clock, stars, nuclear warheads
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Shahnaz T.M.
Joined September 16, 2026
Shahnaz T.M. is a horror/science-fiction writer who enjoys writing impactful stories with a twist.
Read more.
“I did it“
Paranoia or Patriarchy?
Read “I did it” (293 words)
Author Keywords: Science-fiction, psychological horror, female protagonist
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Violence
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Shawn Montgomery
Fifth Scribbling, September 22, 2026
Leaves fall and the sky darkens earlier each passing day; the cemeteries begin to sing again. Shawn leans in closer to the spirits calling him…there are so many stories and songs to share.
Read more.
“The Service“
“Watching the prisoner hurt himself, Cody marveled at how great the Service was. Everything was perfectly legit—he wasn’t going to get into any trouble doing this. Sure, the cost was ridiculous, but compared to the alternatives, it was totally worth it. He wasn’t going to prison for this shit.”
Read “The Service” (~4500 words)
Author Keywords: Body Horror/Revenge/Dystopian
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Hate language/Slurs; Sexual Assault
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
E.W.H. Thornton
Second Scribbling, September 29, 2026
Chronicler of the bewildering and horrifying, sometimes even intentionally.
Read more.
“TALK SHOW HOST PROVOKES AUDIENCE“
Evil thwarts whimsy.
Read “TALK SHOW HOST PROVOKES AUDIENCE” (100 words)
Author Keywords: drabble, surreal, awkward
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Andrew Jackson
Joined October 1, 2026
Andrew loves to write about space and scary monsters and firmly believes the two belong together!
Read more.
No Escape: Three Dark Drabbles
“It shouldn’t have teeth!”
Read No Escape: Three Dark Drabbles (300 words)
Author Keywords: Horror, Sci-fi, Sci-fi horror, Flash fiction, Drabble, Body Horror
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Chris Clemens
Joined October 6, 2026
Chris Clemens writes and teaches in Toronto, surrounded by raccoons.
Read more.
Peculiar Plants: Two Drabbles
The flora watches, waiting for its turn…
Read Peculiar Plants: Two Drabbles (200 words)
Author Keywords: Christmas tree, ayahuasca, plants
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Eli Ryder
Joined October 8, 2026
Eli Ryder (he/him) writes horror, reads all kinds of things, and uses the Oxford comma.
Read more.
“Tomorrow Me“
Sometimes, hangovers hide more than just the previous night’s memories.
Read “Tomorrow Me” (~3500 words)
Author Keywords: Body horror, grief horror, weird fiction
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Gore, mention of child harm/death, substance abuse
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Joseph B. Major
Joined October 14, 2026
Joseph B. Major writes very uncomfortable love stories.
Read more.
“Chained Girl“
Just around the corner, a transformation is taking place.
Read “Chained Girl” (~2000 words)
Author Keywords: Christmas, presents, suburbia, cul-de-sac, bicycle, crime, captivity, transformation, transmogrification, angel, beauty, love, ascension, Nat King Cole, hot chocolate
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): This piece contains implied violence and grotesque/horrific imagery.
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Asher Cookson
Joined October 15, 2026
Asher Cookson (a horror writer from Nova Scotia) is afraid of everything and trying to make a career out of it.
Read more.
“Moonstruck“
As the eclipse passes Nora is overtaken by a celestial illness.
Read “Moonstruck” (471 words)
Author Keywords: Horror, body horror, flash fiction, weird fiction
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting)
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Conor Walsh
Joined October 20, 2026
An avid consumer and creator of weird fiction and weirder games, Conor is probably out looking at bugs as you read this.
Read more.
“A Cracked Hand-Mirror“
Everything’s falling to pieces, and soon even the pieces will be gone, spirited away by cruel, knowing hands.
Read “A Cracked Hand-Mirror” (~4800 words)
Author Keywords: hands, disassembly, dissection, sisters, family, body horror, negligence
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Body horror, suicide (mentioned)
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Simon MacCulloch
Second Scribbling, October 22, 2026
Simon MacCulloch is the author of The Eyes of Azathoth (Jackanapes Press).
Read more.
Plots of Meat in Meter: Five Conspiratorial Verses
Butchers tell stories, but never believe them.
Read Plots of Meat in Meter: Five Conspiratorial Verses (~600 words)
Author Keywords: Poetry, horror, conspiracy.
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): Gore, violence, babies.
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Jonathan Ferro
Joined October 22, 2026
A writer exploring the darker corners of technology, paranoia, and the uncanny.
Read more.
“The Loyal Readers“
What if being a loyal reader means more than simply turning the pages?
Read “The Loyal Readers” (741 words)
Author Keywords: Horror, conspiracy, conspiracy theory, paranoia, technology, readers, books, surveillance, psychological horror, speculative fiction
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Lene MacLeod
Fourth Scribbling, October 22, 2026
Creating nightmares from scattered pieces of reality.
Read more.
“If Their Eyes Offend Me“
Come on, you know you want to buy it—well, they know you do.
Read “If Their Eyes Offend Me” (493 words)
Author Keywords: Flash fiction, psychological horror, dystopian
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Zary Fekete
Third Scribbling, October 22, 2026
Have lived on three continents and love to write about it all.
Read more.
“The Well“
“You are performing your assigned tasks efficiently.”
Read “The Well” (~1100 words)
Author Keywords: deep space, orbit, surprise ending, twist
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): discussion of trauma
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Morgan Kostelnik
Joined October 22, 2026
Morgan Kostelnik is a nerdy writer from Wisconsin who loves speculative, historical, and literary fiction.
Read more.
“Inevitable“
It’s easy. Don’t get left behind.
Read “Inevitable” (100 words)
Author Keywords: Psychological, Quiet, Workplace, Drabble
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Prince Kumar
Third Scribbling, October 22, 2026
He writes the kind of horror that stays with you.
Read more.
“The Interval Tenants“
Somewhere between the years that were and the years that should have been, someone is keeping count.
Read “The Interval Tenants” (~1600 words)
Author Keywords: Horror, Supernatural, Dark Fiction, Atmospheric, Suspense, Psychological
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): None.
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Jim Best
Second Scribblings, October 22, 2026
A dad, a husband and a customer service rep, who also happens writes stories.
Read more.
“Ethically Sourced“
You are what you eat.
Read “Ethically Sourced” (~5000 words)
Author Keywords: body horror, lab grown meat, climate change, biotech, capitalism, clone, scifi, food.
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
“Praise Be“
“The Long Shadow of the Sodder Cult: A City’s Struggle to Digest Its Bloody Past”
Read “Praise Be” (953 words)
Author Keywords: Epistolary, Occult, Conspiracy
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): [silence]
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
Fendy S. Tulodo
Fifth Scribbling, October 27, 2026
Writes stories, makes music, sells motorcycles for a living. Not in that order of importance.
Read more.
“The Double Note“
The cup was across the room. Her arm never moved that far. She got it anyway.
Read “The Double Note” (~2300 words)
Author Keywords: pregnancy horror, body horror, maternal horror, medical horror, unexplained illness, slow burn horror, domestic horror
Author Trigger Warnings (if any): pregnancy and childbirth, medical content, body horror, death, cardiac illness
Horrific Scribes Extremity Rating:
