Cold Open Stories

We’re actively seeking short stories in our new #CallForSubmissions ✨ That means entries from every genre imaginable: action, crime, humour, dark fantasy, [*takes a breath*] horror and more! 🕰️ Submit your manuscript before November 1st! Link in bio… #shortfiction #writing

This is the LAST WEEK to submit your manuscript for our open #CallForSubmissions We’re looking for action, crime, humour, dark fantasy, *takes a breath* horror and more! 🕰️ Submit before November 1st! www.coldopenstories.com/write/ #shortfiction #writing

It's out! And you may ask me Morgan have you listened to it? And I say no, I got three minutes in, I keep getting too excited and having to pause it to collect my thoughts. 😂

The internet’s favourite Warhammer 40,000 writing competition is BACK ✅ For the FINAL Fast Fiction contest of 2026, we’re exploring Storge, Philia, Eros, and Agape 🖤 💔 Learn more at 40k.coldopenstories.com/fiction/writ... (or link in bio).

⚡️🌪️ Cloudy with a chance of warp storms. Read Carrion Void for FREE in Sanctum Librarium - our #Warhammer40k ebook anthology, alongside 10 other grimdark tales. 🔗 Download at 40k.coldopenstories.com/anthology-xv... or link in bio.

As part of our month of chills and thrills, we have a new audiobook out for you! 🐳 Check out ‘Future In A Whale Fall’ on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. YouTube youtu.be/tX8Q_4TFS5w?... Apple podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c... Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/584j...

🤤 You wouldn’t like me when I’m… hungry…? Read BATTER UP in Sanctum Librarium (our #Warhammer40k anthology) along with 10 other grimdark tales). Download the #FreeEbook via link in bio 📥

🏚️ For sale: one haunted mansion. Comes with the echoes of family trauma included. Reduced for a quick sale. Read ‘The Magistrate’ by Matthew Tucker: linktr.ee/coldopenstor... (or click link in bio for more great stories). #ShortFiction #ShortStories #Horror

👻 To celebrate our favourite month of the year, we’re dropping new audiobooks of #Warhammer40k fast fiction AND full-length #shortfiction Originals every FRIDAY in October. Check out the first release here: youtu.be/Tqio1LBN6g8?...

🩻 😨 Desire. Repulsion. Annihilation. Start the spooky season with one of our fantastic erotic horror tales: The Mavka’s Lament—link in bio. #ShortFiction #ShortStories #Horror

👀🔥 “If looks could kill, I would gladly die for the simple delight of experiencing yours resting upon mine.” Read ASPECTUS NECARE POSSUNT in our #Warhammer40k anthology Sanctum Librarium (along with 10 other grimdark tales). Download the #FreeEbook via link in bio 📥

🍻👣 Norman wanted a memorable event. He would get it, and much more. Read Local Trouble now—link in bio. #ShortFiction #ShortStories

Heed the call (for submissions!) ✍️✨ We’re looking for original short story manuscripts (5k–5.5k words) in sci-fi, dark fantasy, cosmic horror, crime noir, and beyond. Deadline: Nov 1 at 11:59 PM PT Ready to submit? Link in bio! #WritingCommunity #CallForSubmissions

Enter the vault of forbidden tales. 📚⚔️ The Sanctum Librarium is a curated anthology of fan-written short stories set in the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40k universe. Volume XVI is now available as a free e-book download (link in bio) 📥 #Warhammer40k #FreeEbook #Grimdark

🏔️💀 A perilous peak. No oxygen. And something waiting in the storm. Read The Last Warm Bodies now—link in bio. #HorrorFiction #ShortFiction #ShortStories

Hey, a girl’s gotta eat… 😅 Check out the winner of our Warhammer 40,000 comedy writing competition. Link in bio! #shortfiction #writing #warhammer

🙊 The joke’s on us - the winners of the longest-running Warhammer 40,000 writing contest are here! Check out our comedy-themed competition now: 40k.coldopenstories.com/fast-fiction... Thank you to everyone who entered!!

✍️ The longest-running Warhammer 40,000 writing competition is open for the summer, and we’re thrilled to announce our community judges for this edition: @CxeeFoxx and Geneviève Laprise!!! Find out more in our FIRST all-comedy writing contest 40k.coldopenstories.com/fiction/writ...

One day only. London meetup today. C’mon down friends of Cold Open Stories! 👀 🍻

Calling all Warhammer scribes! 🖋️💀 Want to prove your mettle in the grim darkness of the far future? The internet’s best 40k writing competition is open, but time is running out. Get your submission in by July 31! Enter here: 40k.coldopenstories.com/fiction/writ... #Warhammer40k #WH40k

Folks mentioned in this week's column also include: @coldopenstories.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social @johnfrench.bsky.social Monster Merchants, @theguardian.com @simonjowett.bsky.social @aptshadow.bsky.social @handiworkgames.bsky.social #Warhammer #BookSky #BlackLibrary

I'm happy to say that my story 'Wars of all sorts' was included in this anthology, about a cheeky old t'au diplomat trying to negotiate with pirates. It was a lot of fun to write for, go give the stories a read.

The internet’s favourite Warhammer 40,000 short fiction anthology is BACK ✅ 📕 Volume XVI of Sanctum Librarium is now available, exclusively in ebook form! Discover new authors, new worlds, and new characters, in the grimdark future. Download now: 40k.coldopenstories.com/anthology-xv...

My story, My Name Is Roboute, is on here. 😍 I'm so proud of that little story, and the audio version of it exceeded all my expectations. I will forever be grateful to @coldopenstories.bsky.social for making it happen. Go and listen to some stories.

🚨⏰ TWO WEEKS left to enter the internet’s longest-running Warhammer fanfiction contest. Explore telepathic warfare, psychic intrusions, and dangerous powers waged in silence. Mind over matter isn’t metaphor here - it’s lethal. Write your story ➡️ 40k.coldopenstories.com

Check out the faction restrictions and guidelines: 40k.coldopenstories.com/fiction/writ... Special thanks to our guest judge Sam Kearns and @coldopenstories.bsky.social

My very first original (and not fanfic) story, The Sun Is A Dish Best Served Cold has been audiobook-ified by the marvelous Colyn of @coldopenstories.bsky.social and a team of talented voice actors! I'd like to tag them all, but I only have @stephswanquills.bsky.social on my list. #Booksky