Margins | No. 7

The Drek Death and Doom Newsletter

Dylan Bosworth

Feb 23, 2026

I. Editor’s Note
II. New
III. Opportunities
IV. Services
V. Submissions/Pitches
VI. Books for Sale
VII. Reads

I

Editor’s Note:

Last time, I shared with you a review of To Keep Silent by Thomas Sachs. I hope those of you into that kind of fiction were able to check it out. We’ll do more reviews in the future, but I want to sink some hooks back into the press happenings, craft, and thoughts on fiction in general, and reel it back home.

Aside from that, I suppose it’s been—what? Two weeks, Three?—since the last newsletter, so I’ll catch you all up on what’s been going on, and what the plan is moving forward, and everything in between. The year hasn’t been great so far for anybody, anywhere—and the news makes it easy to sink in on yourself and burrow away from the appalling reality we’re all trying to escape right now.

There’s a common feeling among creatives during times like these. Why am I doing this when world-altering events are happening? How can I think about art when there is so much injustice? What’s the point of what I’m doing?

I am not going to tell you that you have a duty to enact some sort of change. Your hobby/passion/whatever it may be, should not be hijacked by others who want to force their voice through your megaphone. Everybody knows where I stand, and how I believe we do have a responsibility, not just as writers, but as humans, to speak up as shockingly loud as humanly possible. It’s up to you; I’m not going to preach it. However, I will say, the work that you do during times like this is important, and it has more value than you know. The writing you create today directly reflects the state of the world in which we live, and whether you’re writing about global or national problems and atrocities or not, your writing is leaving experience—voice—teaching, even unintentionally, but more importantly, showing others that they are not alone.

Keep writing, even if it feels shallow, even if you feel like it’s not important. It is.

Read on for some insights on where the press is headed, submissions opportunities, a look at my unofficial style-guide (maybe, I haven’t decided yet), plus a sponsorship opportunity.

Thanks for supporting small publishing,

DB

II
New

I haven’t accepted any new projects so far in 2026. Part of that is time—working so much, I’m finding it hard put the press out more into the light. Part of that, too, is finding the energy to thoroughly read some submissions, especially if I’m not genuinely on board right from the start. What goes hand in hand with that is excitement. There hasn’t been anything coming toward me in the form of general submissions that I’ve found SO exciting I’d drop everything to work on. The last half of 2025 had a lot of energy, and so far, 2026 is struggling.

What I am looking for at this moment, is elevated horror. Roll your eyes all you want, but you know what I’m talking about. When you know both Laird Barron and say, Judith Sonnet—you know the difference. It’s not “elitist” to call Barron elevated. It’s not a criticism of Judith to not put her in the same category. They are simply different things, meant for different crowds.

Elevated. Literary. I don’t care about the terms. You know what I’m referring to.

Drek Death and Doom has one possible acceptance (I also have a collection of my own coming this year, but I’m not counting that. Self-publishing, since many of the stories were shown here, first).

Nascent Night has two novels and a novella that are tentative yeses.

III
Opportunities

1. Looking for Promotional Prospects?

I’m considering sponsoring a handful of self-published books for Readercon, coming this July.

Entropic Absurdity

READERCON: Preamble

SUBSTACK FICTION IS GOING TO READERCON…

5 months ago · 37 likes · 48 comments · Zani D

What sponsorship would look like:
(Note: I think promotional table is guaranteed. Not fully certain on vendor table)

Books must align with my standards and branding. (Remember, I’m a horror publisher, but my imprint (Nascent Night) publishes literary fiction.)
All submissions for this would first need my approval (brand/content match), and then the approval of those involved in planning/execution.
I will buy a box of your books, at print cost, to ship to Readercon—either for the promotional opportunities, or the merchant table.
Your book would sit with others under a banner like, “Friends of Drek Death and Doom Publishing,” or “Sponsored by…,” etc. You get the idea.
I’m not selling your book and taking the profit for myself. (To be 100%, I am not sure how the merchant tables work. It may end up that I have to apply for a temporary state tax or vendor’s license for MA in order to sell anything. If that’s the case, the team involved in planning this will work out the details.)
Spots are limited. I will be reading for this as soon as possible. DM me if interested.

2. Upgrade Your Subscription

All right, listen. This is absurd for me to do this. I just heavily discounted some plans.

Free Subscribers:
- Monthly Newsletter viewing.
Paid Subscribers ($5/mo, forever, or $50/yr):
- Short stories, flash fiction, serials, and poetry access.
- The Vivisections craft/editing showcases. I take one of my published stories and walk you through drafting to acceptance, and all the steps in between. This includes annotated versions of each story, explaining what my thoughts were during editing, as well as the choices that brought the piece from rejection to acceptance.
- Access to the Tribunal Discord, a come-and-go critique and craft space.
NEW Founding Member ($120/yr (THIS AND YEARLY are currently discounted by 50%, locked in forever)). Listen, I know I’m devaluing myself here. I don’t expect many founding members, so I’m okay with that price for now. I’m still seeking testimonials. The current discount will end the first Friday in March, though. Then it’s back to $120, which is still heinously low.
- Edit/polish (6 short stories/year) with 1-page overview. Ideally, founders would be seeking professional publication to find this most beneficial.
- Anytime short story editorial letter.
- First look at to-be-published books.
- Discounted services (editing, formatting, files)
- Slush-reading opportunities. (Not guaranteed, btw. Anybody can buy a membership, but not everybody has the tools or wants to read slush.)

This is too cheap for me to keep looking at without changing my mind. Founding and yearly membership discounts end Friday, March 6th.

Subscribe Here

IV
Services:

I’m reposting the services I offer, here. Remember, I aim to be fully transparent. Although I’m an adequate line and dev editor, my genuine strengths are in formatting, compiling, proofreading, and high-level notes. There are editors here who can dig into your story with sharper tools than me for different purposes. I'm not trying to tag busy people; if you want recs, DM me.

Here’s what I offer:

Need a manuscript submission-ready?

These services are offered outside of the main publication. Querying for one of the offers below isn’t pre-purchasing something. It’s an email. A conversation.

Non-publishing Services || For all queries, email: dylanbosworth@drekdeathanddoom.com

`P.S. This is another reason you should become a founder. Cheaper services.`

*Willing to provide sample-edits

1.
Submission Prep

Quick n easy (Litmag/Anthology/E-Zine Under 10k words) $50

cover letter help / proofreading / formatting – headers and footers, spacing, and scene breaks / Full adherence to Modern Manuscript Format

Full Submission Prep (To an Agent/Small Press) $0.02 – $0.04 / word*

*depending on length

all formatting / full manuscript proofread/ revisions

Add ons

extra revisions $25 / query letter help $25

2.
Self Publishing

Basic Starter Pack $100 – $150

simple cover design / Ready-to-upload, formatted and typeset content files for KDP, IngramSpark, etc

Advanced Package $300

basic starter pack + / multiple formats / metadata, category, and keyword help

3.
Standalone

Proofreading ($0.01 per word)

Short Story submission formatting $25

Short Story Editorial Letter $50

EPub files $75

These are queries. I can turn down projects I do not wish to take.

*Also, I am one person. My capacity can max out quickly depending on accepted projects—expect these openings to fluctuate. To stay updated on services, visit the website.

Fast turnaround.
Clean, submission-ready files.
Stop struggling with formatting and trying to make your book look presentable.
Submissions are reviewed at our discretion. Accepted projects will receive payment instructions via PayPal. Work begins only after payment is received

V
Submissions/Pitches:

1.

I am still attempting to respond with acceptances and rejections within 90 days. If you’ve had something sitting in my inbox longer than that, please reach out. I probably missed it somewhere.

There’s a clarification I need to make. Many, many people have DMd me, essentially pitching a book they’re working on, and asking if I’d be interested for my press. When I say yes, that means I am interested in seeing it. Meaning, I would like to see it submitted to me when it’s completed. That doesn’t mean I am saying yes to publishing it.

(THIS IS REFERRING TO PUBLISHING SPECIFICALLY, NOT THE CALL FOR SPONSORSHIP AT READERCON.)

Note: There are some of you who have had a similar exchange with me, the difference being, that I read what you were pitching. I’ve handed out the tentative acceptances this way; I think you guys know who you are.

2.

Drek Death and Doom and Nascent Night Press are both open for long fiction submissions. Novellas, Novels.

For long fiction submissions, send query letter and first chapter. I will ask for the full thing if I want a closer look.

Submit at submissions@drekdeathanddoom.com.

3.

Drek Death and Doom is seeking original horror fiction that aims to inflict terror while demonstrating dangerous command of craft. We want stories written with intention and artistry.