November 24, 2025

The Top 45 Publishers for New Authors

The writing market can be overwhelming, particularly for new authors who do not have a history of past publication. It is important to note that no legitimate established presses specifically look for unpublished authors. The presses on this list were chosen because they have published a number of debut books before. The publishers on this…

November 20, 2025

Shift: Now Seeking Submissions

Shift is a journal of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translations, as well as image-based and hybrid writing. They especially love “literary oddities”: “language-based creations that push boundaries, challenge expectations, and defy easy categorization.” The journal is produced and published by students at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Shift was established in…

78 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (November 2025)

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities….

A Craft Essay About Never Knowing How to Stop

By Sabyasachi Roy You ever notice how beginnings get all the glory? Everyone’s obsessed with “the hook.” Grab the reader by the collar, shake them, spill coffee in their lap. But endings—no one talks about the fact that endings are basically a con. Like… “wrap it up neatly.” Excuse me? I can’t even wrap Christmas…

November 17, 2025

30 Magazines Accepting Genre Fiction

These magazines accept fiction in various genres – adventure, sword & sorcery, science fiction, fantasy, crime, noir, mystery, romance, horror, Western, pulp, historical fiction, gothic, and more. Some also accept other genres, like nonfiction and poetry. Some of these magazines pay writers. Many, but not all, are open for submissions now. StarspunThis magazine publishes fantasy…

November 13, 2025

5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in November 2025

These magazines pay for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They are a mix of literary and genre magazines. Not all of them are open through the month.The Stinging FlyThis Ireland-based magazine opens for fiction (including novel excerpts and graphic fiction), nonfiction, and poetry. They also accept translations. They also have a submission FAQ page. Submission is…

Months to Years: Now Seeking Submissions

Months to Years is a digital journal of creative nonfiction and poetry that explores the themes of death, mortality, and terminal illness. They also publish writing on grief and loss, and they’re looking for writing “that explores our complex relationships” with these topics: “We seek personal stories with universal appeal.” Months to Years was founded…

Heads up! from a Short Story Judge

By E. L. TenenbaumOver the last while, I’ve done a few turns as a first-round judge for a few writing competitions, most recently for short stories. Usually, entries must undergo more than one round of judging, by more than one judge, before winners can be chosen. Across the board, almost all writing competitions juggle the…

The Writing Voice You Don’t Choose

Everyone says: find your voice. Like it’s in the lost and found, under a scarf and someone else’s umbrella. As if you walk up to the desk: “Hi, yes, mine’s the lyrical-yet-accessible one with hints of irony.” No. Voice finds you. Or worse—voice squats inside you like a raccoon that refuses to leave your attic….

November 11, 2025

25 Manuscript Publishers Always Open to Submissions

Some publishers open and close their doors to submissions on a routine basis. It can be hard to determine if they are open or shut to submissions, and when you should submit. The following publishers, however, are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. All of these publishers meet our…

November 6, 2025

Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in November 2025

This list focuses on ten publishers that we are excited about that are open to submissions this month. Some are only open for a short period of time, others will be open the whole month and beyond. At least four of these are presses we have not covered previously. Please note that if a publisher…

Barbara: Now Seeking Submissions

Barbara is a poetry broadside, produced in Scotland. What is a broadside? A broadside is a single sheet of paper that’s easy to distribute, read, and fold into a pocket: “It is designed to be held in your hands.” This tactile quality is a central part of Barbara’s mission: “We seek to challenge the increasing…

The Tyranny of “Show, Don’t Tell”

By Sabyasachi Roy Say it once: John was sad. Bam. Done. Quick. Clean. But no, apparently I must paint a whole oil canvas. His eyelids sag. Shoulders wilt. He stares at the rain like a broken blinds catalogue model. His sigh echoes through the century’s blah blah. Congratulations. Turned a sad guy into a slam…

Eclipse: Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Eclipse is the dark romance focused imprint of Entwined Publishing, which we have reviewed here (please read it first). This is how they describe the imprint: “Eclipse delves into the shadowy realms of dark romance, where love and danger intertwine. We are interested in submissions featuring dark billionaires, mafia kings, biker gangs, and anti-heroes who…

becker&mayer! kids: Accepting Manuscript Submissions

becker&mayer! kids is often abbreviated as b&m!. This is an imprint of The Quartro Publishing Group that focuses on publishing children’s books that focus on portraying varying cultures, races, and abilities. They say this about the imprint: “We believe authenticity is even more important than just visibility. When people read about their own culture, it…