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. Some have limited definitions and are only interested in work by Black authors. Some are open to submissions from all authors for a fee, but allow free submissions from limited demographics.
We try to make it as clear as possible who the publisher is seeking work from. Sometimes the focus of the press is limited, even though there are no limitations on who can submit. A few of the opportunities are also limited by geography, again, we try to make this clear. There are always additional submission details at the site we link to, but we try to cover the basics as best we can as part of this list.
If you belong to a limited demographic that is not listed here, this list might be helpful to you.
As long as a press/opportunity/journal is open to submissions we will continue to list it, so some of the content on the list is new, some overlaps with previous issues. New opportunities will always be shared at the top of each subheading.
This article is an ongoing collaborative effort by Emily Harstone and S. Kalekar. Please send us an email at support@authorspublish.com if you have any feedback or an opportunity/journal/publisher, to recommend.
Literary Journals/Magazines
Haven Speculative
They publish speculative fiction and poetry. They have Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall submission periods. “Our submission cycle is split into four reading periods, each containing three parts: a month explicitly reserved for submissions by authors of color, members of LGBTQIA+ communities, and writers belonging to other underrepresented groups; a month open to general submissions, during which anyone may submit; and a month in which we’re closed to submissions so that we may do the difficult (and exciting!) work of choosing content for future issues.” Till 31 October 2026, they want submissions from underrepresented writers only; “authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups.” They also publish climate crisis focused Dry and Wet issues each year; scroll down on the guidelines page for these themes. In November, they will open submissions for all writers. Send stories up to 5,000 words, or up to 5 poems. They pay $0.08/word for fiction, and $20/poem. Details here and here.
Spec Colorways in Verse
This is a speculative poetry journal. “Spec Colorways In Verse is seeking speculative poetry by queer Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC…2–3 poems, each new poem begins on a new page (6 pages max); if your heart, or energy, determines you have a single masterpiece, we’ll read it. Must be speculative—not “I glided into a portal” then the rest is unrelated and nonspeculative. We’re open to any form: traditional, free, experimental, and/or hybrid. We also encourage those living with (dis)abilities*/chronic illnesses and rooted in or of diasporas from Africa, Asia, SWANA, Central/South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and First Nations to submit work engaging with the cultures and stories of their communities—but it is not a requirement, we want whatever is forged from the depth of your creativity and wonder.” They pay $50/poem. Submission is via a form. The deadline is 1 November 2026.
Hybris Press: OTHERSIDE
This is a speculative fiction magazine; they only accept submissions from 2SLGBTQIA+ authors. ”We have a diverse team of editors, all with different tastes. Some of us like dreamy literary tales and some of us like high-stakes adventures. Some love fantasy and some prefer science fiction. Some like hopeful stories and some like bleak ones. And sometimes we don’t know what we like until you send it to us!” During their October submission window, they want submissions for the Explorations theme. They are open for nonfiction/essays year-round, and for fiction and other genres during specific submission windows; they’re open till 21st October for general submissions. Length guidelines are 500-4,000 words for fiction, any length for poetry (see guidelines), up to 4,000 words for nonfiction; pay is $0.08/word for fiction, $50 for poetry, $100 for nonfiction; details here and here.
IHRAM Press: Language, Censorship, and Translation
IHRAM (International Human Rights Art Movement) Press’s literary magazine wants fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on the theme of Language, Censorship, and Translation. “We are seeking firsthand experiences, factual retellings of stories from the author’s life, and personal reflections exploring the relationship between language, identity, expression, and power. … We are particularly interested in work that considers how language shapes the way we understand ourselves and others, and what happens when people are denied, constrained, misunderstood, or unable to use their own voice.” They have several suggested topics for this theme. Send up to 2,500 words for prose, up to 5 poems. They pay $50. The deadline is 15 November 2026.
My Galvanized Friend
They accept work from LGBTQIA+ writers in the US only; literary submissions (fiction, nonfiction, poetry) and art for a themed issue. “This winter we are looking to subvert the familiar and create new stories from the well-known, the tried and true, the classics of fairytale, folklore, and fable. Make it dark, make it queer, make it yours. For this issue, we’re looking for The Immoral of the Story.”
Length guidelines are 500-3,500 words for prose, up to 2 pages for poetry. They pay $25 for prose, $10/page for poetry. The deadline is 15th November 2026. Details here and here
PodCastle
PodCastle is an online and audio fantasy fiction magazine, and part of the Escape Artists suite of magazines. They are open for a special call, and the theme is Undercity Magic; the call is open to all writers, but they particularly want to hear from writers of the global majority. “The City asks for much and gives little, so how do people make a life for themselves with their backs against the wall? For this special edition of Podcastle, we invite writers to give us their takes on the strange, the fantastical, the arcane ways and myths of how people make the impossible possible. We are interested in tales featuring both human and nonhuman characters encountering the challenges of a city; the wily, the shrewd, the schemers, the devious, and those who do not survive in The City at all despite their best efforts. Submissions from all over the world are welcome, but we are particularly interested in hearing from folks of the global majority. There are many stories set in western cities, and we are keen on expanding our perspectives to include reckonings with urbanity and the idea of “modernity” in places where imperial and colonial interests overwhelmingly define the city and its hardness. We were so inspired by episode 934, C.T Muchemwa’s The Inheritance, which sees a young man in Harare inherit a spirit in the shape of a chicken that makes all his money troubles go away, but saddles him with even bigger problems. We are interested in hearing more about that kind of pull and push. For instance, some speculation on the very real phenomenon of magical doctors advertising their services on posters stuck on poles in Nairobi, Maputo or Lagos; promising an end to issues with poor grades at school, property disputes, divorce and bad luck. What could go wrong? What could go right? Tell us what magical stories your city inspires! We’re a fantasy publication, so all stories must have a fantasy element that’s crucial to the tale, though it can be subtle. We are unable to consider science fiction or straight-up horror, though dark fantasy is more than welcome.” They pay $0.08/word for original stories of 2,000-6,000 words, and $100 for reprints (can consider up to 7,000 words for reprints). The deadline is 13 November 2026. Details here (schedule) and here (theme guidelines and submission portal). They will open for general (unthemed) submissions on 1st November 2026.
Plenitude Magazine
They are Canada’s only queer literary magazine. They say “We aim to promote the growth and development of LGBTQ2S+ literature through online publication of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, book reviews, and interviews by both emerging and established LGBTQ2S+ writers. We especially encourage BIPOC, trans, and disabled writers to submit their work.” They are only open to free submissions from Canadian writers and charge a submission fee for international writers. They are a paying market and close to submissions on November 30th.
The Q&A Queerzine
All submitters must identify as LGBTQ+. They are open to submissions of a variety of work through the 30th of November.
x/y: a junk drawer of trans voices — ANTIFREEZE
“x/y is open to anyone who identifies as trans (or to those who are seeking a platform to explore their relationship to gender but aren’t quite sure how they identify). Don’t be afraid to send us your weirdest, most challenging work, and interpret the theme however you wish; we are not interested merely in neat and tidy trans stories about representation and empowerment, but in representing the totality of the trans experience, scars and all. Though we are not currently able to pay for submissions for x/y, we hope to see this change for future issues. For now, you will receive both a contributor’s copy of the zine and a printable PDF so that you can print as many copies as you want. Submissions are currently OPEN for submissions for issue #6, themed to ANTIFREEZE. Send us your writing, art, comics, whatever protesting ICE and CBP—use your pen and your voice and stand up for our neighbors. Priority for this issue will be given to those most directly affected by current anti-immigrant policies. ICE OUT NOW.” There is no deadline given. They have other projects listed on the guidelines page, as well. Details here (scroll down).
Reckoning: Flash fiction
This magazine on environmental justice. Their general guidelines say, “We are always seeking work from Indigenous writers and artists, racialized writers and artists, queer, trans and/or disabled writers and artists, and anyone, anywhere in the world, who has suffered the consequences, intended or otherwise, of dominant society’s systemic disconnect with and mistreatment of the natural world.” About this special flash fiction call, they say, “For Reckoning’s next special issue, we are asking for environmental justice flash fiction of 1000 words or less. While we’ll take 1-1200 words, we strongly prefer things in the 500-1000 range. Outside of flash, what we specifically want are weird stories, dark stories, horror stories . . . and yet stories with some bit of hope to them, even if that hope is simply, We will persist, we will exist, we will endure. You can’t make the world a better place, after all, if you aren’t there to do the work.
We want you to take big swings. We want you to push boundaries of expectations and language.” About his preferences, the editor says, “I like weird. I like dark. I like things I don’t know I like until I like them. Go back and read my story for Reckoning 3. Is that hopeful? I don’t know. I know it’s a blood sacrifice. What I’m saying is that I want your dirty, I want your rough, I want your jagged. I want your environmental justice in a box just waiting to be read to know if it’s alive or dead.” They also have a reading list for inspiration on their guidelines page. Do not send reprints for this call. Submission is via their Moksha portal. They’re also open for critical essays, reviews, review pitches, and novellas; other genres are closed. They pay $0.15/word for flash fiction. The deadline is 31 October 2026. Details here (flash fiction guidelines), here (general guidelines / links to genre-specific guidelines), and here (submission portal).
(They’re open for other projects as well, including critical essays, reviews, review pitches, and novellas.)
& Change
This journal only publishes poetry by gay men. They ask for three to eight poems per submission packet. They are open to submissions year round but note that “you can generally expect a response around April, August, and December”.
manywor(l)ds
They say “We welcome submissions by those who identify with and as any of the following descriptors: trans, two-spirit, disabled, neurodivergent, Mad, queer, crip, nonbinary, genderqueer, intersex. This is a space for the words, works, and worlds of and by those whose bodyminds defy social expectations and invite new ways of thinking and knowing.” They are open to general submissions in January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December. They also state “We support the liberation of all colonised peoples, and call for an immediate end to all projects of ethnic cleansing: from Palestine, to Sudan, to Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Afghans in Pakistan, and beyond. Further, we welcome writers from the affected communities to submit to manywor(l)ds at any time, irrespective of our open submission periods.” Submissions from those communities are allowed at any time. Additional submission guidelines are here. They pay a token amount to all contributors.
The Masters Review
They are open to submissions from all authors, but have a special portal for BIPOC and other historically marginalized writers. Authors can submit through this portal for free to receive either a faster response to their submission, or few lines of feedback on it. They are also open to only “new voices” so authors that have published single-author novel-length work or under contract with a major press are ineligible. They publish fiction and narrative nonfiction.
East Jasmine Review
East Jasmine Review is an electronic literary magazine that publishes quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, articles and reviews. They don’t have strict rules around who can submit but they state “Our first goal is to publish diverse voices that may not have mainstream access or traditional access to publishing. This includes but is not limited to LGBTQIA, ethnic minorities, women, lower socio-economic status, those who are older or younger, religious minorities, and non-American persons”.
Bipolar Poetry
This not-for-profit online publication publishes original poetry by people who have been diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder.
The B’K Magazine
This art and literature magazine prioritizes and pays traditionally marginalized creators, but they are open to submissions from all. They have very in-depth and detailed submission guidelines that everyone should read carefully before submitting.
Gasp Magazine
I’m not linking to this publication in the title, because their website is not safe for work as they are a publisher of adult work. Please do not click on this link unless you are 18+/ They focus on sharing a multifaceted discussions on sexuality, eroticism, and queerness. They are interested in essays, interviews, research articles, creative writing, poetry, artistic illustrations, and photography (with additional rules) that reflect upon sex or the absence thereof in one way or another.
The Saartjie Journal
This new journal is only open to writing and visual art by Black women artists and writers. They accept submissions of previously unpublished original poems, short stories, and visual art.
Mande
This is a journal of bipolar talent. “Mande is always open to submissions from bipolar creatives on any topic. While I appreciate the long shadows bipolar throws, I’m particularly interested at the moment in its high points, in any joy or positive elements you find in bipolar. We also publish work by people familiar with bipolar, as long as it’s directly related to manic depression.” They pay for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. They pay $50-250.
Cripple Punk Mag
This Substack publishes “essays, criticism, news and reviews, literary nonfiction, fiction, rants and raves, comics, and hybrid works on the subject of disability and live music, especially within the context of punk, alternative, and DIY music.” They also have an annual print anthology. Payment starts at $10 and is dependent on length and sliding scale based on need. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Previously published work is allowed, and work should be between 300 and 1,000 words in length.
The West Trestle Review
This respected journal is only open to submissions poetry and art by creators around the globe who self-identify as women or as non-binary. They are always open to free submissions by BIPOC writers who self-identify as women or as non-binary, and you can see those guidelines here.
Decolonial Passage
According to their website they “publish writing from writers of all backgrounds regardless of race, origin, or gender while simultaneously centering African, African American, and Black Diaspora writing.” Their mission statement goes into more details about this. They are open on a rolling basis to essays, creative nonfiction, short stories, and flash fiction. They are open to poetry only during the months of February, June, and October; and for prose, only during April, May, August, and December.
Magnets and Ladders
They publish the work of disabled writers in two issues a year.
DisLit Youth Magazine
They only publish work by writers 14-22, and they primarily publish disabled writers.
AURORE
This publications tagline is “a curated collection of erotic stories written by and for women and LGBTQ+ based on their own experiences”. Because it is a NSFW site, the link to get to it is here, instead of the title, please only click on it if you are 18+ They publish nonfiction erotica and their website is NSFW, please do not visit it if you are under 18.
Heaven Magazine
They are interested in publishing fiction, creative non fiction, flash, and poetry by all underrepresented creators.
Sinister Wisdom
A multicultural lesbian literary & art journal. Founded in 1976, this literary journal is always open to submissions.
Saffron City Press
Saffron City Press is an online literary journal dedicated to amplifying the voices of Middle Eastern and Middle Eastern-American writers.
The Kalahari Review
A weekly African literary magazine interested in material exploring modern Africa and Africans in unique and avant-garde ways. They publish their work on Medium.
Lavender Review
An international, biannual e-zine published in June and December, they are open to submissions of poetry and art by, about, and for lesbians. Submissions are open year round.
Ricepaper
This publication offers Asian Canadian context to ongoing arts and cultural issues, new perspectives on emerging and established Asian Canadian artists, and challenges mainstream media perspectives, little-known facts of interest, or critical stories that haven’t been told elsewhere. They are open to submissions from Asian writers around the globe as long as the editors can see a link between the content and some aspect of the Asian Canadian experience.
Raising Mothers
Raising Mothers celebrates and centers the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Brown parents. Some sections have reading periods; columns are open year-round. Guidelines are here. See their call for 2026 here.
African Writer
They are open to all genres of literature from Africa and the African Diaspora. They do not allow simultaneous submissions.
Afritondo
According to their website, “Afritondo is a media and publishing platform that aims to connect with and tell the stories of Africans and black minority populations across the globe.” They accept a wide range of work, including manuscript-length work.
Brittle Paper
Brittle Paper is an online literary magazine for readers of African Literature. They accept the following: “fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, book reviews, essays, literary commentaries, fun listicles, and any writing with a literary bent”.
Torch Literary Arts
Torch Literary Arts is a nonprofit organization. They publish and promote creative writing by Black women only; you can read more about them here. They publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers. “We are interested in work that challenges and disrupts preconceived notions of what Black women’s contemporary writing should be.” General submissions are accepted for Friday Features only, in which they publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and drama (including that accompanied by video or dramatic audio). Send up to 3,500 for prose works, up to 10 pages for drama, or up to 5 poems. Pay is $150. Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis; you can submit here.
Bi Women Quarterly
BWQ features the voices of women “with bi+ sexualities (i.e., bi, pan, fluid, and other non-binary sexualities)” and they see “woman” as a broad category and welcome contributions those who identify as trans, non-binary, cis, etc. They publish articles, creative writing, musings, and more. For their upcoming Winter issue, the theme is Body Image, and the deadline is 1 November 2026; see the submission form for details.
KOENING ZINE
They publish art, fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction submissions primarily by Asians, but they are open to submissions from non-Asians. Their uniting theme is Asian Folklore. Submitters must be over 18.
The Gay & Lesbian Review
The Gay & Lesbian Review is a bimonthly magazine of history, culture, and politics targeting an educated readership of LGBT people, and their allies that publishes themed features (2,000-4,000 words), reviews, interviews, and departments. They have announced a couple of themed calls, and they also invite suggestions for future themes.
- Going South: LGBT lives below the Mason-Dixon Line
- LGBT+Z: The Gen Z queer experience
Writers can send proposals or complete pieces. They pay for features ($250) and full-length book reviews ($100).
The Acentos Review
The Acentos Review publishes writing, art, music and multigenre work by Latinx writers. They are open to submissions all year long. Details here.
Craft
This respected literary journal is open to creative work from authors of all backgrounds, but they offer free submissions + fast response times to BIPOC and other mis- and underrepresented writers, here. Craft pays $100 for flash and $200 for short fiction and creative nonfiction.
The Lighthouse / Black Girl Times
The tagline of The Lighthouse is, “Cultivating spaces of solidarity and safety for southern Black girls to shine through focused programming and research.” They have an extensive guide for pitching articles, including “We … are always looking for thought-provoking stories and other content from marginalized communities, Black girls, (in particular, but not exclusively) and gender non-conforming people. In addition to story and long-form story pitches and op-eds, they accept photography and original artwork for their online blogging platform, The Black Girl Times, and their monthly newsletter, The Black Girl Times Redux. Also, “Each month, we have an editorial theme board (kind of like the mood boards interior designers use) we post on our social media accounts (@luvblkgrls). The theme board is intended to be an inspiration and provocation of thoughts, ideas and feelings. Your response(s) can be literal or abstract and loose. And again, it might not have anything to do with anything we’ve seen.” Pay is $0.25-$50/word. Pay for art (graphic design, cartoons and photo essays) can range up to $250.
Screen Door Review
They only publish work by individuals who are Southern and queer. You can learn more about how they define Southern here. They publish flash fiction and poetry.
Emergent Literary
An exciting literary journal that accepts a wide range of submissions from Black and Brown authors.
Presses/Anthologies
WordSmyths: Books of Rot and Bloom – Book 1: Spellbound
This is a speculative fiction and poetry anthology inspired by The Coven series by Ukrainian painter Inna Vjuzhanina (images on their guidelines page). They have detailed guidelines, including, “In this project, the witch is approached through a poetic lens: the knowing one: healer, witness, protector, shapeshifter, threshold-keeper, maker of impossible choices. … These paintings are doors into fantasy, beauty, danger, transformation, and the strange conversation that happens when visual art and story answer one another.
Choose one piece from Inna Vjuzhanina’s The Coven collection in the gallery below (see guidelines).
Find the witch who calls to you.
Then write the story only you can hear.
The witch from the painting must be essential to your story. They may be protagonist, antagonist, guide, beloved, monster, god, machine, memory, familiar, place, or impossible presence. Gender, species, body, and world are yours to imagine. The only rule is this:
Without this witch, the story falls apart.” They also say, “We also have an optional priority-read question for Ukrainian writers, Ukrainian diaspora writers, and writers currently living in or displaced by war zones. This information would be voluntary and used only to help us manage the reading process with care.” They pay CAD50 for stories up to 15,000 words / poetry up to 50 lines, and the deadline is 1 December 2026. Submission is via Google Forms.
Free Spirit Publishing: The Disability Books for Kids series
Free Spirit Publishing is committed to uplifting diverse voices with books that are relevant and inclusive for the youth we serve. We are especially seeking manuscripts from authors of diverse representation; including race, ethnicity, culture, religion, social class, LGBTQ identities, ability, and physical differences. They are particularly seeking books for their new Disability Books for Kids series, which explores visible and invisible disability in the first person, as seen through the eyes of children and written from lived experience. The series builds allyship, challenges ableism, and celebrates difference, empowering and educating all readers. Books should be aimed at readers 4-8. They have a lot of open calls for submissions, so you need to scroll down to the right one.
Neon Hemlock Press: We’re Here – The Best of Queer Speculative Fiction 2026
They want fiction reprints only, of queer speculative fiction published published in 2026. “We’re Here 2026 will feature the best queer speculative short fiction published in 2026.… Authors and editors both are welcome to read the submissions guidelines and submit queer speculative work from 2026.“ And, “We are looking for:
- The best speculative stories published in 2026 under 17,500 words that implicitly or explicitly explores queerness and/or transness.
- We refer to queerness that is inclusive of ace/aro stories, trans and nonbinary stories, and intersex stories.
- What we don’t want to see: Original/unpublished work, unqueer work, non-speculative work.”
They pay $0.01/word for works of 17,500 words. The deadline is 31 December 2026. Details here (scroll down), here and here.
(And, Neon Hemlock Press is open for speculative chapbooks till 15th October, will open for speculative novellas on 15th October 2026 – see the announcement on this page.)
Rebel Satori Press
Rebel Satori Press is open to submissions for Arabi Manor, its esoterica imprint. Arabi Manor is open to submissions from all authors but highly encourages submissions from Queer authors. You can read our full review of the press here. While its Queer Space anthology closed to submissions on October 14th, Arabi Manor closes to submissions on October 31st.
Heyday Books: Berkeley Roundhouse program
Heyday is an established independent and nonprofit publisher that focuses on California and the American West. They publish nonfiction books that explore history, celebrate Native cultural renewal, fight injustice, and honor nature. They are open to submissions from Native voices in particular for their Roundhouse imprint, which you can learn more about here.
Palimpsest Press
They only publish Canadian authors. They are open to submissions from authors who identify as BIPOC, Deaf, or Disabled, all year round. They accept submissions from authors who do not identify as BIPOC, Deaf or Disabled from March 1st through March 31st. They publish poetry and other literary genres.
Adarna House
This established press based in the Philippines is committed to promoting culture and languages is support of Filipino artistry and talent. They are open to submissions from Filipinos 18 years or older, based anywhere in the world. There is no limit to the number of pitches one may submit. Submissions may be in Filipino or English or come with a Filipino or English translation.
Lantana
They are an award-winning children’s book publisher based in England, United Kingdom. They are looking for manuscripts and book dummies by authors and illustrators from underrepresented groups. They almost exclusively publish stories with child protagonists (including poetry, graphic novels and nonfiction) and are not looking for stories only featuring animal characters.
The University Of Arkansas Press
The University of Arkansas Press accepts unsolicited proposals for scholarly and trade books on topics related the African American history and culture. You can visit their website here to see the titles they’ve previously published.
aunt lute
A multicultural women’s press. Their priority is to publish work by women, both transgender and cisgender, particularly women of color. We have reviewed them here.
Little Puss Press
A feminist press run by trans women. They are open to general submissions of fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. They are also open to reprint proposals of literary/historical works of significance by transgender authors. They have good distribution, excellent press, and have already published work that has won a major award.
Arte Público Press
They focus on publishing literary work by “Hispanic writers”, and they publish work in both English and Spanish, but primarily focus on English work. They also have bilingual children’s and YA book imprint, Piñata Books.
The Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series
This opportunity, from Black Lawrence Press, is for immigrants living in the US – for manuscripts of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid writing. “Poets and authors, at any stage of their careers, who identify as immigrants are welcome to submit a book manuscript of poetry or prose or a hybrid text for consideration. Submissions are accepted year-round. However, selections are made in June and November for a total of two books per year. In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors.”
North Dakota State University Press: Contemporary Voices of Indigenous Peoples Series
The goal of this series to feature the authentic stories, poetry, and scholarly works of Native Americans, First Nations, Maori, Aborigines, Indians, and more to give voice to contemporary Indigenous peoples. NDSU Press considers book-length manuscripts of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for publication in this series.
Monsoon Books
This respected press accepts unsolicited manuscripts with Asian, particularly Southeast Asian, themes.
Arsenal Pulp Press
A Canadian independent press that publishes a wide variety of work, prioritizes work by LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors. We have reviewed them here.
Salaam Reads
They are an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. They are actively seeking to publish books that center on positive and joyous portrayals of the Muslim experience across all genres for children. They say “Our goal is to highlight well-rounded portrayals of Muslim children and families in mainstream children’s media. We want to share stories that center Muslim characters without depicting their religious identity as a major source of conflict.” They are open to submissions aimed at readers starting at 4 years of age and going up to 18. They particularly encourage submissions of MG and YA novels.
Lily
A small poetry press that publishes work of varying length. Submitting shorter work is free for everyone, but submitting poetry manuscripts is free only for poets who identify as Black. They are always open to these submissions.
Angry Robot
A great science fiction publisher that only accepts direct submissions from Black authors.
Heartdrum
Heartdrum is an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, which is edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, and is in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. Native and First Nations writers and writer-illustrators are welcome to query her directly via a form on her website. Native and First Nations illustrators are also invited to reach out.
Opportunities/Support/Contests
Northwestern University Press: Drinking Gourd Chapbook Prize
This is for poets who are people of color with US citizenship, who have not previously published a book-length volume of poetry, inclusive of chapbooks. Send a poetry manuscript of 25–35 pages – see guidelines – along with a completed entry form. The prize is $500, and the deadline is 31 October 2026. Details here and here.
C Magazine: Indigenous Art Writing Award
“We’re excited to launch the 5th annual Indigenous Art Writing Award, an initiative created to support, compensate, and platform three standout individuals who are advancing critical and creative thought about Indigenous contemporary art.
Indigenous writers are invited to submit a single non-fiction text about an artist, project, exhibition, performance, event, initiative, theme, or other art-adjacent subject. Suggested length for submissions is between 1000-2000 words.
The winner will receive $1500 CAD; editorial support to prepare their article for publication in a future issue of C Magazine and to be shared across ICCA’s platforms; and a two-year C subscription. Two runners-up will receive $1000 CAD; an open invitation to develop a pitch for a different text to be published in C Magazine; and a two-year subscription. All participants can request feedback on their submitted work, and will receive a one-year subscription.
Applicants must identify as an Indigenous person. There are no geographical restrictions, although we strongly encourage those based in Canada to apply. Submissions should primarily be in English, but may include non-English words or phrases. For submissions entirely in another language, we kindly ask for translations.” Submission is via a form and the deadline is 23rd November 2026.
The African Poetry Book Fund: Everosto Prize for African Poetry
They are open for the Evaristo Prize for African Poetry; “The Prize is open to African writers. An “African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African.
The prize is open to African poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published at the time of submission.” Send exactly 10 poems, no longer than 40 lines each. The prize is $1,500 and the deadline is 1st November 2026. Details here and here.
The African Poetry Book Fund: Sillerman First Book Prize
They are open for the Sillerman First Book Prize: “We consider electronic submissions only; any hard copy submissions will be recycled unread. The Prize: The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. The winner receives USD $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press.” Poetry manuscripts should be at least 50 pages long. The deadline is 1st December 2026. Details here and here.
Foglifter: Start A Riot! Poetry Chapbook Prize
This annual chapbook contest was created in “response to rapid gentrification and displacement of QTBIPOC+ literary artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in celebration of these communities’ revolutionary history, Foglifter Press and Still Here San Francisco joined forces to create a poetry chapbook prize for local emerging queer and trans Black writers, indigenous writers, and writers of color. Each year, one chapbook author is awarded publication, a $3,000 prize, and $1,000 to support their book tour/promotion. The winner will work with Foglifter’s team to shape and bring forth the first chapbook of their dreams—directly engaging with the editorial, design, production, and promotion processes—and cultivating skills, experience, and relationships that last long after publication.” Additional eligibility details are shared on their Submittable. Submissions close December 1st.
PJI: Editor’s Prize
The Poetic Justice Institute is hosting their annual contests for writers, and their Editor’s Prize has a free entry portal for BIPOC writer’s, which you can see here. Winners receive publication with Fordham University Press, a $1,000 cash prize, and a one-on-one publicity consultation as well as a virtual launch through Poetic Justice Event Series. Submissions close November 15th.
Society of Authors: ADCI Literary Prize
This is a prize for UK writers, for published or self-published novels, including on Kindle; “the ADCI (Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses) Literary Prize seeks to encourage greater positive representation of disability in literature.” The author must self-identify as disabled or chronically ill, and must be a British national OR resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for three years prior to the date of submission for the award. The prize is for a work of fiction that contains one or more characters that are disabled and/or living with chronic illness (poetry, short stories, and works for children are not eligible). Submissions must have been published or self-published in the UK between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2026; Kindle submissions are eligible. There is a total prize fund of £2,000, and the deadline is 31 October 2026.
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Perugia Press Prize
This annual prize includes book publication and a $2,000 prize, as well as 20 author copies and an ongoing discount of 50% off of the cover price for additional copies. It is open only to women, inclusive of gender-expansive identities. There is a fee attached to this prize for general submissions, but BIPOC writers can submit for free. They close to submissions on November 15th. Please read their full guidelines carefully before submitting.
Princeton University Press: Global Equity Grants
These grants are for authors of underrepresented groups to support the preparation of works that is already under contract, in production, or published within the last 12 months. Grants range from $500 to $1,000. The grants can be used to cover a wide range of supports including parental/family care, and translation. More details at the source. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.
