Updated May 13th, 2025: After a delayed start their reading period is now open!

Able Muse is a small literary press that has one free reading period every year, from 1st May through 15th July. They also publish a literary journal, and they host a number of contests every year. They publish poetry and fiction primarily, and they will consider non-fiction as long as you query first. Most of the fiction they publish is short story collections and unlike other small presses, some of what they publish is genre work.

Scanning through their online catalog here can give you a good feel for what they generally publish. Their covers are usually well designed and appealing, but the layout and design of their website leaves much to be desired.

They also don’t have an “about us” page, which I always find frustrating, and I was unable to find the names of the people who actually operate the press. However, they have been around for a while and that is a good sign.

Literary presses as a general rule leave promoting up to the author (there are exceptions, like Tin House and Copper Canyon Press) and Able Muse seems to fall firmly into the self-promotion camp.

They accept submissions through their online submission system (preferred) and also via email. Be careful to follow their instructions and always just submit a single manuscript.

They take around nine months to respond to all submissions. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, as long as you notify them if the work is accepted elsewhere.

To learn more or to submit, visit their website here.

Bio: Emily Harstone is the pen name of an author whose work has been published internationally by a number of respected journals. She is a professional submissions adviser. You can follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/emilyharstone/