Articles by Emily Harstone

Emily Harstone is the pen name of a published writer. Her work has been published in ten countries, four continents, by over fifty different journals. She is a professional submissions adviser and editor. If she owned a dog it would be named Wystan.

Sea Crow Press: Accepting Manuscript Queries

Their motto is “Stories Rooted In Place  •  Writing That Moves The World”. This small press based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts focuses on publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with a clear focus on eco-literature, regional writing, and climate-aware storytelling. It is a woman-owned press, and you can see their full masthead by scrolling down here….

Lyons Press: Open to Book Proposals

Lyons Press was founded in 1984. Their initial focus was on a lifestyle of “responsible outdoor sport,” according to their founder Nick Lyon. They have since expanded their focus to books on fishing, hunting, nature, animals, military history, American history, entertainment, true crime and sports. They are now an imprint of Globe Pequot, which you…

How to Find the Right Literary Agent for Your Book

Researching agents can be a time-consuming process, but you should never submit to an agent without first doing significant research. This is true of submitting to publishers as well. To me, research is the most important step of the submission process. It is vital because there is no point going through all the work of…

106 Traditional Poetry Manuscript Publishers (2026 Update)

Most traditional poetry manuscript publishers charge their readers a fee to submit. You can read about why that is the case here. This article focuses on a number of poetry manuscript publishers who do not charge submission fees to writers, which is good news for poets. This is the longest and most accurate list of…

Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in January 2026

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…

The Dilettante: Now Seeking Submissions

The Dilettante zine is an online and print publication founded in 2018. They accept submissions on a rolling basis for their website. They also have an email list that alerts readers of when submissions are open for their print issue, which you can sign up for here. You can see the digital version of the…

Atlantic Books: Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Atlantic Books is an independent London-based publishing house that was founded in 2000. They publish a wide range of work including fiction, memoir, history and current affairs. Some of their biggest fiction successes include My Sister the Serial Killer, Call Me By Your Name, and Crazy Rich Asians. You can learn more about Atlantic Books…

Parlyaree Press: Accepting Manuscript Queries

Parlyaree Press was established in 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. They are focused on publishing work that “expands, reveals, and interrogates the mainstream.” They want their books to “exist in the liminal space between what was and what will be.” They explain their name by sharing: “The cant of circus performers, freaks, queers, and thespians, Parlyaree…

Stackpole Books: Accepting Book Proposals

Stackpole Books was founded in 1927. From the very start they’ve published books in about the Outdoors, Crafts and Military History. Their particular focuses include fly fishing, nature guide, Civil War and World War II History, military reference, and specialty crafts and hobbies. You can get a good feel for what they publish by going…

Blue Dot Kids Press: Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Blue Dot Kids press is a small publisher that focuses on publishing purposeful books for kids under 12. They focus on publishing “stories that connect us to each other—and to the home we call Earth”. They also really believe in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can get a good feel for what…

What is a Chapbook + 12 Chapbook Publishers

Chapbooks are very small books, usually between 15-30 pages in length, 50 at the most. They frequently have no spine and are often bound with staples but they can also be bound with ribbon or thread. They have been around for a long time, at least since the 16th century, when they were associated with…

An Argument for Writing Short Stories

“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.’ — Ray Bradbury “A good [short story] would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit.” — David Sedaris Writers who are serious about improving and developing…

23 Publishers Accepting Memoir Submissions

Memoir publishers that don’t require an agent to submit are few and far between. However, there are still options out there. Some are old and respected, others are new and still figuring things out. Not all the publishers on this list are currently open to submissions, but most are. It’s important to note that some…

81 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (December 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….

42 Terrific International Literary Journals

The bulk of the literary journals we review are based in North America, with a smattering in the UK. Although we sometimes seek out and include international journals, the bulk of the journals we’ve reviewed are in these two regions. All of the journals in this list are not in either of these regions. They…

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