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.

40 Writers’ “Rules for Writing”

Most writers have their own special “rules for writing,” even if they don’t talk about them. I find other writers’ rules fascinating, even when I don’t agree with them. A lot can be learned by reading about other authors’ approaches to writing. The New York Times and The Guardian have published famous author’s answers to…
Special Issue

Tradewind Books: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Tradewind Books is a small publisher of  books for children and young adults located in British Columbia, Canada. They publish beautifully illustrated books, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and for young adults. They publish primarily fiction but also some poetry. They are not interested in nonfiction. It is important to note that they…
Children's Books Issue Two Hundred Seventy Four Manuscript Publishers Young Adult

13 Literary Journals Open to Other Art Forms

Most literary journals publish poetry and fiction. Many also publish creative nonfiction, essays, reviews, and visual art (largely paintings, drawings, and photography). Most do not publish anything else. However, all of the journals linked to here are interested in a variety of mediums. Some want you to submit your songs, others your short videos. These…
Special Issue

Twelfth Planet Press: Now Seeking Novella Submissions

Twelfth Planet Press is a small electronic press focusing primarily on publishing novellas by women and other marginalized writers in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and more recently, crime. They particularly hope to publish Australian writers but they have had no geographic limits on their recent submission calls. They really want to publish…
Fantasy Issue Two Hundred Seventy Three Manuscript Publishers Mystery Science Fiction Speculative Fiction

How to Make Time for Writing

“All writers have this vague hope that the elves will come in the night and finish any stories.” ― Neil Gaiman Time for writing doesn’t make itself. This might seem like a ridiculously obvious statement, yet it is a trap writers fall into all the time, myself included. If you have a good writing habit…
Issue One Hundred Seventy Three Issue Two Hundred Seventy Three Special Feature

Timber Press: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Timber Press was founded in 1978 and publishes work about the natural world by experts in the fields of gardening, horticulture, and natural history. They were bought by the Workman Publishing Company in 2006. In 2021 Workman Publishing became part of the Hachette Book Group. Timber Press is recognized internationally as a leading gardening publisher…
Gift Books Issue Two Hundred Seventy Two Manuscript Publishers Non Fiction

25 Publishers Always Open to New Submissions

Many publishers open and close their doors to unsolicited submissions on a routine basis. It can sometimes be hard to determine if they are open or shut to submissions and when you should submit. These 25 featured publishers are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. All of them are…
Special Issue

Fireside Fiction: Seeking Book Submissions Until August 31st

Updated June 2022: They have announced their permanent closure. UPDATED October 30th, 2019: Fireside Fiction has severed without announcment or explantion a number of author contracts. You can read more about it here.  I would not recommend submitting to them at this time. Fireside Fiction is the publisher of novels and novellas as well as…
All Genres Issue Two Hundred Seventy One Literary Fiction Manuscript Publishers

17 Approachable Literary Journals

If you are just starting to submit your work to literary journals, or perhaps you just want to avoid rejection, this list is for you. All of the literary journals in this list accept around half of what is submitted to them. So the odds of your work being accepted just went up. These are…
Special Issue

Weldon Owen Books: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

UPDATED MARCH 16TH 2020 – No longer open to direct submissions Weldon Owen is an imprint of Bonnier Publishing US, which is a division of Bonnier Publishing, a large UK-based company. Weldon Owen Publishing focuses on high-quality adult nonfiction. They publish largely illustrated lifestyle books in the categories of food and drink, sports and fitness,…
Issue Two Hundred Seventy Manuscript Publishers Non Fiction

Black Opal Books: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

UPDATED NOVEMBER 15, 2021 – They are still in operation, but everything I’ve heard from authors has made it clear that their serious issues are ongoing. They are not listed in the manuscript guide and I keep this article up as a reference point. UPDATED JULY 30TH, 2019 – They have gone through some recent…
Erotica History Issue Two Hundred Sixty Nine Manuscript Publishers Mystery Paranormal Romance Women's Fiction

26 Non-Fiction Publishers Open to Direct Submissions

The following publishers all focus on publishing non-fiction books. Most focus in on one or two aspect of non-fiction, such as history books, memoir, or cookbooks. Some are more broad in their interests. All of them are open to unsolicited submissions directly from authors. No agent required. Almost all of these publishers open to proposals,…
Special Issue

DAW: Now Open to Manuscript Submissions

UPDATED September 2022: They have a new webpage no longer directly on the Penguin Random House website (although they are still an imprint): https://astrapublishinghouse.com/imprints/daw-books/. They no longer appear to be open to direct submissions. I will update if that changes. DAW is an imprint of Penguin that is open to manuscript submissions from authors without…
Fantasy Issue Ninety-Three Issue Two Hundred Sixty Eight Manuscript Publishers Science Fiction

The Parliament House Press: Now Accepting Manuscript Submissions

Updated February 2025: They have a number of 2024 books that were scheduled to be published that are still stuck on pre-order. The last book they published came out in 2023. I believe they are defunct. The Parliament House is a small eBook and print press started in 2016.  They specialize in fantasy, including paranormal,…
Fantasy Issue Two Hundred Sixty Seven Manuscript Publishers Young Adult

Crooked Lane: Now Accepting Submissions

Updated September 5th 2025 Crooked Lane was founded in 2014 as a press specializing in crime books. They have an experienced staff and have managed to publish some well known authors already. They publish a range of mysteries that lean towards the cozy, and they are not opposed to publishing a series of books. You…
Horror Issue Two Hundred Sixty Six Manuscript Publishers Mystery

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