General Guidelines
To view our samplers of poetry and prose, click here.
The Aesthetic
- We are open to many literary themes and poetic forms & styles. Our Samplers above are prime examples of our books. We enjoy the succinct, the startling, and the sublime. Some humor will keep us turning pages. Nature has been prevalent in the last few years. We root for intimate characters & their relationships with whomever or whatever.
- Genres we’re not actively marketing are straightforward genre fiction, erotica, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, or experimental in form. We are not a publisher for manuscripts of plays, screenwriting, academic articles, and art books. If you are unsure, please query before submitting.
- A 3rd-person bio containing geographical and publication info is appreciated in the cover letter. We prefer shorter bios for typesetting books.
- There may be periods when we request a specific theme, genre, or manuscript. Please double-check individual guidelines.
The Pragmatic
- All manuscripts must be original and unpublished. Previously published pieces within are fine with acknowledgment. Please double-check individual guidelines.
- Reprints of previously published books are not accepted. Additionally, manuscripts that have been extraneously typesetted or have mock cover spreads will be rejected.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted. If a partial withdrawal is required, please message us. If it is a full withdrawal, please use the 'Withdraw' function in Submittable.
- Regarding page layout, we request that the first page include the manuscript title, name, and page count (chapbooks, poetry, short stories) or word count (full-length books). Please double-check individual guidelines.
The Ethic
- We will not accept any graphic violence, racism, bigotry, or actions/symbols targeted toward peoples' race, religion, sexual orientation, or personal identities unless you empathize with such.
- We highly encourage writers from historically marginalized demographics to submit.
- We reserve the right to reject singular pieces or entire manuscripts at any time.
- If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, we implore you to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It is toll-free and avaialble 24/7.
988 or 1-800-273-8255
Afterimages, the Thirty West Substack, is reading essays, memoirs, serialized fiction, and book reviews. We're open to many interpretations of these categories, so send us something unique and timely. Unfortunately, there isn’t monetary compensation at this time. All accepted articles will obtain a light editorial from the TW staff, remain on Afterimages in perpetuity, and reach 1,000+ subscribers via email on the chosen publication day. We ask that TW obtains first publication rights and be acknowledged if submitted elsewhere.
What we're looking for:
- Essays, personal and craft.
- Memoirs and vignettes.
- Book/chapbook reviews and author interviews.
- Flash fiction & traditional short stories.
- Serialized fiction or nonfiction (please provide sample & proposal.)
- Semi-regular columns (please provide sample & proposal.)
Document details:
- Default formatting (unless the piece requires something different) in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.
- Try to keep everything under 3,000 words.
As always, please consult our General Guidelines before submitting. We're looking forward to reading!
Bring a Blanket, Philadelphia's indoor/outdoor reading series that celebrates locals and travelers, is turning 1. Alexandra from Be About It Press loves all things zine-y, it was only a matter of time before something became printed.
This call is primarily for Bring a Blanket alumni and possibly writers and artists who were in the open mic specials and A Writers Party. Josh from Thirty West will print the first run (~50 copies) on "The Workhorse", his press's indie inkjet printer. Space is limited, but we want this to be awesome. The call is open from 3/16 to 4/20.
Thanks for supporting Bring a Blanket and we can't wait to read!
What we're looking for:
- 1-3 poems up to 5 manuscript pages.
- 1 short story or essay of up to 1,500 words (fiction or nonfiction).
- 1-3 flash fiction/nonfiction pieces totaling up to 1,000 words.
- 1-2 B&W/color photographs or scanned artwork (highest resolution possible).
- Open themes. Bonus if you include blankets/picnics/the great outdoors.
- A brief bio of 50 words or less. Flaunt your handles, books, art, or whatever!
What you get out of it:
- A copy of the finished zine.
- Limited-edition stickers and other swag.
- A small cash honorarium ($5-$10 depending on number of accepted contributors).
- Invitation to read at a summer launch party.