submit to stillhouse press!
At Stillhouse Press, we believe in fostering author relationships that are rooted in genuine collaboration and in championing work that is strange, unconventional, transcendent, and risky. We look for fresh voices and authors who push the boundaries of their craft in ways we haven’t seen before. We are committed to soliciting work from the widest possible range of voices, including those often excluded from traditional publishing, including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, low-income writers, and those living with disabilities. We especially love publishing emerging authors and debut works.
As a student and alumni-led teaching press, our primary aim is to provide educational opportunity through applied experience in the art of craft publishing. Student staff are responsible for acquiring, producing, and marketing work from independent authors in the course of their education, allowing them to forge lasting professional relationships and step out with confidence into the greater literary community.
submissions OPEN soon!
Stillhouse Press will open for poetry submissions
between May 4th, 2026 and August 7th, 2026.
Stillhouse Press will only accept manuscripts through Submittable. Unsolicited manuscripts received through email will be rejected unread. If our Submittable is closed, then we are not accepting new submissions at this time. Please check here for our next open window.
Poetry Call
Stillhouse Press is open from May 4th, 2026, to August 7th, 2026, for submissions of book length poetry manuscripts of 50-75 pages. Exceptional works with longer or shorter page counts may still be considered.
We are interested in collections that encourage surprise, are ordered in novel and interesting ways, and that push the boundaries of what poetry is expected to be. Please send us your best.
Stillhouse Press will accept manuscripts only through Submittable. Unsolicited manuscripts received through email will be rejected unread.
Please note that we do not accept submissions of AI-generated prose, previously published full-length books, or submissions from writers currently or recently affiliated with George Mason University’s English Department or Creative Writing MFA/BFA programs. Submissions that fall under these criteria will be automatically declined.
The Nitty-Gritty
We seek prose manuscripts between 50,000 and 100,000 words. Works with longer or shorter word counts may be considered, but they will need to be exceptional.
We charge a nominal $7 fee/submission for regular submissions to cover our own Submittable and administrative expenses. To create an accessible platform for marginalized voices, we offer fee-free submissions to writers who request a fee waiver via email at submissions@stillhousepress.org.
Please see below for more detailed guidelines:
Only complete, full-length memoirs will be considered for publication. We are happy to consider exceptional essay collections that may be somewhat shorter than the required word count with justification in the author’s cover letter. Please refer to individual call guidelines for details.
Simultaneous submissions are acceptable if indicated. Please notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Submitted manuscripts should include:
a word count in the top right corner of the first page.
a cover letter with a short synopsis or overview of the work. Authors are also encouraged to share information about their writing background, online presence, involvement with the writing community, and inspiration for their submission.
if possible, an acknowledgements page at the beginning or end of the manuscript.
We do not consider:
Agented submissions.
AI-generated prose.
Previously published or forthcoming manuscripts.
Work from writers currently or recently affiliated with George Mason University’s Creative Writing MFA/BFA programs.
We take time in considering all submissions. Expect 6-9 months for a decision. We welcome queries about manuscripts under review after 9 months have passed via email at submissions@stillhousepress.org. Queries should include your name, the date of your submission, and the manuscript title.
To stay up to date on all things Stillhouse Press, and to receive an email announcement when our next submission period opens, subscribe to our newsletter at “KEEP UP WITH STILLHOUSE PRESS" on our home page.
For questions about this and other submissions policies, please contact us at submissions@stillhousepress.org
New voices welcome
Stillhouse Press is committed to soliciting work from voices and perspectives often excluded from traditional publishing, including low-income writers, writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ writers, and those living with disabilities. To create an accessible platform for disadvantaged voices, we offer fee-free submissions to writers who request a fee waiver via email at submissions@stillhousepress.org
