Dark Coast Press

Submission Guidelines

Dark Coast Press publishes works of literary fiction, fiction, poetry, abstract, and experimental writing.  We publish established and unknown authors.  We encourage writers to take risks and readers to follow them into uncharted territory.  We love crazy books.  Old and new ones.  Unfanthomable ones.  Calm and clear ones.  Simply put, we publish books we like.

What does that mean?  It means that we consider everything under the sun as long as it is a predominantly literary work. We always place craft and invention above genre.  We do not like poorly written books. It means we will consider all manuscripts from all camps.  But, generally, we do not publish the following:  mass market fiction, popular fiction, genre fiction, fantasy fiction, mystery/crime/thriller fiction, non-fiction, inspirational prose/poetry, cookbooks, self-help books, religious or political propaganda, etc.

We publish full-length paperback and hardbound books, special editions, and e-books.

Please look at the list of titles we have already published to consider whether or not Dark Coast Press is the right fit for you.

We have a love affair with good writing and maintain rigorous editorial standards based on the content, aesthetics, and craft of the works we choose to publish.  Please take this into account when submitting your work.

We accept both mail and electronic submissions.  However, we highly suggest that submissions of full-length work (w/ accompanying materials) should be sent by mail (US Post Office, FedEx, UPS, etc.) to the address below:

When submitting electronically, include your full name and title of work in the header.  Please send electronic submissions by email to:

submissions(at)darkcoastpress(dot)com

When submitting full-length work, please send 3–5 chapter samples or excerpts from the full manuscript.  No more than 30 pages. If we are considering the piece we will contact you requesting the full work.

Send all submissions with a descriptive query letter that appropriately outlines and summarizes your work.

Include (in or alongside your query) a personal statement, biographical sketch, or résumé summarizing your history, most recent past publication, and achievements.  If you have none of those things (which is quite fine with us, honestly), a creative description of your work, as well as your thoughts, intentions, and goals as an author.

When submitting by mail, please include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) with your submission to receive a written reply.  If we receive any paper mail without a SASE it will be confidentially disposed.

Multiple submissions are okay.  (If a work has been accepted by another publisher please do the courtesy of letting us know by email so that we may discard the work as soon as possible.)

Simultaneous submissions are okay. (If a work has been accepted by another publisher please do the courtesy of letting us know by email so that we may discard the work as soon as possible.)

Please allow 3 - 5 months response time for manuscript submissions. We always try to reply sooner if we are able.

Please follow all Submission Guidelines as accurately as possible to insure that all necessary information accompanies your submission.  We tend to take partial submissions less seriously a) because the author did not follow instructions and b) we have less information available to us to inform our reading and decisions on the work.  So, please follow these Guidelines to the best of your ability.  Thank you in advance for allowing us to preview your work, we consider it a privilege and look forward to reading it.