7 indie publishers that (probably) won't screw you over
On finding your work a safe and loving home.
You’re reading Soft Hobbies, a weekly newsletter for creatives with perfectionist tendencies. I’m Auzin, a Seattle-based writer in the fiction, poetry, and tech writing spheres. To see more of my work, go here. You can help others discover Soft Hobbies by hitting the heart button at the top or bottom of this post :)
Hi softies,
I published both of my chapbooks with the same press, once in 2022 and once in early 2024. The press had a reasonable turnaround time for submissions, the publication process was simple, and I appreciated how hands-on they were with the cover design and promotion. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, this press has recently fallen off the wagon in terms of reliability, communication, and doing right by its authors. My experience with them in the last six months has severely soured and I’m in the process of terminating my projects with them. I’m also not the only author this has happened to.1
Independent presses and publishers go underwater all the time — it’s a matter of when, not if. And you can close operations with honesty and grace, even if you end up disappointing some people. But as authors, it’s scary to know that your work can (fully or partially) belong to someone else, and to be unsure about that work’s future.
This is why I seriously recommend researching where you submit your writing to. A reliable press will publicly disclose what they plan to do with your work if they accept it, how you will be paid, and all relevant issues of copyright and legality. They may not have a “what happens if we shut down” page on their website, but they should answer this question honestly on their publishing contract, or when asked.
If you have a collection of poetry or fiction that you want to publish, the following list is for you. I’ve compiled it using my favorite website for writers, Chill Subs, and have combed through each listed publisher’s website to make sure it meets the below criteria.
Criteria for each press or publisher on this list:
Currently open for submissions2
Submission fee of $30 at most (I hate submission fees and usually refuse to pay them, but I know not everyone has the same hang-up)
Turnaround time of 6 months or less
Established for at least 3 years
Over 1k followers on social media (not always a valid indicator of reliability, but helpful)
Website that seems to be currently updated and isn’t hideous to look at or navigate
Previous collections published from various authors
Does promotion and marketing for the author’s work, and pays royalties on sales
Visible masthead information (this is important to me; might not be important to other writers)
No author complaints about them on Reddit or the first page of Google
PLEASE NOTE: Even with these criteria met, you still might have a negative experience, now or in the future. I can’t make any promises about the reliability, honesty, or communication of any literary market out there because literally anything can happen. They can be a great place for authors one day, and completely drop off the face of the planet the next. They could run out of funding, or lose all their motivation. Unfortunately, not much is promised in the literary arts world.
Btw, if you feel bad for me (lol) and want to support my writing while I figure this mess out, or if you find this post helpful, please consider subscribing to Soft Hobbies.
Alternatively, you can buy a PDF download of either of my chapbooks for just $5 here and here. :D
Ok, on to the list! Tap or click the title of each press to visit its Submissions page.
Querencia Press
From their website: “Querencia Press is an independent publisher, seeking to amplify overlooked & marginalized voices. We want to create a safe space for writers and artists to share their stories. We are especially interested in work that may have been looked over in the past.”
What they currently accept: Chapbooks and full-lengths in any genre.
Half Mystic Press
From their website: “An international and independent publishing house dedicated to the celebration of music in all its forms.”
What they currently accept: Poetry, essay, and short story collections; memoirs; novellas and full-length novels; and hybrid and experimental work.
Split/Lip Press
From their website: “Split/Lip Press is dedicated to publishing boundary-breaking fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid books, lifting the transition boards that prevent fluidity and smashing those we cannot pry up.”
What they currently accept: Essay/memoir/nonfiction-hybrid book manuscripts.
Unsolicited Press
From their website: “A small press based out of Portland, Oregon. We focus on literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Whether you craft short stories, novels, chapbooks, memoirs, or essay collections, we want to read it.”
What they currently accept: “We are actively seeking essay collections, poetry of all lengths, experimental, hybrids, literary novels, novellas, short story collections, memoirs, and nonfiction (literary criticism, history, cooking, health, science, and long-form journalism). With regards to nonfiction, we aren't looking for your every day nonfiction book...we want there to be an edge to it, so don't come at us with a book proposal you came up with for Random House.”
The Story Plant
From their website: “The Story Plant was founded in 2008 by two long-term industry professionals, Lou Aronica and Peter Miller. From the start, the company has been dedicated to publishing quality fiction and to developing authors.”
What they currently accept: Fiction manuscripts.
Tiny Fox Press
From their website: “We at Tiny Fox Press came together wanting three things: talented writers, wonderful stories, and the entrance to Doc Noss’s lost gold mine. Though it might take a couple of fortnights for us to find that mine (send us your hot tips, please), we’re confident we can find the first two and give our readers great books to enjoy.”
What they currently accept: Full-length novels in the following genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA, Light/Cozy Fantasy.
Pulley Press (an imprint of Clyde Hill Publishing)
From their website: “Pulley Press aspires to locate, encourage, and publish poetry by poets who write from America’s rural places.”
What they currently accept: Full-length poetry manuscripts.
If none of these float your particular boat, there’s a whole ocean of publishers over at Chill Subs (again, I can’t recommend them enough). Go explore!
If you’ve worked with any of these publishers, or if you’ve had a great experience at another one, drop a comment or hit Reply to this email and let me know. Publishing your work can be a treacherous path — let’s keep watching each others’ backs.
Softly yours,
Auzin
I don’t wish to name the press at this time, but I’m sure you can track them down through my author website if you want to.
This list was written in mid-October, 2024. Depending on when you’re reading this, submissions may be closed. Check each website for the current status.
"Website that seems to be currently updated and isn’t hideous to look at or navigate" It is SHOCKING how common this criterion is NOT met, lol! Like, I'm sorry, but even if you've updated the site recently, I don't want to send my friends/family/readers to a site that completely sucks.
I'm so sorry you've had such a disappointing experience with your publisher as of late. Do you get to re-publish with another company, once your projects are terminated? It's so stressful that this is something so many writers have to worry about.
Using google “publishing house name complaints” showed Querencia Press has several complaints about communication, quality, lack of distribution, not filing books with copyright offices, problems with the website, and more.