Hello poets, playwrights, novelists and wordsmiths
WANT TO BE IN PRINT?
Be discovered!
Shout, “I’m published!”
Widen your readership and show your abilities when submitting to agents!
JOIN THE PUBLISHED WRITER CLUB
Set your words free
At Unperson Press publishers, our mission is to help talented, currently undiscovered writers and give them a voice.
Have you found it challenging to get your writing noticed?
Are you approaching Literary Agents, but struggling to show where and how your writing has already been sent out into the world?
Want to be able to say, "My work has been published and is in print!" and widen your readership?
Throughout 2021, the press will review short literary works with a view to showcasing currently undiscovered talented in the 2022 Yearbook.
This anthology will be published by our imprint as a full-length 5x8 book that celebrates the creative writing of the undiscovered and unpublished community.
This will be professionally published and made available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle. Other purchasing platforms, including Barnes & Noble, will be confirmed nearer the date of publication.
If your submission is chosen to be part of this anthology, your pages will include a bit about you as a writer, an extract of your current work-in-progress or something abstract written solely for the purpose of the book, as well as your contact details (Insta/Twitter handles, blog links, emails etc.).
There will be no charge to submit your writing to Unperson Press to be considered for the anthology and we will not take a reading fee. There will be no charge for any editing work we perform or any proof prints we order. The only time there will be any charge to yourself as a writer, is if you choose to purchase the book!
Finally, you will be able to say you are in print!
Applications can be made on this page - details follow below.
For a writer, there's no better feeling than holding your words in the palms of your hands!
submit your writing
Genre and sub-genres
We specialise in speculative fiction. The anthology will be a collection that celebrates the best, undiscovered, creative works in this genre.
With the speculative such a broad genre, we are looking for great poetry and prose in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, supernatural, steampunk, post-apocalyptic, alternative history, dystopia, utopia... and everything in between!
Submission guidelines
To be considered for the anthology, please use the application form below to send us the following:
1. A brief bio of up to 250 words
Say a little something about yourself as a person and as a writer.
You can be as creative as you like here and write in any style that suits you... just make sure that this section tells Your Story, your motivations and hopes for the future of your writing.
You can also include your social media and blog links.
2. A piece of creative poetry or prose of up to 1200 words.
Use the anthology to showcase your most accomplished writing.
You can send us any of the following, as long as it fits within the speculative fiction genre, or across any of its sub-genres:
- a poem or series of poems
- a short story
- a piece of creative writing or something abstract
- an extract of your finished novel or current work in progress
Note: If your extract seems incomplete after 1200 words and you would like to submit more, you can do so. We will consider each submission separately and extend the word limit if we feel that not doing so would risk degrading your writing.
Selection process and timescales
The window for submissions opened on Monday 1st March 2021.
Applications will be made online, via the submission form on this page.
When we receive your submission, it will be reviewed by one member of our small team of writers and editors. Each submission will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis.
If we feel it is right for the anthology, we will add it to our shortlist. We will send you a response and feedback with our decision in all cases.
By 31st August 2021, we will review our shortlist based on the submissions received to date. If there is an overwhelming number of finalists, we will close the application process on this date.
If we are missing entries from a particular sub-genre, we may keep applications open for further submissions in that area.
Our whole team will review the shortlisted finalists and select the final pieces for the anthology. We want to open this opportunity to as many writers as possible, so we are not putting a restrictive number on those that will be included, although we expect to be able to publish around 100 writers.
If we have accepted your submission but have editorial suggestions following the proof reading process, we will contact you directly.
We expect our editorial window to open from September to November 2021, alongside book cover design and publishing processes to prepare for release.
We intend to launch the book in time for Christmas, December 2021.
A note on eligibility
If you have never been traditionally published, hold the copyright for your submission, and your writing is speculative fiction, please apply!
Self-published authors may apply, but preference will be given to the unpublished community.
Although we are based in the UK, this opportunity is open internationally. There is no requirement to be a resident in the UK and we look forward to receiving submissions from a wide range of international writers. We do, however, require all applications to be written in English.
Please follow us on Instagram so that we can keep you up-to-date, and let us know your @name so we can link others to your page when we market the yearbook.
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following minimum criteria:
- You must be traditionally unpublished. You can be self-published, but preference will be given to those who have never been published.
- You must hold the copyright for your submission. Unperson Press will not be held liable for any plagiarism or breaches of copyright.
- Your submission must fit within the speculative fiction genre or across any of its sub-genres.
Note: By traditionally published, we mean a full text (book or collection) of your own work, not an examples of your work in print in magazines, journals or online.
A final word
We are looking forward to supporting wonderful writers who have not yet been discovered, and helping you along your writing journey.
We welcome your submission and hope that you enjoy putting together a little something for the anthology. Have fun with it, be yourself and show the world what you can do!
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team by emailing fiction@unpersonpress.com.
Good luck!