S U B M I S S I O N
ABLE MUSE PRESS GENERAL READING PERIOD IS
CURRENTLY CLOSED.
(You may submit unsolicited manuscripts from May 1, 2025 to July 15, 2025)
Able Muse Press Manuscript Submission Guidelines
We publish:
•Poetry
•Fiction
•Nonfiction
•(Query before submitting other genres)
Reading Period:
- May 1 to July 15, yearly
Book Manuscripts:
- Preferred submission method is our online entry form—
- DO NOT type or copy and paste your manuscript in the poem text box. Rather, upload your submission file(s) from the upload field (accepted formats are: Text, RTF, Word, Wordperfect, PDF, HTML).
- Combine your submission into a SINGLE file only. (Do NOT send multiple files per submission!)
- GO HERE to submit.
- Second favorite entry method is via e-mail—
- Again, do not type your submission in the body of the email. Rather, attach your submission file to the email (accepted formats are: Text, RTF, Word, Wordperfect, PDF, HTML).
- The subject of the email should be: "<Your Name>: Manuscript Submission - <Type of Manuscript>
- Second choice submission method: Email your entry to submission@ablemuse.com .
- We don't publish chapbooks, so we need at least book-length manuscripts -- not counting front matter and backmatter, at least 50 pages for poetry, at least 100 pages for fiction and nonfiction). There's no maximum.
- For now, we do NOT accept snail-mailed, unsolicited hardcopy manuscripts—any such submission will be discarded unread, and will not be acknowledged!
- Simultaneous submissions accepted as long as we're immediately notified if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- There's NO reading fee.
- We respond within 9 months or so.
- Do not submit unsolicited manuscripts when our general reading period is closed: they will be returned to you unopened.
Jody McKinnon (not verified)
deadline
Hello,
In your submissions above, it states that any unsolicited manuscript may not be read at this point and any sent will be ignored. In another section of the site, it states a deadline of March 31st. Do I need to wait until May 1st to send in my manuscript?
Jody
Administrator
Hello Jody,
Hello Jody,
The March 31st deadline was on the Book Award contest page, which that date applies to. This page is for the yearly open-reading call for submission which the May 1, 2013 to July 15, 2013 dates given on this page refer to.
Best,
...Alex
Administrator
Hi Jody,
Hi Jody,
I believe you're confusing the Able Muse Book Award submission (entry deadline March 31), with the open reading call for submissions (May 1 to July 15). This page is for the latter.
Best,
...Alex
Natalya Sukhonos (not verified)
Length of Chapbook
Hello,
What should the length of my chapbook be? This is not specified on your website. Thanks,
Natalya
Administrator
Hello Natalya,
Hello Natalya,
We don't publish chapbooks, so we need at least book-length manuscripts -- not counting front matter and backmatter, at least 50 pages for poetry, at least 100 pages for fiction and nonfiction. There's no maximum.
Best,
...Alex
Sam (not verified)
Submission Format
Hi Alex,
Do you prefer poetry manuscript submissions single-spaced or double-spaced? Thank you! -Sam
Administrator
Hi Sam,
Hi Sam,
For poetry manuscripts, single-spaced is preferred. And for fiction & nonfiction, double-spaced is preferred.
Best,
...Alex
Vicky (not verified)
Submissions
Hi, do you accept queries the whole year or do you only accept unsolicited queries during the specified reading times?
Administrator
Hi Vicky: We do not accept
Hi Vicky: We do not accept queries outside our open reading period. They're fine, though, during the reading period. However, it might be best, if possible, to just go ahead and submit per the above guidelines during our reading period.
Best,
...Alex
José M. Tirado (not verified)
Submitting previously published work
Hello,
Do you accept manuscripts of poetry where some of the poems may have been previously published in online journals only?
Thanks!
José
Administrator
Hi José,
Hi José,
Previous publication in print or online journals is no problem, and might actually be an advantage.
Best,
...Alex
Mignon Ariel King (not verified)
Previously Published Manuscripts
Hello,
Do you accept previously published manuscripts which had a limited run if the writer retained the copyright?
Administrator
Hi Mignon,
Hi Mignon,
Sorry, we don't accept any previously published manuscripts.
...Alex
Riana (not verified)
Poetry submisson
Hi,
New to publishing and was wondering what are the guidelines for a poetry manuscript?
Administrator
Hi Riana,
Hi Riana,
This is our guidelines page. So, go to the top and read through the page for our guidelines. After that, if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask them.
Cheers,
...Alex
Rizwan Akhtar (not verified)
poetry
Do you consider writers outside the USA?
Administrator
Hi Rizwan,
Hi Rizwan,
Yes, we consider writers worldwide.
Best,
...Alex
Dani (not verified)
Mixture of Prose and Poetry
Hello,
Is it possible to include a short flash piece (just over a 1000 words) in the collection (for poetry)?
Thank you.
Administrator
Hi Dani,
Hi Dani,
Yes, it's possible, but we consider these on a case-by-case basis ... and it has to be something exceptional--even more so than straight poetry or fiction--to get our attention.
Best,
...Alex
Stephanie L. Harper (not verified)
Including artwork in poetry manuscript
Hi there!
I am wondering if it would be permissible/suitable for me to include original illustrations which accompany some of my poems in my manuscript submission? I would much appreciate your guidance in this matter!
Thank you!
Steph Harper
Administrator
Hi Steph,
Hi Steph,
Yes, it's possible and it's OK to submit with illustrations. However, we'll look at the words first and foremost, before we start considering the viability of the included illustrations.
Best,
...Alex
jessica (not verified)
fees
if your work is accepted for publication will their be any fees or will they be taken out of the books earnings ?
Administrator
Hi Jessica,
Hi Jessica,
We don't charge reading or any other fees for work we accept for publication.
Best,
...Alex
Carl (not verified)
Submission
Hello,
Are you accepting creative nonfiction submission?
Administrator
Hi Carl,
Hi Carl,
Yes, we also consider creative nonfiction, however, it has to be something really exceptional -- more so than poetry or fiction -- to be accepted.
Best,
...Alex
Ed (not verified)
submission length
I just wanted to ask: do you only consider full-length manuscripts, or are you interested in short stories as well?
Administrator
Hi Ed,
We also consider short-story collections, however, Able Muse Press doesn't welcome individual short stories. For that, go to Able Muse, our semi-annual literary journal--submission page at www.ablemuse.com/submit .
Best,
...Alex
Jennifer (not verified)
Question about simultaneous submissions
Hello, I am just trying to verify if you allow simultaneous manuscript submissions during your open reading period.
Thank you.
Jennifer
Administrator
Hi, Jennifer,
Hi, Jennifer,
Yes, we do. (It says so in the guidelines.)
Best,
...Alex
Rock (not verified)
trying to submit a large manuscript
Hi,
I'm trying to send you a poetry manuscript, it's pretty long, and so the pdf is larger than you are receiving. I tried the online form and it told me to send a 1mg file, and mine is over 7mg. So I tried via email, and it bounced back to me, saying it was too large. Any way to get around this. I see above that there is no maximum size for poetry books.....
Thanks.
Peace
Rock
Administrator
Hi, Rock,
Hi, Rock,
No, we don't have a file-size limit. However, there are few manuscripts that big so, there's usually no size problem. I'd guess that you have large size graphics in your manuscript. Anyhow, for such a problem, I recommend you contact us through https://www.ablemusepress.com/contact/ for and we'll provide you with alternative means of sending us the file. It will usually be through one of the (free) web personal storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
Best,
...Alex
McCollonough (not verified)
Early Reader Books?
Do you publish early reader and or board books?
Administrator
Hi, McCollonough,
Hi, McCollonough,
We do. However, we'd request that you query -- using our contact form at https://www.ablemusepress.com/submit/ -- first before submitting.
Best,
...Alex
Elizabeth Boquet (not verified)
Confirmation
Hello,
Do you send a confirmation of receipt? I've attempted to send a manuscript but nothing shows in my "sent" box.
With thanks,
Elizabeth Boquet
Administrator
Hi Elizabeth,
Hi Elizabeth,
The submission system automatically acknowledges the submitted material. So, you should have received that automated message in your inbox. Eventually also, an editor should be contacting you to give you the decision on your submission.
Best,
...Alex
Michelle (not verified)
Group poetry submissions
Do you accept submissions for a book of poems from a group of poets? Thank you.
Administrator
Hi, Michelle,
Hi, Michelle,
I don't see why not, so, yes!
Best,
...Alex
Rob Kaiser (not verified)
Creative nonfiction submissions
Hi, Jody.
I'd like to submit a CNF manuscript but am unclear about whether you're accepting those. How do I send or submit a query?
Thanks so much.
Rob Kaiser
Administrator
Hi, Rob,
Hi, Rob,
I'm not sure who the Jody you're addressing is as there no such person on staff here. But on your question, we do accept creative nonfiction manuscript during our open reading period. However, we recommend querying first before submitting. You can query through our contact form at https://www.ablemusepress.com/contact/.
Best,
...Alex
pjshianna41@gma... (not verified)
Fiction requirements
Are your 50- and 100-page minimums ms. pages or published pages? Thanks.
Administrator
Hi, Pjshianna41,
Hi, Pjshianna41,
The 50 and 100 pages minimum refer ms. pages.
Best,
...Alex
Vanessa Landau (not verified)
WIthdraw manuscript
Hello, Able Muse Editor:
I submitted a manuscript with fewer than the required poems. How do I withdraw the manuscript so that I may re-submit one with the required number?
Regards,
Vanessa
Administrator
Hi, Vanessa--you need to
Hi, Vanessa--you need to contact us directly through our contact form (it's one the menu links) here. --Alex
Sanjay Agnihotri (not verified)
Submissions
Do I need to wait until May 1st to send in my manuscript?
Regards
Sanjay
Administrator
Hi, Sanjay--For the open
Hi, Sanjay--For the open reading period, yes: May 1 to July 15 yearly.--Alex