Submission Guidelines

Folkways Press welcomes work from both emerging and established writers.

We want stories that often go untold; words that have been collecting dust in old notebooks; tales that inspire us to learn more about the world around us and the people in it.

NOTE: Submissions failing to follow our guidelines will not be read or considered.

2023 “Right To Life” Submissions:

When most people hear the term “right to life”, it is often associated with political groups that have monopolized the term to fit harmful agendas aimed at stripping specific rights away from women. However, when thinking of this term in the context of current events within the United States (and its history), it is evident that the right to life is not extended to all people, especially those from marginalized communities. Being mindful of this, we want to take that term and put it back into the hands of those whose lives are often at risk on both the public and political scale.

In our latest anthology, Right to Life, we want to provide a platform for people to use their voice for both justice and education. We want to hear your stories about what it’s like to live in your body; what it’s like to be yourself in a society that often labels you as “other”; what it’s like to have to fight for your right to live in the same safety and comfort that should be granted to all, but is held by few.

Subjects and themes we would like to see in this anthology include, but are not limited to:

  • LGBTQIA+ life and rights within the United States
  • Native life and treatment within the United States
  • Living as a POC in the United States
  • Living with a disability within the United States
  • Women’s Rights, especially post Roe v. Wade being overturned
  • Living as a refugee and/or immigrant in the United States

Because we know expression comes in all forms, we will be considering poetry, prose, and essays for this anthology. We ask that you follow the guidelines below.

We also accept and encourage work from international authors.

Authors selected for the anthology will receive a payment of $50 USD. Because we are a very small company with limited funds, this is all we can offer at this time.

If guidelines are not followed, your submission will not be considered.

DEADLINE: MAY 31, 2023

General Guidelines

  • Submissions should be sent to folkwayspress@gmail.com
  • Please include your name and the genre of your work in the subject line, like so: [GENRE] – [NAME]
  • If you would like some clarity on that last point, see the example below.
  • For poetry, writers should submit no more than 3 poems.
  • Poetry should not exceed 40 lines.
  • Prose and essays should not exceed 2,000 words.
  • Please compile your submission in ONE Word document (.doc/.docx).
  • We ask that your submission be formatted in 12pt Times New Roman or Georgia fonts.
  • When submitting your work, please include a brief synopsis and bio consisting of no more than 100 words
  • We DO NOT accept any work that directs hate/promotes violence toward anyone, this includes work that is homophobic, transphobic, ablest, or sexist.
Email Example

General Manuscript Guidelines

(please note we are currently not accepting manuscripts)

  • Poetry manuscripts must range from 35 to 60 pages.
  • Novellas, memoirs, essay collections, and short story collections must be at least 25,000 to 30,000 words.
  • Flash fiction collections must be at least 15,000 words.