Have you written a collection of short stories that you want to get published?
Continue reading to learn about 19 top short story anthology publishers.
1. Press 53
Established in 2005, Press 53 is an independent publishing press based out of North Carolina. They specialize in publishing works of short fiction and poetry collections, and have produced titles like “The Book of Jeremiah: A Novel in Stories” by Julie Zuckerman, “Earthly Delights and Other Apocalypses” by Jen Julian, and “Shelf Life of Happiness” by Virginia Pye.
Press 53 hosts several writing contests throughout the year that you’re strongly encouraged to check out. Their Press 53 Award for Short Fiction boasts a prize of $1000 advance, 50 copies of your published work, and a standard publication contract. For more information, you can review their submission guidelines. For general inquiries, you can contact the team at Press 53 through their website’s online contact form.
2. Autumn House Press
Established in 1998 by Michael Simms in the state of Pennsylvania, Autumn House Press is an independent nonprofit publisher of both fiction, nonfiction, poetry collections and short story anthologies. Some of their short story anthologies include “Thank Your Lucky Stars” by Sherrie Flick, “Bull and Other Stories” by Kathy Anderson, and “Little Raw Souls” by Steven Schwartz.
Autumn House Press is currently hosting a fiction contest, open between January 1st, 2019 to June 30th, 2019. You’re more than welcome to submit your collection of short stories for consideration through their online submissions form. Your manuscript should be approximately 200-300 pages in length, and all finalists will be considered for publication. Winners of their fiction contest will receive publication, $1000 advanced royalties, and $1500 for the express purpose of travel to promote your book. For more information, you can review their contest guidelines.
3. Bear Star Press
Based out of Cohasset, California, Bear Star Press is a small independent publishing company that was founded in 1996 with the express purpose of producing works from authors in America’s western states (including Hawaii and Alaska). They specialize in publishing poetry and short story anthologies, and host the Dorothy Brunsman Poetry Prize contest every year. Some of their titles include “The Slow Art” by Sierra Golden, “A Long Late Pledge” by Wendy Willis, and “The Gunnywolf” by Megan Snyder-Camp.
While they are currently not actively seeking new submissions for short story collections, you’re more than welcome to submit a query through their website’s online contact form. If interested in your project, a member of their editorial team will reach out to you promptly. Alternatively, if you’re an author with literary representation, it’s highly recommended that you express your interest in working with Bear Star Press to your literary agent who can reach out to them on your behalf.
4. Braddock Avenue Books
Braddock Avenue Books is an independent publishing company based out of the city of Braddock, Pennsylvania. The specialize in producing books that would otherwise be left at the wayside by larger, more mainstream publishing houses. They specialize in discovering and publishing literary fiction, long-form essays about contemporary subjects, and serious graphic fiction and nonfiction. Some of their short story collections includes titles like “We Might as Well Light Something on Fire” by Ron Maclean, “Children of God” by David H. Lynn, and “Every Single Bone in My Brain” by Aaron Tilman.
The team at Braddock Avenue Book is currently accepting submissions through their online submissions form. You’re strongly encouraged to review their submission guidelines before proceeding to make sure you meet all of their minimum requirements. For short story collections, you should include a cover letter and up to three stories for consideration. If interested in your project, a member of their editorial team will reach out to you to discuss your collection in further detail.
5. Coffee House Press
Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Coffee House Press is an independent nonprofit publishing house that produces works of fiction, poetry, and essay collections. Some of their short story anthologies include titles like “Song for the Unravelling of the World” by Brian Evenson, “The Hope of Floating Has Carried Us This Far” by Quintan Ana Wikswo, and “Echo Tree: The Collected Short Fiction of Henry Dumas” edited by Eugene B. Redmond.
Coffee House Press is unfortunately closed to submissions at this time, but will be reopening as of March 1st, 2019. You’re strongly encouraged to review their submission guidelines in the meantime to prepare your submission, as they only accept up to 300 submissions per year. For general inquiries or more information, you can contact the team at Coffee House Press via email. They note that it can take up to 4-6 months to receive a response.
6. Curbside Splendor
Established in 2009, Curbside Splendor is an independent publishing press that produces works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry collections. In 2014, they were named the Best Chicago Indie Publisher by CHICAGO magazine. Some of their short story collections include “Late Stories” by Stephen Dixon, “Everything We Don’t Know” by Aaron Gilbreath, and “Vile Men” by Rebecca Jones-Howe.
Curbside Splendor is unfortunately closed to submissions at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date. They note that if you’re an author with literary representation, you’re strongly encouraged to have your literary agent submit a query letter on your behalf. For general inquiries or more information, you can contact the team at Curbside Splendor through their website’s online contact form.
7. Engine Books
Engine Books is an independent publishing press that was founded in 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. They primarily publish works of short story collections, novels, and novella collections. Some of their titles include “Ways to Spend the Night” by Pamela Painter, “Where You Live” by Andrew Roe, and “The Fourth Corner of the World” by Scott Nadelson.
Engine Books is currently hosting the Engine Book Fiction Prize for 2019. If you’re interested in submitting your novel or story collection, you can learn more about the contest here. They are currently closed for general submissions and queries, but strongly encourage you to have your literary agent reach out to their team on your behalf if you’re interested in working with them. For more information or general inquiries, you can reach the team via email.
8. Four Way Books
Four Way Book is an independent publishing press based out of New York City that was founded in 1993. They operate under the express purpose of promoting high-quality poetry and short fiction to truly bring quality to the literary world. Some of their most recent titles include “A Crown of Hornets” by Marica Pelletriere, “The Book of Ruin” by Rigoberto Gonzalez, and “Birches” by Carl Adamshick.
Throughout the year, Four Way Books hosts several writing contests and open calls for submissions. If you’re interested in publishing with Four Way Books, you can submit your manuscript for your short story collection via email. They ask that you include any acknowledgements you’d like to make, an author bio, a table of contents, and keep your manuscript under 250 pages. For more information, you can review their submission guidelines.
9. Les Figues Press
Les Figues Press is an independent nonprofit publishing press that primarily focuses on publishing works by feminist and queer authors to explore authentic and unique perspectives in written form. They have published a handful of award-winning poetry collections, works in translation, and short story collections. Some of their upcoming titles include “An Austrian Avant-Garde” edited by Sabine Zelger and Patrick Greaney, “Dreams and Nightmares” by Dalia Rosetti (translated by Alexis Almeida), and “Tall, Slim & Erect: Portraits of the Presidents” by Alex Forman.
While they are not actively seeking new submissions at this time, Les Figues Press does host an annual writing competition that you’re more than welcome to check out. For more information you can review their submission guidelines here. For general inquiries or more information, you can contact their team via email.
10. Milkweed Editions
Milkweed Editions is an independent publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. With over 350 titles published under their name since their establishment in 1980, Milkweed Editions is always striving to discover and promote new titles that will inspire and empower its readers. Some of their short story anthologies include titles like “The World We Think We Know” by Dalia Rosenfeld, “Inappropriate Behavior” by Murray Farish, and “The Hospital For Bad Poets” by J.C. Hallman.
They are unfortunately closed to unsolicited submissions at this time, but strongly encourage you to check back at a later date. You may also be interested in checking out their writing contests, which they host throughout the year. For general inquiries or more information, you can contact the team at Milkweed Editions by phone or mail.
11. Scout Press Books
Scout Press Books is an independent literary imprint of Gallery Books that specializes in producing high-quality works of fiction. They’ve published acclaimed titles like “Did You Ever Have a Family” by New York Times bestselling author Bill Clegg, “Tuesday Nights in 1980” by Molly Prentiss, and “The River at Night” by Erica Ferencik.
They are currently not accepting unsolicited manuscripts at this time. However, if you’re an author with literary representation, you’re strongly encouraged to have your literary agent submit a query letter or book proposal on your behalf. For more information, you can contact Scout Press Books’ media representatives via email.
12. Sarabande Books
Sarabande Books is an independent nonprofit literary press based out of Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1994, Sarabande Books publishes works of poetry, fiction, essay collections, and short story collections. Some of their anthologies include titles like “Red Holler” edited by John Branscum and Wayne Thomas, “A Fine Excess” edited by Kirby Gann and Kristin Herbert, and “Puro Amor” by Sandra Cisneros.
Sarabande Books just recently closed their short fiction writing contest in February of 2019. You’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date and submit. In the meantime, you can review their submission guidelines and prepare your short fiction manuscript for consideration. If you have general questions or would like to request more information, you can contact the team at Sarabande Books through their website’s online contact form or via email.
13. Torrey House Press
Torrey House Press is another independent nonprofit literary publisher that hopes to promote works by a diverse set of authors from across the American West. They publish both fiction and nonfiction projects, and have produced a handful of short story collections. Some of their titles include “The Talker” by Mary Sojourner, the Utah Book Award winner “Grind” by Mark Maynard, and “Recapture” by Erica Olsen.
They are currently accepting unsolicited submissions and query letters through their online submissions form. It’s strongly advised that you browse through their existing catalogue of books to make sure that your project will be a good fit. For more information about their requirements, you can review their submission guidelines. For general inquiries, you can also contact the team at Torrey House Press through their online contact form or via email.
14. Two Dollar Radio
Founded in 2005 by husband and wife Eric Obenauf and Eliza Wood-Obenauf, Two Dollar Radio is an independent publishing company based out of Columbia, Ohio. They publish a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including essay collections, short story collections, and poetry anthologies. Some of their short story anthologies include titles like “White Dialogues” by Bennett Sims, “Baby Geisha” by Trinie Dalton, and the Frequencies series by an assortment of talented authors.
They are currently accepting submissions through their online submissions form. They note that due to the high volume of submission that they’ve received, it can take an estimated 12 months to receive a response. For more information, you’re strongly encouraged to review their submission guidelines before proceeding. For general inquiries, you can contact the team at Two Dollar Radio through their website’s online contact form.
15. Unsolicited Press
Based out of Portland, Oregon, Unsolicited Press is an independent publishing company that focuses on producing works of literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry –which is inclusive of short story collections and chapbooks. Some of their recent titles include “The Gold Tooth in the Crooked Smile of God” by Douglas Cole, “Terrance” by Philip Newton, and “When A White Horse Is Not A Horse” by Ethan James Kaplan.
They are actively seeking submissions for essay, poetry, and short story collections via email. They state that it can take anywhere between 4-6 months to receive a response. You’re strongly encouraged to review their submission guidelines to make sure you meet all of their requirements. For general inquiries, you can reach the team at Unsolicited Press via email.
16. Black Balloon Publishing
Black Balloon Publishing is an independent imprint of Catapult. They specialize in publishing works that push the boundaries of conventional storytelling. Some of their most recent titles include “Northwood” by Maryse Meijer, “Riddance” by Shelley Jackson, and “We Were Flying to Chicago: Stories” by Kevin Clouther. They are unfortunately closed to unsolicited manuscripts at this time. However, if you’re an author with literary representation, it’s highly advised that you have your literary agent submit a query letter or book proposal on your behalf.
17. Riverhead Books
Established in 1994, Riverhead Books is an independent publisher of literary fiction and high-quality nonfiction. As an imprint of Penguin Random House, several of their titles have gone on to win awards and accolades like the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Awards, and the MacArthur Genius Award. While they are not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts at this time, they will consider queries sent through literary agents. Submissions by unrepresented authors may go ignored due to the high volume of submissions at they receive.
18. Switchgrass Books
Switchgrass Books is an imprint of Northern Illinois University Press that publishes works of unique literary fiction, which is inclusive of short story anthologies. Some of their recent titles include “Haymaker” by Adam Schuitema, “Remember My Beauties” by Lynne Hugo, and “When Bad Things Happen to Rich People” by Ian Morris. They are unfortunately closed to submissions at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date.
19. Acre Books
Acre Books is a book-publishing offshoot of The Cincinnati Review that publishes works of poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, and non-conforming genre projects. They are actively seeking to expand their collection of poetry and short story anthologies. Some of their titles include “Every Human Love” by Joanna Pearson, “Warnings From the Future’ by Ethan Chatagnier, and “Her Adult Life” by Jenn Scott.
The team at Acre Books is currently accepting submissions through their online submissions form. They ask that you include up to ten pages of your manuscript, a brief author bio, and a description of your short story collection. If interested in your project, a member of their editorial team will reach out to you to request your full manuscript for consideration. For general inquiries, you can also reach the team through their online contact form.
Are there any other short story anthology publishers that need to be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.