Submit

submit

What we publish

We’re looking for novelettes and novellas (7,500–40,000 words) in crime, speculative, literary or hybrids for our Primal Pockets series. We want work that strips story down to its instincts. Give us the primitive urges that modern life pretends to have outgrown, told with contemporary craft.

Crime submissions should favor moral ambiguity over tidy justice. We're drawn to noir, heist fiction, psychological thrillers, and stories where the crime is a symptom of something deeper.

Speculative submissions can span science fiction, horror, and dark fantasy, but should stay grounded in human consequence.

Literary and hybrid fiction can include all of the above or push us beyond whaat we expect in fiction. We may even follow you down an experimental road.

Send us on a journey.

Who We Want to Hear From

Instinct isn't the property of any one kind of writer. We want submissions from people of every background, culture, and lived experience. Different lives sharpen different instincts. We want stories that feel true rather than performed. We're especially glad to read work shaped by experiences the genre doesn't always make room for. Write what you know in your bones, not what you think we want.

We follow Elmore Leonard’s rules for writing

Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.
Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said"…he admonished gravely.
Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.

Then there’s Edgar Allan Poe's rules

Employ an unreliable narrator, preferably one who doesn't know he is insane
When in doubt, bury someone alive.

What We're Not Looking For

Cozy mysteries, tidy resolutions, sanitized violence, or speculative fiction that prioritizes concept over character. We are not looking for erotica or violence porn. Brutality should serve the story, not replace it. We're not looking for romance or wizards or schools for wanna be wizards. Witches are fine, but they better not ride broomsticks or get burned at a stake, or, worse, burn a steak.

Submission Requirements

Length: 7,500–40,000 words
Format: Standard manuscript format, .docx or .rtf, 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced. Please no styling other than simple bold and italic
Simultaneous submissions accepted; notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere
No multiple submissions — one manuscript per reading period
Include a one-paragraph synopsis and a brief author bio in your cover email

Rights & Payment

We acquire first publication rights (print and digital) with an option for audio. Payment is 25 copies plus 50% royalty share, details and contract provided upon acceptance. Rights revert to the author 18 months after publication.

Response Time

Please allow 8–12 weeks for a response. If you haven't heard back after 12 weeks, feel free to query.

Why we chose Subfolio

We realize that Submittable is the platform used by many authors and small presses. But their pricing for a small press has jumped drastically as they lean heavily toward serving institutional grant writing and large contests.

Subfolio is geared for the author and the small press. Its pricing is reasonable and keeps us from begging for money. Of course, tips and donations are always welcomed.