The Storyletter Anthology (Free Submission Window Now Open)

SXP is seeking to purchase short fiction and poetry

Storyletter XPress Publishing is opening its first free submission window for short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. The mission is to purchase notable works from talented, independent authors and publish the collection as a physical book and a digital eBook.

We are accepting submissions from now until the end of 2023 (December 31) or until we reach our submission cap. The paid submission form will remain open in addition to this new public form, with a weighted preference toward paying subscribers since that will be how the book is funded. With limited slots for the anthology, this new submission window will be much more competitive.

Submissions are open to all subscribers at this time. Must be subscribed to be eligible. SXP is eager to work with writers of all levels, and we can’t wait to read your incredible stories!

Continue reading for more details, or submit below.

Publishing Overview

If you’re unfamiliar with Storyletter XPress Publishing, let me explain:

We accept speculative short fiction and poetry. Once accepted, your work will be published to our audience as long as it meets the guidelines. We pay .01 cents per word for short fiction up to 6500 words (or $65) and a flat rate of $10 for works under 1000 words, including poetry. Payment is received upon publication. No royalties are paid at this time.

Payment is conducted via PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle in USD.

During submission, writers must sign the SXP Contract, allowing us to share your work online, market it, and use it in the upcoming anthology (digitally and physically). All rights to the story remain with the author, and we do not own the rights to your work (other than what is in the contract). However, we request a 6-month exclusivity period from the book’s publication.

XPress memberships keep the payment model for indie writers possible. The more paid subscribers we have, the more we can pay our writers. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to gain access to paid-only posts, private Discord, and digital copies of all of our books as they become available. Writers can access the year-round submission portal and receive interview priority status, among other benefits.

What We’re Looking For

As a family-friendly publisher, we only consider submissions that follow our clean content guidelines. This includes no excessive profanity, overtly sexual content, or graphic violence for the sake of violence. Submissions containing such content will not be considered unless the writer agrees to a clean revision process. For references, please check out what we’ve previously published on Substack or read the FAQ section below for exact guidelines.

Submissions should be aimed at ages 13+.

Fiction must be completed before submission.

Volume One - Theme and Specifics

There is no specific theme for our inaugural anthology. However, to accommodate last year’s S6 Contest (themed as ‘Summer Retreat’), we will be more susceptible to accepting stories featuring the following:

• Travel (local or abroad)

• Transformation/Transcendence

• Vacation/Holiday

• Escape

• Exploration

• Unexpected Outcomes

Once the remaining stories have been selected, we will close the submission windows and proceed with the editing and revising. The book is expected to be published by June 2024.

This is the perfect opportunity if you’re seeking print publication and want to get paid for your work. We aim to honor independent authors by producing high-quality books worthy of bookstores and bookshelves. Thank you for considering us worthy of your time and efforts. We look forward to reading your stories!

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Guidelines and FAQs

How do I submit my story?

Please read the complete submission guidelines and the frequently asked questions before submitting your story. You can begin the process once you’ve read the guidelines and believe your story fits the anthology well.

Why do writers join as paying subscribers?

Joining as an XPress member is helpful for both Storyletter XPress Publishing and you as a reader/writer. It benefits us (the publisher) because it lets us know you’re serious about your work and want to support independent writers. It also pays for overhead costs such as editorial time, marketing, writer payouts, artwork commissions, website fees, etc. All the money from paying members will be returned to the community somehow.

What do you mean by family-friendly?

We have somewhat strict content guidelines. We understand that some stories require specific content to accomplish the story’s purposes, but Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC does not publish those stories.

For guidelines, see below:

• Swearing: Light swearing is acceptable. This includes swearing in English and other natural languages, but not swear words in fantasy or alien tongues. 

• Violence: While we enjoy action, violence should not be glorified. Deaths may occur, but there should be minimal blood and gore. Physical torture is unacceptable. If descriptions of death are unavoidable, please consider taking an artistic approach.

• Sexual content: No sex scenes. Absolutely no rape. No descriptions of nudity. Innuendo and crude humor may be tolerated depending on the subject matter. 

• Controversial topics: Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC does not publish stories that delve into controversial political or religious issues, such as gun control, abortion, or real-life political parties/candidates. This doesn’t mean you can’t use allegory or metaphor, but it should be nuanced and subtly implied.

Additional rules may apply to your story not listed here. 

If you are uncertain about your content, you can email storyletter@protonmail.com with a description or example of the content. Do not send pitches, as they will not be considered.

Can I submit previously published or self-published manuscripts?

Yes. All previous e-book publications must be discontinued from sale on any digital retailer. Previous print publications must be out of print and removed from on-demand printing. The author must have all the rights. Please include information about the previous publication and sales of the story/series in our submission form. Our submission file format guidelines still apply to previously published titles. Do not send print-ready PDFs. If accepted, we will edit, design, and publish previously published titles through our normal publishing process.

Should I submit my book to you? It’s about…

Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC ONLY reviews submissions sent through our form and the accompanying synopsis and manuscript delivery instructions. We do not review emailed queries, sample chapters, or partial manuscripts. We are happy to answer questions about our submission process or preferred genres over email. Still, we will not review author bios, outlines, queries, pitches, or other submission materials that have not been sent through our form.

Do you accept translations of books in other languages?

As long as the author or translator can work with our editors in English, we are happy to consider translated titles. To be considered, the manuscript must read naturally to native speakers or be able to read naturally with minor editing. The author’s and character’s voices must still be strong despite being translated. We will put all manuscripts through our normal editing processes, even if they are already published in another language. This includes any necessary plot edits. 

Do you accept submissions from authors outside the United States?

We accept submissions from anywhere worldwide but only publish stories in English.

Will you translate my book into English?

Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC does not currently translate stories. We only accept stories that have already been translated into good English.

When should I submit?

Submissions are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC reserves the right to close submissions at any time.

Can I include artwork in my submission?

No, submissions should be text only. At this time, Storyletter XPress Publishing LLC is not accepting picture book submissions or color illustrations. Do not include cover art. If you have a cover design or illustration that pairs with your submission, let us know in the submission form.

Do you make exceptions to your word count requirements?

Submissions below 50 or over 10k words will not be eligible for short fiction/poetry entry.

Can I submit multiple titles for your consideration?

Yes, but try to limit one entry per submission category (poetry, short story, etc.) to give our editors time to review each submission.

Need Help?

Have questions not answered here? Email your question to storyletter@protonmail.com.

Submission queries sent through email will not be considered. Do not send outlines, summaries, or query letters. 

For more info, head on over to the About page. In the meantime, tell your friends!