Poetry
Lyric, narrative, experimental, formal, free verse. Send up to five poems that move us — line breaks, silences, and all.
Featured Open Call
Winter 2026 Anthology
Our flagship annual anthology gathers four forms under one cover —poetry, essays, prose, and lyrics — to honor the breadth of how writers tell the truth.
Poetry, Essays, Prose & Lyrics
Four Forms. One Cover.
Open now through September 15.
We prioritize manuscripts from trans, non-binary, and BIPOC creators, and from voices history has tried to leave unheard. Selected contributors receive an honorarium and contributor copies.
- Reading Window
- Open Now — Sept 15
- Release
- Winter 2026
- Reading Fee
- None
- Payment
- Honorarium + copies
What we’re looking for.
Essays
Personal, critical, lyric, and hybrid essays. We want arguments that feel lived and stories that think. Up to 7,500 words.
Prose & Lyrics
Short fiction, flash, micro-memoir, and song lyrics. Anything that tells a story or sings a truth. Send your best 3–5 pieces.
How to Submit
Simple, free, and welcoming of simultaneous submissions.
- 01
Prepare your manuscript
12pt serif font, double-spaced for prose, single-spaced for poetry. PDF or .docx. Follow the piece limits above.
- 02
Write a brief cover note
Tell us who you are and what you're sending. A short bio (50–100 words) is plenty — no list of credits required.
- 03
Subject line your email
Use "Anthology — [Form]" e.g. "Anthology — Poetry" or "Anthology — Essay" so we can route it quickly.
- 04
Send it in
Email submissions@freeairbooks.com. Expect a response within 8–12 weeks. If we hold your work longer, we'll let you know.
Common Questions
Can I submit to more than one form?+
Yes. You may submit to poetry, essays, and prose/lyrics as separate emails — or in one email if it's within the per-form limits.
Are simultaneous submissions okay?+
Yes. Just let us know promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere so we can withdraw it from our queue.
Is there a reading fee?+
Never. Free submissions are central to our mission.
What if I miss the September 15 deadline?+
General submissions remain open year-round. If you miss the anthology window, send your work anyway and we may consider it for a future issue.
Be part of the anthology.
However raw, however polished, however unsure — we want to read it.
submissions@freeairbooks.com