Single Pieces
One poem, one essay, a short story, a set of lyrics. Send up to five pieces per submission so we can hear your range.
Open Year-Round
General Submissions
Not for the anthology? Send it anyway. We read individual poems, essays, short prose, lyrics, full manuscripts, and hybrid work on a rolling basis — no theme required.
The Open Door
Always Reading
No theme, no fee, no closing date.
Standout pieces may be published as standalone titles, featured in a future issue, or held for an upcoming themed collection. We prioritize manuscripts from trans, non-binary, and BIPOC creators, and from voices history has tried to leave unheard.
- Reading Window
- Rolling — Always Open
- Response Time
- 8–12 weeks
- Reading Fee
- None
- Payment
- Honorarium + copies
What we read.
Full Manuscripts
Chapbooks, full-length collections, memoirs, novels, novellas. Query first if it's over 80,000 words; otherwise send the whole thing.
Hybrid & In-Between
Lyric essays, prose poems, image-text work, plays, graphic narratives, anything that resists a tidy label. We love these.
How to Submit
Simple, free, and welcoming of simultaneous submissions.
- 01
Prepare your work
12pt serif font, double-spaced for prose, single-spaced for poetry. PDF or .docx. Up to 5 poems, 7,500 words of prose, or a full manuscript.
- 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 the form in the subject line, e.g. "Poetry — General", "Essay — General", or "Manuscript — General".
- 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 if I've never been published?+
Absolutely. We do not screen by credentials, MFA, or prior publications. Every submission is read on its own terms.
Are simultaneous submissions okay?+
Yes. Just let us know promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere so we can withdraw it from our queue.
Can I submit more than once?+
Please wait until you've heard back on a submission before sending another, unless we ask to see more.
What if my piece fits a future themed call?+
We may hold standout work for an upcoming call and circle back. You can also withdraw and resubmit to the themed call yourself.
The door is open.
Send the poem you keep rewriting, the essay you almost deleted, the manuscript you’ve been carrying. We want to read it.
submissions@freeairbooks.com