Submissions

Open Calls:

- Last Updated September 16, 2023 - 

At this time, French Press has no open calls.

Submissions:

- Last Updated September 16, 2023 - 

At this time, French Press is not open to unsolicited submissions.

If you have received a request directly from one of our editors, please contact them for further details.

General Guidelines:

Novels, Novellas, Collections

Please e-mail us with an industry standard query letter in the body of the e-mail.  Attached should be a completed synopsis of no more than two pages, which outlines the entire story, including the ending, and the completed, proofed, and ready for primetime manuscript.  Generally speaking, your query letter should follow this format:

To: frenchpresspub (at) hotmail (dot) com

Subj: (Author Pen Name) – (TITLE IN ALL CAPS)

Dear Kayleigh (or) Dear Stephen (select one based on the editor's preferences),

(Stunning, amazing elevator pitch.)

I hope you will consider publishing my (genre) novel/novella/collection (pick just one, obviously), (TITLE IN ALL CAPS), complete at (number) words.

(Exquisite, perfectly crafted back jacket copy-ready pitch of about 200 words.)

(Author bio, basically ready to go on the back of the book, except it's in first person and may focus somewhat on my accomplishments as a writer, degrees and background, and membership in a traditionally underrepresented group in publishing, if any of that is appropriate, rather than how a final author bio usually looks.)

Per your submission guidelines, I have attached a two page synopsis and my completed manuscript.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Very Respectfully,

(Author's Real Name) writing as (Author's Pen Name) (include the pen name part only if appropriate)

(Mailing Address)

(Phone Number)

Please format all manuscripts in 12 pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, with standard industry headers, etc. When in doubt, follow William Shunn’s Modern Manuscript Format.

Shorts

Please e-mail us an exceedingly brief cover letter in the body of the e-mail, with the entire short story attached.  Generally speaking, your cover letter should follow this format:

To: frenchpresspub (at) hotmail (dot) com

Subj: (ANTHOLOGY TITLE IN ALL CAPS) – (Author's Pen Name) – (“Short Story Title With First Letters Capitalized and in Quotation Marks”)

Dear Kayleigh (or) Dear Stephen (or) Dear Guest Editor, but their actual name, not the words "Guest Editor" (select one based on the editor's preferences)

Please see attached my story “Story Title,” complete at (number) words, for consideration for inclusion in (ANTHOLOGY TITLE IN ALL CAPS.)

(If I am a member of a group traditionally underrepresented in publishing, here is a little information about that.)

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Very Respectfully,

(Author's Real Name) writing as (Author's Pen Name) (include the pen name part only if appropriate

(Mailing Address)

(Phone Number)

Please format all manuscripts in 12 pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, with standard industry headers, etc. When in doubt, follow William Shunn’s Modern Manuscript Format.