Writers: Manuscript Submissions

Half Mystic Press publishes poetry, essay, and short story collections; memoirs; novellas and full-length novels; and hybrid work. We do not publish lyrics without music or critical work, but we do publish books that are not overtly music-themed. 

We primarily look for writing that considers music integral to and inseparable from language, and writing that sings as an avenue to story. We like work that is faithful to something: its speaker or subject or setting, a reader it imagines or an object it can’t escape or a reality it’s chasing. We look for work that loves language as both lover and lifeboat, or in less ambiguous terms, work that commits itself to language at once as joyful choice and method of survival. We’re particularly interested in books that are different from anything we’ve ever published, books that introduce music into their lexicon in stunning and surprising ways. We’re always thinking about the intimacy of intertextuality and the ways sound binds meaning within and between bodies. We like to be narratively, imagistically, and emotionally surprised. We’re drawn to many of the same qualities in literature that we are in people—namely, work that knows where it came from and what it has to lose. Work that takes the risk with its eyes wide open.

Your manuscript must be at least 60 pages and complete. At least three-quarters of the book should be previously unpublished in any form. Authors are responsible for acquiring the rights to print copyrighted material (including song lyrics!). We welcome simultaneous submissions, and submissions from both literary agents and independent writers. We pay competitive royalties. 

In your cover letter, include a biographical note, the genre of your submission, a brief description of what music means to you, and a note on where you found Half Mystic Press. For poetry, essay, and short story collections, please send the full manuscript; for all other genres, please send the first half of the manuscript. Do not include identifying personal information in the manuscript file.

We recommend that you read past books from Half Mystic Press to familiarise yourself with our goals, aesthetics, and style. 

You can expect to hear back from us within eight months. Thank you for honouring us with your work. We don't take that privilege for granted.