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 We do not publish lyrics without music or critical work.

Please note that we do publish books that are not overtly music-themed. When we ask for music, we mean rhythm, we mean story, we mean luminescence and chaos, pulsing loneliness, ordinary madness, thunder on loop, violent quietude, stuttering wonder. We mean prayer and outrage, cataclysm and resurrection. We mean truth: the heartbeat of humanity in 4/4 time, books that force our eyes open, that insist on believing in something bigger than static. Send us your symphony. We won’t flinch.

Your manuscript must be at least 60 pages and complete. At least three-quarters of the book should be previously unpublished in any form. We welcome simultaneous submissions, and submissions from both agented 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. We read all submissions anonymously, so don’t include identifying 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. Thank you for honouring us with your work. We don't take that privilege for granted.

You can expect to hear back from us within eight months. If it's been nine months and you haven't received a response, please send us a note to enquire!