Submission Guidelines: Improbable Press
Currently closed to submissions (and here's some advice on that).
Improbable Press publishes novels, novellas, and short stories of things strange. We love urban fantasy, contemporary supernatural, speculative fiction and adventures or mysteries that are left of center, starring or written by those who have, for too long, been footnotes in another person's story.
That means we love stories headed up by a female-identifying people, or disabled, LGBTQIA, neurodiverse, and BIPOC people — in short, tales of those who, as much as anyone, can and do have adventures, joy, romance.
Maybe your protagonists are two robots and a Deaf human, a Black disabled person and a pansexual ghost, a trans white woman and an ancient Indigenous deity. Whomever they are we want to know their story but know this – it must be one about hope. It can also include romance and sex, because that's what people, werewolves, cryptids, and aliens do.
What are we not looking for? Horror or dystopian stories, high fantasy, hard science fiction, or traditional romance.
Send us your best ideas. Help us want to publish your work. You can do that three ways.
Bring us your voice
Bring us your crazy-unique-wonderful way of telling a story. Improbable's books are inclusive stories vibrant and unique with your wit and talent. Don't write stuffy, write fantastic.
We can't say it enough: Write like you. Like you write right now. Don't write Serious Fiction™. Write with joy and verve and then, well…
Tell us your story idea
To help us reply quickly, please send:
1. a short email telling us about your book, including genre and word count
2. a synopsis (one sentence or paragraph per chapter, explaining its high points)
3. the first three chapters of your completed manuscript (doc/docx please)
It's vital you write protagonists of all kinds: women, trans, disabled, own voices/Indigenous cultures – underrepresented people. We want to expand hero far beyond white, straight, and male, though of course your story might include people who identify as all three. Not sure if your story fits? Drop us a short note and ask!
Don't wait for us to say yes
Keep writing. The busier you are on the next story or book the better. If you keep going one tale stops mattering so desperately much and you get better quicker. Or sell more. Or both. So, though we'll reply as soon as we can, keep going. Do, and you'll keep doing.
We happily accept simultaneous submissions, though please let us know if your story is accepted elsewhere.
We pay in royalties, which means you earn a portion of each book sold. Here's a bit more about royalties.
Submissions to: submissions@improbablepress.com.