Skip to content
Back to independent presses

Bright Hill Press

Open now
Independent publishing3 open opportunities listed

About the press

Bright Hill Press, based in Treadwell, New York, is a nonprofit literary and arts organization founded in 1992. It grew out of the Bright Hill Center, a rural arts retreat, and has since become a vital force in the small press and poetry communities. The press is dedicated to publishing poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction, with a particular emphasis on work that is formally adventurous, emotionally resonant, and often overlooked by commercial publishers. Its mission extends beyond publishing to include residencies, workshops, and community programming, all rooted in a commitment to sustaining literary culture outside of urban centers.

Publishing focus

Bright Hill Press seeks out the work of contemporary poets for publication. The editors do not consider student work or work by unpublished poets.

PoetryChapbookPoetry Collections

Selected authors
Barbara Hurd, Fox Frazier-Foley, Constance Norgren, Darcy Cummings, Becky Gould-Gibson Regina O'Melveny, Nicholas Johnson, Jean Hollander, Eric Gansworth, Shelby Stephenson

Calls & opportunities

3 listed

Manuscript submissions

Reading periodJan 1 to Feb 28
Reading feeYes
Response timeLess than 3 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsNo

Bright Hill Press accepts submissions through periodic reading periods, often announced on its website and social media. Writers should prepare a polished manuscript of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, adhering strictly to guidelines regarding length and format. The press values work that demonstrates a strong voice and a sense of place, though not exclusively rural. Include a brief cover letter with publication history if applicable. Response times can be slow due to limited staff; patience is advised. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted, but notify promptly if accepted elsewhere. For residencies, applicants should propose a project that benefits from the retreat's quiet, natural setting and community engagement.

Before you submit a manuscript to Bright Hill, at least half the poems in the manuscript should have been published in literary magazines or journals.

Read official guidelines