Folly Press is an independent publisher and literary journal rooted in the conviction that risk, pleasure, and intellectual waywardness are vital to contemporary letters. Founded as a counterweight to the professionalized, risk-averse norms of mainstream literary publishing, Folly has built its reputation on a curatorial ethos that favors the unruly, the erotic, and the formally adventurous. Its pages are less a showcase for polished careerism than a testing ground for writing that might otherwise go unpublished—work that courts embarrassment, excess, and the productive failure of received categories. The journal's special issues, such as the forthcoming 'Queer Love: A Folly Eros Issue,' exemplify its commitment to thematic inquiry that is at once intimate and critically rigorous, treating desire not as a private confession but as a lens for reimagining aesthetic and political possibility.
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Before submitting, read at least one full issue to understand Folly's editorial sensibility—it is not a general-interest literary magazine. The press favors work that takes formal or thematic risks, particularly around sexuality, gender, and the politics of desire. For themed calls like 'Queer Love: A Folly Eros Issue,' engage the theme critically and personally rather than illustratively; avoid confessional clichés or academic abstraction. Simultaneous submissions are typically acceptable, but note that response times can be slow due to the small editorial team. Include a brief cover letter that situates your work in relation to the journal's ethos, not just your publication history. There are usually no reading fees for general submissions, though themed issues may have modest fees to support contributor payments; check the website for current guidelines.
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