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Small Press

unsolicitedpress.com

Unsolicited Press

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Independent publishing3 open opportunities listed

About the press

Unsolicited Press is an independent literary press founded in 2012 and based in Portland, Oregon. Established with a commitment to publishing works that might otherwise be overlooked by commercial houses, the press has built a catalog of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that favors formal risk and emotional precision over market trends. Its founding ethos rests on the belief that literature thrives when editors read without preconception, seeking manuscripts that demonstrate a distinctive voice and an urgent relationship to language. Over the past decade, Unsolicited Press has maintained a modest but carefully curated list, often championing debut authors and hybrid works that resist easy categorization.

Publishing focus

Unsolicited Press publishes boundary-pushing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, along with select hybrid and translated works. The editors seek innovative, emotionally resonant writing that challenges dominant narratives and expands the possibilities of form, voice, and perspective. Their list centers emerging and established authors whose work is fearless, socially engaged, and artistically ambitious, with particular interest in feminist, LGBTQ+, experimental, and cross-genre literature.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslationChapbookNovellaShort Story CollectionsEssay CollectionsNovelMemoirPoetry Collections

Selected authors
Steven Charnow, Darci Schummer, Scott Alexander Jones, Emily Kiernan, Francis Daulerio, Mick Bennett, Susan Pepper Robbins, Jeffery Bartone, Adela Najarro

Calls & opportunities

3 listed
Open

Unsolicited Press — Submissions

View opportunity Official listing
Open

Unsolicited Press — Submissions

View opportunity Official listing
Open

Unsolicited Press — Submissions

View opportunity Official listing

Manuscript submissions

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeYes
Response timeGreater than 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Unsolicited Press accepts submissions directly through its website, typically during designated reading periods. Before submitting, review the catalog to understand the press's aesthetic range—it favors work that is linguistically adventurous, emotionally resonant, and structurally deliberate. Include a brief, professional cover letter that situates your manuscript within contemporary literary conversations without overstating its importance. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted, but notify the press promptly if your work is placed elsewhere. Expect a response time of several months; patience and adherence to formatting guidelines are appreciated.

Send only one submission at a time and make sure it reflects your strongest, most complete work. Tell us who you are and why this project matters to you. Surprise us. Most importantly, come to the table ready to participate in your book’s life. We invest deeply in promotion, and we look for writers who understand that publishing is a creative partnership that includes visibility, outreach, and community engagement.

Read official guidelines
5 items

Explore titles from the press’s catalogue.

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Past Issue

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Past Issue

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Past Issue

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Past Issue

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