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Small Press

wtawpress.org

WTAW Press

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Independent publishing3 open opportunities listed

About the press

WTAW Press is an independent literary press founded in 2015 and based in Northern California. Its name, an abbreviation of 'What The Actual...', signals a commitment to work that confronts the unvarnished realities of contemporary life with formal daring and emotional precision. The press emerged from a desire to publish book-length works—primarily fiction and hybrid texts—that might be deemed too experimental or commercially unviable by larger houses, yet possess an unmistakable urgency and craft. Over its relatively short history, WTAW has built a reputation for championing voices that are at once lyrical and unsettling, often blurring the boundaries between genre, memoir, and speculation. Its core mission is to foster a literary ecosystem where risk-taking is not merely tolerated but expected, and where the book as an object remains a site of intellectual and aesthetic inquiry.

Publishing focus

WTAW Press is an independent literary press devoted to discovering and publishing enduring works. WTAW publishes a carefully curated list of titles across a range of genres (literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, essay, and prose that falls somewhere in between), subject matter, and perspectives. WTAW offers the Kevin McIlvoy Book Prize for unpublished books. In addition to full-length books, WTAW Alcove Chapbooks publishes chapbooks of prose. Our imprint Betty publishes books by women for everyone.

FictionCreative NonfictionChapbookNovellaShort Story CollectionsEssay CollectionsNovelMemoir

Selected authors
Kevin McIlvoy, Henry Hoke, Anita Felicelli, Olga Zilberbourg, Sarah Stone, Louise Marburg, Julian Mithra, Keith Pilapil Lesmeister, Joanna Acevedo, Kai Maristed

Calls & opportunities

3 listed
Open

WTAW Press — Submissions

View opportunity Official listing
Open

WTAW Press — Submissions

View opportunity Official listing
Open

WTAW Press — Submissions

View opportunity Official listing

Manuscript submissions

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeYes
Response time3 to 6 months
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes

WTAW Press opens submissions periodically, typically for full-length manuscripts (novels, story collections, hybrid works) rather than individual pieces. Before submitting, read several titles from their catalog to gauge whether your work aligns with their aesthetic—they favor writing that is bold, structurally inventive, and emotionally raw. They are not interested in conventional genre fiction or straightforward memoir. Prepare a polished manuscript, a concise cover letter that articulates your book's stakes and formal choices, and a brief author bio. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted, but notify them immediately if your work is placed elsewhere. Response times can be lengthy (several months), so patience is essential. Do not query about submission status before the stated reading period ends. Above all, demonstrate that you understand the press's ethos: they seek books that unsettle, provoke, and linger.

Familiarize yourself with our focus at wtawpress.org. To understand our aesthetic and literary interests, read the work we’ve published. Make sure to follow all submission guidelines when sending in a manuscript. Since dates are subject to change, check the website for open submission periods, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on our social media channels to stay updated.

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