General Neon Hemlock Submission Notes:
- Unless the editors are otherwise specified, you can address cover letters to “Dear editors” or “Dear dave.” Please avoid “Dear Mr. Ring.”
- Please submit your story in .doc or .docx file, formatted in something approaching Standard Manuscript Format. One of the editors has a slight aversion to Courier and a fondness for Georgia.
- Please include a cover/query letter with the title, length, and a brief bio. You may include links to your website/social media, and previous publications if any. Please don’t stress about this cover letter, if we have additional questions about your submission, we’ll ask them.
- Simultaneous submissions are always fine; please withdraw immediately if you take another offer. Stories should be previously unpublished.
- Please no multiple submissions. If you receive a rejection within the submission window, you may submit another story.
- If you joke about how straight white men are underrepresented in speculative fiction, it will not win you any points.
- Thanks for thinking of Neon Hemlock for your work.
- Please don't self-reject!
Neon Hemlock Press is open to submissions of speculative chapbook manuscripts from August 20 to October 15, 2026.
We expect to publish at least one chapbook next year; if the stretch goal in our current crowdfund is reached, we'll publish an additional chapbook in 2026 with a very fast turnaround.
We are looking for:
- Length: 7,500 to 12,000 words
- A single novelette of that length, or multiple short stories (flash welcome)
- We are particularly interested in work that explores some element of queer experience, broadly speaking.
Guidelines:
- Please submit complete manuscripts (your entire chapbook) in .doc or .docx formats, formatted in something approaching Standard Manuscript Format. Please use italics and bold as necessary. The managing editor has a slight aversion to Courier and a fondness for Georgia.
- Please include a cover letter with the title of your chapbook and a brief bio. You may include links to your website/social media, and previous publications if any. Please don’t stress about this cover letter, if we have additional questions about your submission, we’ll ask them.
- Simultaneous submissions are fine, please withdraw immediately if you take another offer.
- Please no multiple submissions.
- Original submissions only. Individual pieces can be previously published, but not the chapbook as a whole.
Selected manuscripts will be printed as 5” x 5” chapbooks. Our standard chapbook contract pays $100 and 25 copies from a limited print run of 100, with an option to discuss a 50/50 split when the initial print run sells out; you can sell your author copies as you like. We ask for exclusive Worldwide English rights. We do not ask for audio rights. If you would like the chapbook to be available as an ebook we can discuss.
Our turnaround time is expected to be around three months. Please query if you haven’t heard from us after 90 days. We’d love it if you tracked your submissions on Chill Subs, Duotrope or the Submission Grinder.