PFN – Neon Hemlock Press 2023 OutWrite Chapbook Competition

OutWrite is pleased to announce its fifth Chapbook Competition, running from June 1st to June 30th. The winning chapbooks will be celebrated at the 2023 OutWrite LGBTQ literary festival. Each winner will receive 25 copies of their winning chapbook, an offer of print publication from Neon Hemlock Press, and an opportunity to read from their work at OutWrite 2024.

There is no fee to enter this contest.

Please follow these guidelines in preparing your submission:

• Chapbooks may be submitted in three categories: poetry, nonfiction and fiction
• We will accept submissions in all three categories in English.
• OutWrite is a celebration of LGBTQ literature; entries that explore aspects of LGBTQ culture or identity are encouraged.
• Thematically-linked works are encouraged, but not required. There are no limitations regarding genre.
• Manuscripts should be no shorter than 20 pages and no longer than 40 pages. This does not include the table of contents or title page.
• Submissions are open from June 1 to June 30th, 2023.
• Each writer may only submit one entry per category.
• Your manuscript should be in a standard size 12 font. Please single-space poetry and double-space prose/nonfiction. Please include a title page and a table of contents; you may include acknowledgements etc. if you like, but winning entries will also be given the opportunity to adjust front and back matter before publication.
• The collection as a whole must be unpublished, but individual poems/stories/essays may be previously published (as long as relevant rights have reverted to you).
• We will be accepting simultaneously submitted work.
• Winners will be announced in August 2023. Publication will be in mid-2024.

Entries must be submitted no earlier than June 1 2023. The submission window closes at 11:59pm EST on June 30th.

If Submittable is inaccessible to you for any reason, please email your submission to the email above with all of the information requested by the form.