Shadow Dog Press Signature Chapbooks—General submissions open

Description: With its signature chapbooks, Shadow Dog Press seeks to elevate and reward exceptional literary talent. 

Our contracts include:

– transparent and competitive royalty rates
-10 author copies
-Chapbook marketing & promotions
-A multi-page feature in SDL Review

Eligibility: open to previously unpublished chapbook-length poetry manuscripts from all US-based poets. We consider “published” to mean traditionally or self-published in any print and/or digital format. Individual pieces that have been previously published may be included, provided you hold the rights and proper acknowledgments are made. We do not accept any submissions created, in whole or in part, with or assisted by generative AI. We require a personal statement certifying that generative AI was not used at any stage in the creation process of your manuscript. This does not include simple spellcheck applications. Learn more about our AI policy. 

Submission Guidelines: When building your submission packet, please be sure to adhere to the following guidelines. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines below will be rejected.

Assembling your submission packet: We require you to submit the following separate documents.

Document #1- Your Manuscript

—An eligible chapbook manuscript saved as a .docx file of no less than 20 but not more than 40 pages.

—Start each piece on a new page.

—Include your manuscript title in the header of each page.

—Number your pages.

—Page size 8.5×11, with all margins set to 1 inch.

—Use a 12pt easy-to-read font.

Document #2- Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter should be a single-page document consisting of a few paragraphs that introduce both you as the author of the work and the work itself. Beneath that information, please provide a brief 3rd-person bio. Next, list your website and any social media handles you have. After that, include a brief statement certifying no generative AI was used at any point during the creation of your manuscript.

Finally, include your contact information as follows:

—Pen Name under which you wish to publish, if applicable

—Pronouns

—Legal Name (for internal uses such as accounting and contracts)

—Email address

—Mailing address

—Phone number

Document #3- Acknowledgements Page, if needed.

Please provide a list of any previously published works included in this manuscript, including their original publishers and respective issue, volume, or online domain.

Processing fee: $8 per chapbook submission.

You may submit multiple manuscripts, provided they are submitted separately.

Simultaneous submissions welcome.

Shadow Dog Press does not solicit work and only publishes work received through our chosen submission system, Duotrope.

All fees collected are used to pay and elevate writers, as well as cover the transaction, platform, and administrative fees associated with these efforts. Shadow Dog Press is a small, independent publishing house that serves as the primary funding source for all associated programs and grants.

If you have any questions not answered here, please send an email to editors@ShadowDogPress.com