Who we are and what we are looking for: Simply, I am a poet and writer, just like you. And I find joy in turning my writing into a material project, an object, a book, for me to share and read and, hopefully, give to others and bring them some sense of wonder and awe. I want NEW WRITING, writing that is different, off-beat, unexpected. I want to take your experimental, genre-bending work and turn it into an object, a book, to be shared by others. There is joy in that process. There is no money, that I have seen, to be made from these projects. But there is the fulfillment of the heart.
To be a little bit clearer and plain, I invest in publishing work that strikes me as new, challenging, experimental. There are too many authors to point you to, but a few who come to mind as influencing me and the way I approach submissions are: Andrew Joron, Martin Corless-Smith, Aby Kaupang, Edmond Jabes and Lynn Hejinian as well as the handful of authors we have published over the years through Dead Man Publishing and Mid-June (our, sadly defunct, online journal that showcased a single author per issue to give us a deep dive into the work of a particular writer). I highly recommend you take a look at the authors I have mentioned or request a free copy of one of our titles to see what we’ve been up to.
The focus of our publishing is on poetry and experimental writing. Bending and breaking the rules of what is expected is appreciated, cherished, valued. So the genre of poetry, being a genre where rule-breaking happens most often, is usually where we find ourselves drawn. Still, bring me something astonishing, and I will devour it.
Submissions and Publishing Information: Our publishing has been rather scattered over the years since we began in 2010. Now that we have settled into what we are doing, we look to publish one title per year. Submissions are accepted year round. Right now, we are looking for titles to publish in 2026.
We try to read and respond to every submission as long as we aren’t drowning in manuscripts. Manuscripts can vary widely in length, from small chapbooks of 25 pages to long memoirs of several hundred pages. Please gives us ample time, 2-3 months, to get back to you once we start the process of reading your submission. We will, however, let you know once we receive your manuscript and start the process of reviewing it, so you will have some sense of when to hear from us. We respect the heart and sweat you put into your work and promise to give your work the attention it deserves.
There are no fees associated with the submission or publication of your work. Because we are a VERY SMALL literary press, we generally pay only in free copies of your work. The current pay is 25 free copies. As we have seen over the years, moving 50-100 copies is an OUTSTANDING success for a press like ours. If we sell over 100 copies of your work, we will begin paying you a contracted share of the profits for each sale plus additional free copies. (If you wish to purchase more copies beyond those provided, they can be purchased from Dead Man Publishing for the cost of printing the books plus shipping, no markups.)
How To Submit: Contact us by email at editor@deadmanpublishing.com with the Subject line formatted in this way: SUBMISSION [Author’s Name][Submission Title]. Include a cover letter describing the project, where it fits in the literary scene in terms of genre(s) and how it creates something new… let us know what you are doing that is astonishing. Also include a brief bio and list when and where any selections from your manuscript have already been published. PRIOR PUBLICATION IS NOT NECESSARY FOR CONSIDERATION. The manuscript as a whole must be unpublished and should not be submitted for publication elsewhere. Give us time to respond. We appreciate your work and will get back to you. Finally, include the submission as an attachment in two formats, as a PDF and as a .docx (or some other compatible Word Processor software document such as OpenOffice).
Dead Man Publishing is a project of the gut, desire and love. So is your work. We look forward to seeing what you have to share and hope to find a place for your creation!