Manuscript call
We loved it so much last year that we're once again doing an open prose call for our chapbook period, which means we're open for fiction vs. nonfiction vs. hybrid vs. secret fourth options—we want to read it all! Six members of the SLP editorial team (managing director Caleb, marketing directors Gage and Abby, incoming multigenre/chapbook editor Erin, novel/novella editor Kate, and director Kristine) will be serving as both your first-round readers and your final editorial team decision-makers, which means your chaps are going directly to the top! We will be reading, discussing, and voting democratically as a team to decide on our selection.
We are currently looking for previously unpublished prose chapbook manuscripts that are considered complete projects as they stand—we do not view chapbooks as "a taste of a longer work" but, instead, as the beautiful, brief books they are. Collections of individual pieces which gain power through their proximity to one another, or a single, sustained long work—we're open to and interested in both!
Individually published pieces within the manuscript are absolutely fine (and expected!) but the chapbook should not have been published as a BOOK before. Our definition of "chapbook" is between 60-100pg, but we've got a little flex, so don't let those guidelines exclude your work if you're pretty close to that page count. If your book is significantly longer, keep us in mind during our novel/novella reading period in July, our nonfiction/hybrid full-length reading period in October, our short story/flash fiction collection reading period in January, or our new chapbook + multigenre full-length reading period next April!
First and foremost, we seek out manuscripts that question boundaries (physical, emotional, metaphysical, meta-emotional—you get the gist). Our editors are drawn to work with a twist, whether that means blending fact with fiction, employing speculative elements, placing lyricism alongside criticism, and/or image-based work interacting with text.
To get an idea of what we've historically loved, please check out our current chapbook offerings:
Sienna Liu's forthcoming Specimen, Heather Bartel's Exit the Body, Tucker Leighty-Phillips' Maybe This is What I Deserve, Claudia Putnam’s Double Negative, Kelly Ann Jacobson's An Inventory of Abandoned Things, Calvin Walds’ Flee, Samantha Edmonds’ The Space Poet, Tyler Barton's The Quiet Part Loud, Shasta Grant's Gather Us Up and Bring Us Home, SJ Sindu’s I Once Met You But You Were Dead, and Kara Vernor's Because I Wanted to Write You a Pop Song.
We'd love it if you'd add a copy of any (/all) of our chapbooks to your submission, and we'll happily throw in free shipping (US only; our apologies!) as a thanks!
Historically underrepresented perspectives are WELCOME and ENCOURAGED and HIGHLY SOUGHT—we want to help bring your voice to the world!
Our press mission
We publish boundary-breaking fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid books, lifting the transition boards that prevent fluidity and smashing those we cannot pry up. We love work that questions the concept of truth, and work that reinterprets what we think we know. We prize experimentation (physical, emotional, metaphysical, meta-emotional); we welcome the unanswerable. We want to see the dark and the light side of the moon—or we want to see it obliterated. If your book is a wedge in a crack, Split/Lip Press is the hammer helping you split the wall apart.
However, Split/Lip Press does not tolerate manuscripts celebrating racist, homophobic, or misogynistic perspectives, and will discard such manuscripts unread. We believe in breaking boundaries at Split/Lip, but we will not assist agendas of hate.
Basic formatting details
Times New Roman 12 (or similar), double-spaced (unless you are specifically using special formatting—which we'd love to see), and PLEASE remove your name from the manuscript and file name—we want to review your manuscripts without names attached. There is a box on the submission form where, if you choose, you may indicate any information about positionality which may be helpful for the readers to know.
Please note that while we love and welcome work which includes images/diagrams/etc, all images may need to appear in black-and-white within a 6" x 9" printed book, so please keep that in mind when submitting.
Hugs + thanks
We work closely with our authors on all elements of their book, from design to promotion. We are engaged in the literary community, and as writers ourselves, we know how important it is to have a book that you love that is supported by a press that loves you. We'd love for you to be part of the Split/Lip Press family.
Simultaneous submissions are obviously welcome. Our reading process is a process and we move quickly and efficiently, but we also don't interrupt it prematurely. So if another publisher snags you first, we just ask that you withdraw your submission (and congrats to you!).
We intend to reply to all submissions by July 15, 2025, so please do not query about the status of your manuscript before that date. If you haven't seen anything from us by 7/15/25, check your status in Submittable and double-check your email spam filter because Submittable's messages sometimes get stuck there—we will definitely respond!
Thank you for considering Split/Lip Press as the home for your chapbook!
We're looking for a Creative Director at Split/Lip Press!
Our ideal Creative Director can create non-AI, non-typical work within the Canva platform; has experience developing creative, consistent visions for multiple projects while maintaining brand consistency; and has fluency in working with social media algorithms (we currently use Bluesky and Instagram).
The ability to meet deadlines is absolutely necessary, as is a familiarity with the small press landscape; previous experience at a small press or a literary magazine is a plus.
We're looking for a creative director who is familiar with the SLP aesthetic and is excited about helping our mission to publish and promote boundary-breaking prose books; who has an eye toward increasing equity and reducing disparities in publishing; and as always, applicants with historically under-represented perspectives are sought, welcomed, and specifically encouraged to apply.
Our Creative Director will develop a consistent visual theme for each of our four yearly titles, to be used throughout a series of socials graphics to promote both our upcoming titles and Split/Lip Press (book acquisition announcements, cover reveals, blurb week, publication day, tour graphic, awards announcements, and first-year anniversary graphics). Additionally, the Creative Director will develop announcements for our four reading periods and reader application calls, and to promote our regional festivals (including AWP). Finally, we'd like to save space to allow our Creative Director to explore their role's development in areas of their particular interest, to include opportunities with newsletters, website optimization, other online presences for the press, merch development, etc--we want to help you grow as well!
The incoming Creative Director will be working with our marketing director, managing director, and director. We are looking for someone who will be with us for multiple cycles, so if you're just looking to get your feet wet in the small press world, this is likely not the position for you.
We are an independent small press and our compensation is, unfortunately, commensurate with our size. The creative director will receive a monthly honorarium for their work ($50/month) and 50% off all SLP books, but we'll also hook you up with a complimentary full SLP library (incl. all the SLP books you don't already own) to welcome you onto the team!
Please let us know how you see your experience and interest fitting with Split/Lip Press!