Fly on the Wall Press is a UK-based independent publisher of political fiction, poetry, and cross-genre anthologies from exceptional international authors. The following FAQ aims to guide writers in submitting their manuscripts for the Modern Gothic anthology, which is currently open for submissions until May 28th, 2023. Submissions can be found here.
Q: What is Modern Gothic, and what kind of submissions are you looking for?
A: Modern Gothic is an anthology of short stories exploring contemporary Gothic themes. We're looking for submissions of individual short stories between 5,000-15,000 words, with a strong voice and style, and a theme or story arc. Think Angela Carter and taboo subjects! We prefer writing that makes a statement about something, with a sprinkle of social consciousness and political engagement. We're particularly interested in works that explore climate anxiety and dystopian worlds. Submissions should be sent in both word and PDF formats to flyonthewallpress@hotmail.com with the subject line 'Modern Gothic: First Name/Last Name'.
Q: What are the preferred font and page size for the submission?
A: The preferred font is Perpetua 12pt, and the preferred page size is A5. Speech marks should be double " ".
Q: Is a third-person biography required with the submission?
A: Yes, we would love a third-person biography with your submission, which helps us to know your past publication history in reputable literary journals and any competition success. We're also looking for writers who are willing to engage with the marketing of their own work, so any ideas that you have for this are also of interest!
Q: What happens if I'm selected for the anthology?
A: Typically, we pick 4-5 short story writers for our story anthologies. Contributors receive free copies and royalties. Each stage of the publishing process is managed by editor Isabelle Kenyon, who works closely with her writers to ensure that they're happy with the way their work is presented, and will suggest ways of improving the work, where it can be even stronger. All books are marketed to the highest standard, and we work hard to promote them!
Q: What should I keep in mind when writing for Fly on the Wall Press?
A: We're looking for socially conscious work that encompasses terms such as social commentary or observation, as well as more overtly political storylines. We believe that sometimes our very existence in a certain setting, or our beliefs, are political, and a story can be political simply in viewpoint. Before submitting, we require writers to be familiar with our mission and to have supported our publishing schedule and our authors by purchasing a book from our shop in the year of submitting a manuscript. Alternatively, donations of £6 and above can be made via our PayPal.
Q: Why Fly on the Wall Press for my story?
A: We publish quality over quantity. All books are managed by editor Isabelle Kenyon, who works closely with her writers to ensure that they're happy with the way their work is presented, and will suggest ways of improving the work, where it can be even stronger. We're proud to be a member of Inpress LTD distribution and the Northern Fiction Alliance. Our books benefit from the expertise of our book reps and regional partnerships. We work hard to promote our books, including entering writers into major awards, social media coverage, attending book fairs, review copies to journalists, interview coverage, and advertising. This is not standard for a small press, and something we take pride in investing our time within.
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