Submission Guidelines
We welcome submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction for our anthologies and Emergent magazine.
We welcome submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction for our anthologies and Emergent magazine.
We publish work that takes risks, finds its voice, and speaks with honesty. We're interested in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, essays, cross-genre and hybrid work across a wide range of genres including humor, mystery, horror, thriller, suspense, sci-fi, fantasy, speculative fiction, and feminist writing.
We value craft, originality, and emotional truth. We welcome emerging and established writers alike.
Reading Fee: $3–$5
What's Included: Editorial consideration for publication in our anthologies or Emergent magazine.
Genres Accepted: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction/memoir
Previously Published Work: We accept only unpublished, original work (including work not published on blogs, social media, or other platforms).
Fee: $35
What's Included:
If Accepted for Publication:
Single-author collections are handled separately. Contact us for details.
Writers who participate in one of our Learning-Writing Cohorts receive all anthology submission fees waived for the year. This is our way of investing in writers who are actively developing their craft with us.
Cohort members still receive the full benefits of acceptance if their work is selected for publication.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, accessibility is core to our mission. We offer full and partial fee waivers for writers experiencing financial hardship.
To apply: Send a brief email to Susan.Brearley@GardenofNeuro.org with the subject line Fee Waiver Request. Please include your name, which submission opportunity you're interested in, and a short statement (2–3 sentences is sufficient) describing your circumstances. No detailed financial documentation is required. Requests are reviewed promptly and kept confidential.
No writer should be prevented from submitting their work due to financial constraints.
We believe in full transparency with our contributors. Here are the complete terms of publication.
First English-language anthology publication rights in print and electronic formats (including ebook and PDF). After a twelve (12) month exclusivity period, contributors may republish their work in any format, provided Garden of Neuro is acknowledged as the original publisher.
The publisher retains non-exclusive, perpetual rights to continue selling the anthology containing the work. Contributors retain copyright ownership and all rights not expressly granted.
Contributors receive:
No cash payment, honorarium, or royalties are paid for contributed work. This is consistent with industry standards for nonprofit literary anthologies.
We may request reasonable revisions to meet editorial standards, with reasonable notice and time provided. Contributors receive proofs prior to publication. No substantive changes are made without contributor approval. Minor copy-editing and formatting may be applied to conform to our style guide.
Garden of Neuro Publishing is a nonprofit organization. All proceeds from submission fees and anthology sales support our mission: scholarships and programs for writers.
We manage all submissions through Submittable. Visit our portal to see current open calls and submit your work.
Check back regularly — new calls for submissions are posted as anthology and magazine projects open.
Questions? Contact us at Susan.Brearley@GardenofNeuro.org.