Full-length Submissions
At Wayfarer Books we believe poetry is the language of the earth. We believe words, shaped like rivers through wild places, can change the shape of the world. We publish poets and writers and renegades who stand outside of mainstream culture—poets, essayists, and storytellers whose work might withstand the scrutiny of crows and coyotes, those who are cryptic and floral, the crepuscular, and the queer-at-heart. We are more than just a publisher but a community of writers. Our mission is to produce books that can serve as a compass and map to all wayfarers through wild terrain.
We publish full-length works of poetry and creative nonfiction.
Short & Serialized Content
Since 2012, The Wayfarer Magazine has been offering literature, interviews, and art with the intention to inspire our readers and highlight the power for agency and change-making that each individual holds. By our definition, a “wayfarer” is one whose inner compass is ever-oriented to truth, wisdom, healing, and beauty in their own wandering. The Wayfarer’s mission as a publication is to foster a community of contemplative voices and provide readers with resources and perspectives that support them in their own journey.
We publish contained works of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, profiles, photography and original art. Work is published on a rolling basis on The Wayfarer Magazine Substack and are eligible for our annual Best of The Wayfarer (200pp, trade paperback published annual each December).
Outpost Press - Hybrid Model Publishing
Is our latest imprint offering a hybrid route for those authors who are willing to subsidize their own project to help shoulder the financial investment in the project, allowing us to take on the project that would otherwise be impossible due to lean budgets. Wayfarer Books' Hybrid Track is operated as a PTO/POD model; we print through Ingram and have wholesale availability to the trade retailers (Amazon, B&N, Indie Bookstores, etc.) via Ingram. And, as with all our imprints, We offer our titles at the standard terms expected by retailers from the larger houses (45% - 55% Discount and Full Returnability). / Learn More
Please see our website for the latest guidelines.
*Hybrid track submissions will receive a reply within 4-6 weeks.
Manuscripts submitted through our Hybrid Track will receive a response within 4-6 weeks.
Visit our site for the latest submission guidelines.
Guideline Details:
- Nonfiction Pieces & Essays should be between 1200–2500 words.
- Profiles should be no more than 4,000 words and be accompanied by 4-6 photos relating to the subject of the profile.
- Pieces should be single-spaced and paginated and follow the Chicago Manual of Style.
- All work must be previously unpublished—this includes personal blogs, websites, and social media.
- We do allow simultaneous submissions; please withdraw your review from Submittable if it is accepted elsewhere. Please wait at least 12 months from date of submission before querying about the submission status.
Poets should send 4-6 original poems.
At Wayfarer Books we believe poetry is the language of the earth. We believe words, shaped like rivers through wild places, can change the shape of the world. We publish poets and writers and renegades who stand outside of mainstream culture—poets, essayists, and storytellers whose work might withstand the scrutiny of crows and coyotes, those who are cryptic and floral, the crepuscular, and the queer-at-heart. We are more than just a publisher but a community of writers. Our mission is to produce books that can serve as a compass and map to all wayfarers through wild terrain.
- Submissions are open to works of poetry, creative nonfiction, memoirs, and essay collections. (No fiction, please.)
- Poetry manuscripts should be no more than 90 pages.
- Prose manuscripts should be no more than 50,000 words.
- To submit, the manuscript must be previously unpublished.
- A limited number of individual poems/excerpts may have appeared in print or online, but the author must hold sole rights to the work.
- Manuscripts must be in English and follow the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines.
- Please see our website for current deadlines and reading periods.