Frequently Asked Questions

I once lived in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia, can I still submit to your annual manuscript contests?

No. Our mission is to publish writers who currently reside in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.

I am submitting a collection of short stories or poems — should I include an acknowledgment page?

Yes. If any of your work has been published, please include an acknowledgments page–without your name on it. We do read blind. However, we have an ‘honor system’ with our judges on the acknowledgments page. Please note: that we understand and appreciate that stories or poems in collections might have been previously published in literary journals or other venues. Please look closely at our recent collections, and you will see that about 50-60% of the work in those collections has been previously published.

My novel/collection of short stories or nonfiction work is under or over the guidelines of 150-250 pages or 60,000- 70,000 words, can I still submit it to you?

As a cooperative press, we have recently come to the realization that our strength and focus are better with manuscripts that are between 150-250 pages, or about 60,000-70,000 words. Read our recent award-winning fiction: Varun Gauri’s For the Blessings of Jupiter and Venus, Len Kruger’s Bad Questions or Suzanne Feldman’s The Witch Bottle and Other Stories, both of which are within these parameters. So, please send us work that is between 150-250 pages. Please note that manuscripts should be double-spaces, 12 point type (Times Roman or Garamond, preferred); and have 1 inch margins on the right and left side.

My book was published outside the United States, can I still submit it to you?

No. We are only seeking previously unpublished books or collections i.e. those that were published in their entirety in any other country, or in any manner (ebooks, self-published), are not eligible.

How is publishing with WWPH different than with other presses?

First, we are all volunteers. We have all been published by the Washington Writers’ Publishing House. We are passionate about our WWPH books. However, we are not professionals, though several of us have experience editing or with marketing and public relations. We do pay for professionals to support us, notably, a manuscript typesetter, a cover designer, and, for prose, a proofreader. This is all a cooperative process between the press and the writer.

If selected, please note that the writer should have the time available to focus on their book production and promotion.

In the early winter, to coincide with the publication of our books, we organize at least two events to support the launch of our new books. Historically. the readings are with Politics & Prose and the Writer’s Center in Bethesda. However, like most small presses (and many major presses) we rely on the author to actively promote their work via social media, in-market events, and outreach to grassroots organizations.

Once an author is published with us, we ask the writers to commit to two years of service to the press in any area that works for them. Many writers stay involved with WWPH for many years, and we do all we can to nurture an inclusive, supportive, creative environment. Please read our recent winners and make sure we are the right press for you–we hope you are. We look forward to reading your manuscripts!

More questions? Email us at wwphpress@gmail.com

Critics Say

"Among the 111 pieces featured are a remarkable number of standouts — far too many to highlight here. But I was especially moved by the breadth of humanity on display in all its sadness, joy, rage, despair, and humor..."

—Washington Independent Review of Books on This Is What America Looks Like: Poetry & Fiction from DC, Maryland, Virginia

"This Is What America Looks Like is wildly diverse with short stories...and poetry speaking to relationships and experiences that redefine what identity means."

—Washington City Paper on This Is What America Looks Like: Poetry & Fiction from DC, Maryland, Virginia

"Refreshingly fearless and, like a subway's third rail, hums with electricity."

—Adam Ross, editor of the Sewanee Review on Adam Schwartz's The Rest of The World

"These brilliant poems stun the page..."

—Zakia Henderson-Brown on Steven Leyva's The Understudy's Handbook

"When I read the first poem in Words We Might One Day Say, I thought Holly Karapetkova was related to Gabriel Marquez. A surprise seems to appear in many of her poems. Some come close to being magical. I like how this woman writes about childhood. I want to grow old with this book."

——E. Ethelbert Miller on Holly Karapetkova's Words We Might One Day Say