UPDATED  05/26/2021

The individual listings below are the chapbook publishers I found which do not charge submission fees, reading fees, or contest fees. Several are currently open or always open, which I’ve noted below.

Many chapbooks are published via contests and do typically require a fee from $10 – $25. Research each market thoroughly and make sure submitting is worth the fee. Many will provide prize money along with several copies of the chapbook for you to sell and otherwise promote your work.

My most recent chapbook Almost Famous was published by Yavanika Press, listed below. You can download it for free and read more about it here.

To check out my online chapbook free downloads, click here.

NO FEE Chapbook Publishers

Alabaster Leaves Publishing (Kelsay Books)

Notes: “We require half of the poems in the manuscript to have been published in magazines and journals. (Your own blog or self-published book does not count as being published.)”

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Always open

About: Kelsay Books is an independent literary press run by Karen Kelsay, an award winning poet, whose primary focus is to publish beautiful books in a timely manner. Four imprint companies have been established to accommodate a variety of published poets. We accept unsolicited chapbooks and full-length manuscripts year-round.

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/7825/alabaster-leaves-publishing

Anvil Press

Notes: Canadian residents only, Postal submissions only

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Currently updating guidelines and will re-open in the coming weeks

About: Anvil Press is a literary publisher interested in contemporary, progressive literature in all genres. We must stress that we are a small publisher, publishing 8 to 10 titles per year. In general, we are planning at least 12 months in advance and, at present, are only considering work by Canadian authors. We are not interested in seeing formulaic genre novels: Sci-Fi, Horror, Romance etc.

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/1258

BatCat Press

Submissions Fees: None

Reading Periods: “Due to complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our submissions are temporarily closed. We anticipate reopening submissions sometime in the 2020/2021 school year.”

Notes: “BatCat Press was officially founded in 2009, led by managing editor Deanna [Mulye] Baringer and a staff of six intrepid high school students. With the support of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, BatCat Press has grown up and established itself as an independent publisher specializing in handmade limited editions of new works by both first time and established authors.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/4403

Damaged Goods Press

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Rolling

About: “Damaged Goods specializes in queer & trans poetry & flash fiction chapbooks. Our goal is simple: publish four (4) chapbooks a year that revolve around the beauty and terror of queer life. Damaged goods welcomes all gender variant writers. As long as you identify as queer or trans that’s cool, send your work this way.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/16814

Ethel

Notes: “Ethel is currently scheduled with chapbooks and mini-books until November 2021. You may still submit, just know that it will take Ethel a while to get to it.”

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Rolling

About: “Started in 2018, Ethel is a twice-yearly limited-edition, hand-made Zine of writing and art and a micro-press specializing in handmade and hand-bound chapbooks and mini-books. While Ethel seeks a wide variety of writing and art, Ethel is particularly interested in the voices of Women, The BIPOC community and the LGBTQA+ community. Overall, our main interest is in work that helps us rethink/reimagine the often worn-out narratives of the past.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/26626/ethel-zine-chapbooks-mini-books

Glass Poetry Press

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Open reading period is from March 1 through March 31 ammually

About: “Glass Poetry Press is a micro-press in Toledo, Ohio that publishes poetry chapbooks. We also publish the online poetry journal, Glass: A Journal of Poetry. Our chapbooks are hand-bound and side stapled with full-color card stock covers. Each chapbook is assigned an ISBN. Initial print run is 100 copies and each chapbook will be kept in print as long as there is sufficient demand, to be determined by the press.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/19918

Grey Book Press

Notes: “Manuscripts should have between 16 and 24 pages of poems.”

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: “We’ll have another open reading period in the second half of 2021; the timing will depend on how our publication schedule unfolds and whether any new chapbooks are added.”

About: “Grey Book Press publishes high-quality poetry in a lovably ramshackle way. In accordance with an unpredictable schedule and a near certainty that everything is temporary.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/13724/grey-book-press

Grey Borders Books

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: “Our reading period is currently closed and will reopen sometime in 2021.”

About: “Grey Borders Books is a Canadian literary publisher founded in 2002 and based in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Starting with Grey Borders Magazine, we have created several imprints over the years including House of Gryhm, Silver Line Editions and Cubicle Press. From June 2011-2016, Grey Borders created and produced a region-wide festival called the Niagara Literary Arts Festival.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/22028/grey-borders-books

Luminous Press

Notes: “Luminous Press subscribes to the same aesthetics as Firefly Magazine. However, it is made for longer works such as chapbooks and novellas.”

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Always open

About: “We are currently accepting micro-chapbooks (10-15 pages) and chapbooks (15-25 pages).”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/23098/luminous-press

Maverick Duck Press

Notes: No simultaneous submissions.

Reading Periods: Always open

Submission Fees: None

About: “Maverick Duck Press was founded in 2005 to help give a voice to undiscovered talent in poetry. We are a small chapbook press that publishes limited run, saddle stapled chapbooks. We look for fresh and cutting edge talent with an eye for detail and a powerful voice. Our books are available through this website and via readings from our poets. We do not have the ability to mass distribute like the big publishers, but we’d like to think that we are doing this for art’s sake.”

DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/1670

Newfound Emerging Poet Chapbook Series

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Dec. 1 – 31, 2020

About: “From December 1-31 only, Newfound accepts unsolicited chapbook-length manuscripts from poets who have not yet published a full-length book. Our open submission period aims to advance the careers of emerging writers by printing their work in beautiful, hand-bound editions. Submissions are open to finalists, but not winners of Newfound prizes. One chapbook is selected annually by Newfound staff.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/27719/emerging-poet-chapbook-series

Origami Poems

Notes: Microchaps, previously unpublished

Reading Periods: Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 1 – June 30, Sept 1 – Dec 31 (Closed April, July and August)

Submission Fees: None

Form: Specific format, read guidelines carefully and download their examples

Payment: “Upon acceptance we’ll post your book under your own Bio page. You’ll receive a packet of your Origami micro-chapbooks to read, share, or display on the tiniest of bookshelves.”

DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/7370

Platypus Press

Notes: “At this time, we only consider poetry manuscripts of 35+ pages.”

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Currently closed. Check site for future updates.

About: “Founded in 2015 by Michelle Tudor and Peter Barnfather, the press runs alongside our other project: wildness, an online literary journal.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/17774/platypus-press

Porkbelly Press

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods:

• chapbooks : January 1 – 31
• micro chapbooks : July 1 – 31

About: “Porkbelly Press’ chapbooks are produced in small & open edition. Our books range in size from micro chapbooks (8-10 pages), chapbooks (12-28 pages), and zines, anthologies & lit mags. We welcome works from writers all along the identity spectrum; we’re queer friendly & feminist.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/21189/porkbelly-press

Prolific Press

Submissions Fees: None

Reading Periods: Always Open

About: “Although chapbooks are not typically treated the same as full offerings in the marketplace, Prolific Press does purchase and provide a unique ISBN and barcode. We make this investment to help ensure that our chapbooks can be collected and traded long after they are out of print, further preserving the voice of the writer.”

Payment: “Selected authors receive 10 copies and publication as payment for the short collection.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/16281

Rinky Dink Press

Notes: Microchaps, micropoems

Submissions Fees: None

Reading Periods: Always open

About: “Rinky Dink Press is on a mission to get poetry back into the hands (and pockets) of the people — each of our single author collections can fit in your pocket, but we never sacrifice craft, and despite the tiny format, we refuse to sacrifice style. In short, we’re a microzine press that marries a DIY attitude with skilled poetics and fine-art aesthetics. POETRY: Submit thematically related micropoems (i.e. poems consisting of between 25 & 40 words). Poems can form a cohesive narrative or adhere loosely to a theme of your choosing. Most importantly, we privilege finely-crafted verse, conscientious in its intent. FYI, micropoems are not haiku.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/21001

Selcouth Station

Submissions Fees: None

Reading Periods: Jan – July (check web site for current calls)

About: “We are opening our doors for 6 months and a day because we want to increase our output of beautiful chapbooks, support more writers and artists, and unleash your words into the world! We have decided on no specific theme, total freedom to submit the work that is personal and natural to you. We will be reading as we go and letting you know the result asap. Sometimes this will take up to a month, as we are a small team. If you are at all concerned, please do reach out to us on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, we are always happy to talk!”

Payment: “We are too small to provide royalties, as we are a volunteer-run press and do not make much in the way of profit. What we will do is give you hardcopies of your books to sell and distribute at your leisure to family and friends; as well as a large discount on future print runs. You will not pay for initial printing costs or artist costs.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/26422/selcouth-station

Seven Kitchens Press

Notes: This press runs four separate chapbook prizes throughout the year. There are no fees to submit to any of them.

Submissions Fees: None

Reading Periods:

• Robin Becker Chapbook Prize – April 1 - May 15
• Keystone Chapbook Prize - June 1 - July 15
• ReBound Chapbook Series – August 1 - September 15
• Rane Arroyo Chapbook Prize – October 1 until November 15

About: "Our goal has always been to publish the very best poetry and prose we can find in carefully-edited, hand-trimmed & hand-tied chapbooks; to work in close collaboration with authors through the production process; and to present a wide aesthetic range from both established and emerging writers. We hope you'll browse through our titles and discover writers that you can't wait to read more of."

Payment: “Each winning poet will receive 25 copies of their chapbook, which will be designed, printed, and hand-assembled by Seven Kitchens Press.”

Duotrope: Each prize is listed separately.

WordTech Communications

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: May and June

About: “WordTech Communications LLC is one of the nation’s largest poetry publishers, bringing out approximately 50 titles per year. Our six imprints focus on lyric, narrative, formal, social, and experimental poetry.We strive to publish a wide variety of poetry that is diverse in style, subject and technique but is unified in its excellence.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/1166/wordtech-communications

Writing Knights Press

Submission Fees: None

Reading Periods: Always Open

Interview/Call: PAYING/NO FEE submission call + editor interview – Writing Knights Press, DEADLINE: Always Open

About: “Writing Knights Press is an indie press publishing chapbooks, full length, and mixed media printed books of poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction and/or visual art. Compensation is 10 author copies and royalties.”

Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/20727/writing-knights-press

Yavanika Press

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