Nonfiction essays of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 1200 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, a cultural figure and/or tradition, or celebrate an art form especially related to cultures of marginalized communities. Essays must be original, unpublished works in English. A successful entry will be awarded each quarter and included within Kinsman Quarterly's online journal and magazine. No entry fee required. $150 licensing award granted for selected entries.
Those Eligible
- individuals 18+ years old or 14+ years with parent consent
- individuals of a BIPOC or underrepresented community (preferred)
- individuals able to receive cash licensing awards through Paypal or Payoneer (non-negotiable).
- Individuals able to license the unpublished work
Submission Guidelines
- Each essay should be an original, unpublished work by the submitting author, which does not infringe upon the copyrights of another individual or entity.
- Essays tracked as (or suspected of) being created by AI will be immediately rejected.
- Submissions are selected quarterly and can be received anytime before 11:59pm EST on December 31, 2024.
- Submissions should feature nonfiction essays of the resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of marginalized communities.
- Participants may submit more than one entry, but cannot be awarded more than once in the same year.
IMPORTANT Genre and Formatting Guidelines
- nonfiction essays only (500-1200)
- All text entries must be in Times New Roman, font size 12, double-spaced.
- Text files should be submitted in .doc, .docx, or .pdf formats. (NOT .txt)
- Do not attach images with the document file
- Multipage submissions must include page numbers (not mandatory for title pages)
- Be sure to remove all track changes from edited text.
- Entries that do not adhere to guidelines will not be considered.
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Only one entry can be made per submission form. Successful submissions will be notified within 90 days. Unsuccessful entries or entries that do not meet the required criteria will be dismissed without notice. Successful entries will receive notice within 60 days of submission. YOU MAY ONLY SUBMIT ONE FILE, USING THE PROPER UPLOAD FORM BELOW.
As a part of our nonprofit mission, Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc. is seeking to publish new voices and full manuscripts in 2025 from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities and underrepresented individuals preferred. Selected works will receive a publishing package worth $10K that includes a $1500 cash licensing award. We are accepting query packages throughout the year for the named genres, making selections in the first half of the year by July 31, 2025 and the second half by December 31, 2025. Please review all of the submission guidelines as they are pertinent to progress through our review process.
Those Eligible
- individuals 18+ years old
- individuals of a BIPOC or underrepresented community (preferred)
- individuals able to receive cash licensing awards through PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or Payoneer
- Original authors of the unpublished work
YOUTH (adventure, fantasy, myth, sci-fi, coming-of-age)
We want fiction manuscripts from BIPOC authors to address the literature gap for BIPOC middle and high school students. We’re looking for adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, and coming-of-age stories that celebrate BIPOC culture, traditions, and history. Entries must be original, unpublished works in English, 20,000 to 50,000 words, and free of profane or sexually explicit content.
NONFICTON (Memoirs, Self-Help, Inspirational)
We are seeking full-length, nonfiction manuscripts, including memoirs, self-help, and inspirational works from BIPOC and underrepresented authors (preferred) by 12/31/2025. Must be original, unpublished books in English (50,000–100,000 words).
LITERARY FICTION (All subgenres welcomed)
We want full-length, literary fiction manuscripts from BIPOC and underrepresented authors (preferred) that highlight BIPOC and underrepresented communities, cultures, or traditions.. Must be original, unpublished books in English (50,000–100,000 words).
Upload Query Package as a single MS Word document file, titled as such TITLE_AUTHOR-NAME.
1. Query Letter
- Limit to 1 page.
- Include the author’s full contact information at the top.
2. Author Bio
- Provide relevant information about the author in 100 words or less.
- Include a professional headshot at the top of the page.
3. Book Description
- Write a description suitable for a book's back cover. Include the word count, genre/sub-genre, and details about the BIPOC and/or underrepresented communities represented in the book.
- In a second paragraph, include the target audience, a brief market analysis, comparable titles, and what makes your manuscript unique.
4. Narrative Summary or Chapter Outline
- For fiction or memoirs, include a narrative summary not exceeding 2 pages.
- For nonfiction, include a chapter outline with summaries, also not exceeding 2 pages.
5. Full Manuscript
- Submit the full manuscript as an MS Word document formatted according to submission guidelines:
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Double-spaced text with 1-inch margins
- No extra spaces between paragraphs
- Number all pages of the manuscript (upper, right preferred)
Include the following at the beginning of the manuscript:
- A title page with the author’s name and contact information
- A table of contents listing all chaptersEntries that do not adhere to guidelines will not be considered.
Only one manuscript can be made per submission form. Edit access will not be granted. Entries that do not meet the required criteria may be dismissed without notice. Entries that fulfill the requirements will receive either a successful or unsuccessful notice by July or December 31st, depending on dates of submission. YOU MAY SUBMIT ONE FILE WITH REQUIRED QUERY MATERIALS, USING THE PROPER UPLOAD FORM BELOW. Note that submission fees are nonrefundable.