Mountain State Press uses a form for entering query information for your manuscript. We prefer
you do not send the whole manuscript. The board and outside readers we contact evaluate the
queries to see if the Press would like to request more materials. Typically, we ask for three (3)
chapter samples.
When we ask for more materials or full manuscripts, please send via email attachment. Please do
not send via snail mail. The format should be as follows: Times New Roman, 12 point font,
single-spaced. Please include name and contact info on the document and the word count. We
consider full manuscripts of at least 30,000 words. We accept a Word document or a PDF.
Indicate if the manuscript is complete or in progress. We prefer not to receive any manuscript if
the contents has been published more than 30% (this usually applies to essay collections).
Mountain State Press prefers to publish fiction: literary and contemporary, short story collections
and also creative nonfiction, such as memoir and collections of personal essays. We do not
publish children’s books or erotica. We may consider genre fiction, written in a literary style.
Response times can vary greatly. This is an all-volunteer press, so readings can take a while. You
are welcome to query as to a response three (3) months after submission of your query.
Mountain State Press is a 501 (c) (3) traditional, literary press. We are not a hybrid or vanity
press.