Hub City Press, the publishing arm of the Hub City Writers Project, publishes books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South who have written well-crafted, high-quality works. We are committed to spotlighting lesser-heard Southern voices including: people of color, members of LGBTQ and gender diverse communities, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, as well as ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. Hub City is a small press, publishing eight to ten titles per year. In general, our publication schedule operates at least 12-18 months in advance of release.
Hub City publishes writers living in or from the South. What's the South? A complicated issue, to say the least, but the short answer for our purposes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
We accept books in the following categories.
Rolling Agent Submissions:
Literary agents may email directly to submit queries at any time.
Open Submission Periods:
Hub City Press opens for unagented manuscript submissions in March, June, September, and December. Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted to upcoming submission periods. Due to the size of our staff and the volume of queries we receive, we are unable to respond to every query.
C. Michael Curtis Short Story Book Prize (opens September -December, odd years):
This prize is judged by a chosen short story author and opens biennially from September-December. The Curtis Prize includes $5,000 and book publication, and is open to emerging writers in the above Southern states. Submitters must currently reside in the South and must have no more than one previously published book.
New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize (opens January-April, odd years):
This prize is judged by a chosen poetry author and opens biennially from January-April. The New Southern Voices Prize includes an advance of $1000 and publication, and is open to emerging writers in the above Southern states. The prize may be awarded for a first or second book of poetry.
Hub City Press BIPOC Poetry Series:
One finalist will be selected by an Editor-at-Large, for the BIPOC Poetry series, which opens from March-April. The series advance award is $3000.
South Carolina Novel Series (opens November-February, odd years):
This juried series opens biennially from November-February and is open to all novelists who are residents of the state of South Carolina. Writers are awarded $1,500 and book publication. Co-sponsored by the South Carolina Arts Commission, the South Carolina State Library and South Carolina Humanities.
What to expect from us once you have submitted:
Due to the size of our staff and the volume of queries we receive, we are unable to respond to every query. We will be in touch with you if we have interest in your work. If you have not heard back within six months of your query or your manuscript submission if we have asked for it, assume your manuscript was not a good fit for us.
All open submission opportunities are below.
Deep South Convening Application | Birmingham, AL May 24, 2025
Mission
This event convenes writers, literary nonprofits, journal publishers, book publishers, writing programs, and funders. Our aim is to listen to writers speak about what they need to thrive, understand the work that organizations and funders already do to support that goal, and synthesize findings to develop and grow bold new initiatives that nurture and embolden writers who live or work in the American South.
Rationale
The Deep South has historically lagged other regions in terms of literary infrastructure, including access to publishing houses, agents, journals, and residency programs. In an era where storytelling has the power to unite and inspire or divide and demean, our goal is to take one big step to overcoming the historical and contemporary challenges that writers in the South face while gathering and amplifying a diverse array of voices from the region.
Attendance
100 people will attend by way of invitation or application. No one will pay registration fees. Some people will receive travel stipends. Applications will be available on Submittable. Writers and organizers working in the South are encouraged to apply to attend the convening. A successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to building literary community in the South and a commitment to active participation in the convening, bringing expertise from their work in their own communities.
Organizers
- Ashley M. Jones, Poet Laureate of Alabama, Executive Director of Magic City Poetry Festival
- Meg Reid, Executive Director, Publisher, Hub City Press
- John T Edge, Developer, Greenfield Farm Writers Residency, University of Mississippi
2025 Judge: Derrick Austin
Eligibility:
Submitters must currently reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia or West Virginia and have resided there for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. (Residency will be verified before prize winner is announced.)
Submitters may have published no more than one previous book or have no more than one book under contract at another publisher.
Submitters must not be affiliated with Hub City Press or Hub City Writers Project as a staff member or volunteer or as previously published Hub City author. Close friends, relatives, students or former students of the final judge are not eligible.
Submission Guidelines:
Hub City Press will accept typed poetry manuscript submissions between January 1 and 11:59PM April 18. The winner is announced in the summer.
Manuscripts should be 48-120 pages, 12 point Times New Roman or similar typeface.
Simultaneous submissions of the same manuscript to other publishers or contests are acceptable but please notify us by email (submit@hubcity.org) if your manuscript has been accepted elsewhere.
While translations and manuscripts in languages other than English are not acceptable, manuscripts that occasionally use words from other languages are acceptable and welcome.
No revisions of submitted manuscripts will be allowed during the contest.
This contest is read blind. Do not include a bio or acknowledgements page with your manuscript. All manuscripts must be read anonymously by our readers, editors, and judge. Manuscripts should include one title page with the manuscript’s title only. You may also include a table of contents. Manuscripts that do not adhere to this guideline will be immediately eliminated.
FAQ
I have never published a collection of poetry before. Am I eligible?
Yes! The New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize is meant for emerging writers who either have never published a collection or have a maximum of one previously published poetry collection.
I was born in / grew up in / attended school in one of the 11 states listed, but have since moved away. Am I eligible?
Unfortunately, no. The contest is open only to writers currently living in the Southern states listed in the guidelines. If you don't currently live in one of those states you are ineligible for the prize. You must currently live in one of the listed Southern states and have lived there for 24 consecutive months.
I have lived in two of the listed states (for example: North and South Carolina) in the last 24 months. Am I eligible?
Yes! As long as you've lived in the South, moving between states is fine.
Questions?
If your question is not answered above, email kate@hubcity.org.