BOMBS accepts submissions for publishing consideration throughout the year.
submission guidelines
poetry
creative non-fiction
creative non-fiction
Poetry submissions must be electronically tendered as a PDF document and include 40-80 pages of original poems--80% of which should be unpublished. Manuscripts must also include a proposed title.
Additional guidelines are as follows:
- be typed in 11-12pt Times New Roman font or similar;
- include one poem per page—although one poem may i
Poetry submissions must be electronically tendered as a PDF document and include 40-80 pages of original poems--80% of which should be unpublished. Manuscripts must also include a proposed title.
Additional guidelines are as follows:
- be typed in 11-12pt Times New Roman font or similar;
- include one poem per page—although one poem may include multiple pages;
- be single spaced (double space between stanzas), with one-inch margins from top to bottom, left to right;
- be written in English, with a few exceptions regarding word choices where another language other than English is necessary and/or more effective; and
- be emailed to bombspublishing@gmail.com with “poetry submission” written in the subject line.
In the body of the email, please include your full name, manuscript title, and social media handle(s). If you have published elsewhere, include a list of your relevant publications, including acknowledgement of any submitted poem that was previously published. Finally, please compose a statement regarding your racial and gender identity as well as an explanation re: why you want to publish with BOMBS.
Please allow up to three months to hear back from us. If we fail to contact you within that time frame, then we have decided to pass on your project but wish you the best in finding your work a more suitable home. Any submission that fails to follow the guidelines will not be considered.
Thank you for considering BOMBS Publishing.
creative non-fiction
creative non-fiction
creative non-fiction
Creative non-fiction submissions must include a query letter along with a complete first chapter. Submissions must be electronically tendered as a PDF document.
Additional guidelines are as follows:
- be typed in 11-12pt Times New Roman font or similar;
- be double spaced, with one-inch margins from top to bottom, left to right;
- be written in
Creative non-fiction submissions must include a query letter along with a complete first chapter. Submissions must be electronically tendered as a PDF document.
Additional guidelines are as follows:
- be typed in 11-12pt Times New Roman font or similar;
- be double spaced, with one-inch margins from top to bottom, left to right;
- be written in English, with a few exceptions regarding word choices where another language other than English is necessary and/or more effective;
- include numbered pages; and
- be emailed to bombspublishing@gmail.com with “creative non-fiction submission” written in the subject line.
In the body of the email, please include your full name, manuscript title, sub-genre (memoir, essays, travel writing, or other), and social media handle(s). If you have published elsewhere, include a list of your relevant publications, too. Finally, please compose a statement regarding your racial and gender identity as well as an explanation re: why you want to publish with BOMBS.
Please allow up to three months to hear back from us. If we fail to contact you within that time frame, then we have decided to pass on your project but wish you the best in finding your work a more suitable home. Any submission that fails to follow the guidelines will not be considered.
Thank you for considering BOMBS Publishing.
children's books
creative non-fiction
children's books
Children's book submissions must be electronically tendered as a PDF document and include illustrations. [Note: BOMBS accepts only picture books (3-8 yrs) and early readers (5-9yrs.)]
Additional guidelines are as follows:
- be typed in 11-12pt Times New Roman font or similar;
- be doubled spaced, with one-inch margins from top to bottom, left
Children's book submissions must be electronically tendered as a PDF document and include illustrations. [Note: BOMBS accepts only picture books (3-8 yrs) and early readers (5-9yrs.)]
Additional guidelines are as follows:
- be typed in 11-12pt Times New Roman font or similar;
- be doubled spaced, with one-inch margins from top to bottom, left to right;
- include high resolution images (at least 300 dpi);
- be written in English, with a few exceptions regarding word choices where another language other than English is necessary and/or more effective; and
- be emailed to bombspublishing@gmail.com with “children's book submission” written in the subject line.
Note: BOMBS Publishing currently does not have partnering illustrators; therefore, children's book authors must use their own illustrators and sort out any contractual agreements with them. BOMBS Publishing is responsible for author royalties only.
In the body of the email, please include your full name, manuscript title, book's targeted age range, and social media handle(s). If you have published elsewhere, include a list of your relevant publications, too. Finally, please compose a statement regarding your racial and gender identity as well as an explanation re: why you want to publish with BOMBS.
Please allow up to three months to hear back from us. If we fail to contact you within that time frame, then we have decided to pass on your project but wish you the best in finding your work a more suitable home. Any submission that fails to follow the guidelines will not be considered.
Thank you for considering BOMBS Publishing.
the clutch collection summer chapbook contest guidelines
Submission Period
Opens: May 1
Closes: June 30
Winner Announced: August
Eligibility
- Open to Black women writers, 21 years and older
- Emerging and established writers are welcome
- International submissions accepted (English-language manuscripts only)
Genres Accepted
- Poetry
- Prose (fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid forms)
- Poetry and prose, in the same manuscript
[Note: Accompanying graphics are welcomed and should be included in the 15 page limit.]
Manuscript Guidelines
- Poetry: 15 pages
- Prose: 5,000 -7,000 words
- Manuscripts must be previously unpublished as a full collection
- Individual pieces may have been published elsewhere
- Include a title page with the manuscript title only (no author name)
- Submit as a single PDF or DOCX file
- Use a standard, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt)
Submission Fee
$12 non-refundable submission fee per entry
Pay Submission Fee Below
Each entry requires a non-refundable $12 submission fee that can be paid at the payment button below. Be sure to include your full name and manuscript title with your payment.
Prize
The winning author will receive:
- 10 copies of her published chapbook
- An exclusive interview published on our website
- Publication and distribution of the winning chapbook
Judging
- All submissions are read blind
- Judges’ decisions are final
Notification
- The winner will be notified by email in August
- Due to the volume of submissions, only the winning author will be contacted
Rights
- Authors retain all rights to their individual work
- The press retains first publication rights for the winning chapbook
Additional Information
- Multiple submissions are allowed with separate fees
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted; please notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere
- No refunds for withdrawn submissions
- No AI-generated submissions are permitted
“I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.”
Audre Lorde
