Manuscript Submissions
We Only Publish One Book Per Quarter
By limiting what we publish, we give every book — and every author — our full devotion.
Submissions open December 1, 2026 and close February 1, 2027. Do not send work before the open date — unsolicited submissions will be discarded unopened.
What We're Looking For
Darkness That Deepens the Story
We seek work in which the darkness serves the story — evocative prose, distinctive voices, and haunting worlds where complicated characters are shaped by secrets, longing, and folklore.
What We Are Not Looking For
Unsaintly is not the right home for stories that rely solely on shock, cruelty, or excessive violence. While dark content and disturbing subject matter are welcome when they serve the story, we are not seeking works whose primary purpose is to disgust or escalate brutality. We are far more interested in a story that unsettles the soul than one that merely turns the stomach.
Accepted Formats
Word Count & Format Requirements
Short Stories
2,000 – 14,999 wordsStandalone stories or those that may become part of a larger world or collection. Strong atmosphere, compelling characters, and emotional resonance are valued over body counts and shock value.
Novellas
15,000 – 50,000 wordsImmersive novellas that embrace gothic sensibilities, folklore, haunted places, tragic characters, and unforgettable settings.
Novels
50,000 – 120,000 wordsStories that transport readers completely into another world — contemporary, historical, fantastical, or supernatural. The story should create an experience readers carry long after the final page.
Collections
30,000+ wordsSingle-author collections of short stories, novellas, or interconnected tales. Collections should possess a cohesive voice, theme, atmosphere, or narrative thread that binds the work together.
Submission Guidelines
The Guidelines Are Not Requests
If you are serious about your work, then you are serious about submitting properly.
Standard Manuscript Format
12-point readable font, double-spaced, DOCX preferred.
Author Biography
Include a brief author biography with your submission.
Pitch Document
Novellas, novels, and collections must include a short pitch of 500 words or fewer.
Submission Window
Do not submit outside of the open dates. Work submitted early will be discarded before it is opened.
One Book Per Quarter
We publish one title per quarter. This allows us to give every release an aggressive, focused marketing effort.
Series Rights
If you plan to write a series and publish with us, we will request first rights to keep the collection together.
What to Expect
After You Submit
Acknowledgement
You will receive a confirmation that your submission was received during the open window.
Review Period
All submissions are reviewed after the window closes on February 1, 2027. Please allow adequate time for a thorough read.
Response
We respond to every submission. If your work is not the right fit, you will receive a respectful reply.
Ready to Submit?
Submissions Open December 1, 2026
Use the form below when the window opens. Until then, use this time to polish your manuscript and ensure it meets every guideline.
Submissions open December 1, 2026
scriptorium@unsaintly.com