Chapbook Guidelines

Please follow guidelines carefully.  Manuscripts that deviate from these guidelines will not be read or considered. 

GENERAL

Send manuscripts for consideration only during open reading periods.  Our Chapbook Reading Period is currently closed. Our next reading period will be open August 1 - August 31, 2025.

Manuscripts are accepted via email at possibilities@redbirdchapbooks.com or via snail mail at:

Red Bird Chapbooks

75 Fifth Street West #424

St. Paul, MN 55102

Red Bird accepts simultaneous submissions.

Please send only one manuscript per genre during a reading period.

Previously published poems, stories, essays, excerpts may be included in your manuscript.  Please provide publication acknowledgements (title of poem/story/essay, where and when published) in the body of your email.  

Illustrated chapbooks are limited to 3 color images. Black and white images are unlimited.

Projects will be selected within three to six months after the reading period closes. All authors will be notified of their status within six months. If you have not heard from us after six months, please reach out via email.

Red Bird reserves the right to refuse any manuscript.

FORMAT YOUR EMAIL

1. Enter the genre and your manuscript title as your subject line.  Examples from past titles include:

Poetry - The Heart of Everything That Is

Fiction - Tree in Winter

Non Fiction - My Life as a Pencil

Hybrid: (specify genres) - Book of If & Ever

Pamphlet - Three Oranges

2. Enter your contact information, a brief bio, and any publication acknowledgements in the body of the email.  

3. Attach your manuscript as a single Word .doc or .docx file.  Manuscripts received in any other file format will not be read.  Do not paste the manuscript into the body of your email. 

4. A cover letter is not required. That said, we're a curious bunch and would love to know how you heard about us. Did you see a post about our reading period somewhere? Did a friend or colleague suggest you send us your possibility? Do you have any favorite Red Bird authors or chapbook titles? Please feel free to share these tidbits in your email when you send us your possibility.  

FORMAT YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Do not include any contact or identifying information or publication acknowledgements within your manuscript.  

Manuscripts should be between 24 - 26 pages. The Table of Contents, any section page breaks, dedication pages, etc. do count towards this 24-26 page limit.  

Tables of Contents page(s) are necessary if more than one piece of writing (poem, short story, essay, vignette, etc.) appears in the manuscript.  

Manuscripts must be formatted as Microsoft Word documents.  Use standard .doc or .docx files only. 

Remove all special formatting from your Word document before attaching it to your email.  You may use page breaks, but do not use section breaks, tables, WordArt or other special formatting within your manuscript. Do not include images in your manuscript. 

Poetry Manuscripts: Each poem should begin on a new page.

Prose Manuscripts: Each story or essay should begin on a new page. Manuscript body should be double-spaced.

Manuscripts with artwork, illustrations or images: 

• Color images are limited to 3; black and white images are unlimited

• Send artwork as separate attachments

• Images should be provided as high resolution jpeg files

• Identify image in the file name (e.g. Image 1, Image 2, etc. or a brief description of the image)

• Note placement for each image within the manuscript (e.g. by page number or the adjacent piece of writing)

• Do not include images in manuscript document

  Any questions or queries outside of designated reading periods should be emailed to admin@redbirdchapbooks.com