Treating each book as a work of art, Unleash Press publishes a limited number of single-author manuscripts each year, along with themed anthologies and resource books.

Our mission as a holistic arts organization is to champion authentic storytellers and unleash the power of creativity across diverse communities. We publish a select number of books, curate an online literary journal, and support writers through our Work in Progress (WIP) Award.


The Unleash team provides generative and editorial services, workshops, and coaching, while cultivating partnerships within and beyond the literary world to share the freedom and joy of storytelling with all.

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Unleash Press

Writers are invited to submit novels, short story collections and creative nonfiction manuscripts. The winner receives a publication contract with Unleash Press and $1000 prize, along with 10 printed copies of the final book.

Unleash Press Book Prize

General call

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We aim to assist writers in completing an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to support the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will receive a coaching call, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit.
Our previous winners and finalists are listed here.
This contest is designed to support writers who are just starting or have been toiling away but need a little boost to keep going.
The Unleash Board of Directors will select the winner and provide individual support and mentorship.
​Guidelines:
Submit up to the first 25 pages of your WIP (.doc, .docx) and answers to the following questions in the same document:
Who are you as a creative person, and what is your creative vision? (No CV or resumes here)
Who is your intended audience for this project, and why?
​Entries will be judged on originality, emotional resonance, and the author’s vision of the work they'd like to create. Please keep your name off all attachments. Share who you are as a creative, without disclosing your name.
Submissions will be accepted until July 15, 2026.
There are no refunds if you withdraw a submission.
Multiple submissions may be submitted as separate applications.
Please leave all identifying information off of the manuscript.
The maximum length of a sample from your manuscript is 25 pages double-spaced.
Genres accepted include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and experimental/hybrid.
If guidelines are not followed, the manuscript will be automatically rejected (e.g., including identifying information on the manuscript).
Previously self-published works are accepted.
Previously traditionally published works are only accepted if the author received little to no support.
We abide by the CLMP Code of Ethics and pledge
to conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors;
to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—define conflict of interest for all parties involved, and
to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. Namely, submissions are read without identifying information (see guidelines). All manuscripts are evaluated by at least two raters/readers.

Unleash Press

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Unleash Press Book Prize