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Submissions

Open for submissions! Poetry AND BEYOND!

1 November – 30 November 2026

Do not send your manuscript outside of these dates. We will not read work or reply to emails submitted outside of the submission period.

ABOUT DRYAD PRESS

Dryad Press is an award-winning independent South African press that publishes literature that unsettles and surprises: in form, language, and idea. We love books that prompt readers to reflect on experiences of the world in new ways.

Since 2016, Dryad Press has published contemporary South African poetry collections by both new and established writers. We have curated award- winning poetry collections, several supported by funding from the National Arts Council.

This year, submissions are open to a wider range of genres and modes than poetry. Yes, we still want your poetry. But we also welcome short story collections, memoir and creative non-fiction.

Our last open submission period attracted more than 80 manuscripts and led to the publication of Zero Summer by poet, literary critic and academic Simon van Schalkwyk, a debut collection, Magnitude by poet and academic Deborah Seddon, a further debut collection Fluent in the Language of Burial by cultural activist Thando Fuze, and Sarah Uheida’s Ingrid Jonker winning poetry collection Not This Tender.

Before you submit, familiarise yourself with Dryad’s books. Visit our online bookstore. Buy a few titles. We are running a fabulous special offer of 25% off for the month of November.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS

WHAT TO SUBMIT?

Poetry Collection

Submit a poetry manuscript where the poems have been arranged as a coherent collection, possibly with titled sub-sections. Do not send 50 random, unrelated poems.

Short Story Collection

Submit a short story manuscript where the stories have been organised into a coherent collection. Stories may be of different types (eg realist, speculative fiction, experimental), and they may or may not be connected (eg by theme, form, geography, character). We do not accept individual short stories.

Memoir

Submit a memoir manuscript that is more than just chronological life storying.  The writing must show imaginative use of ideas and language to explore relationships with interlinked life elements such as memory, identity, voice, place, community, history, culture and experience.

Creative Non-Fiction

We get that creative non-fiction is varied, so your manuscript may be a collection of personal essays, a literary biography, a travel account, nature writing, or a hybrid, genre-blurring textual experiment. Still, the manuscript must show that the quality of the writing is as important to the writer as the subject being explored. (Do not submit an academic monograph, textbook, or instructional manual.)

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Include the following in your email sent to subs@dryadpress.co.za:

1. A covering letter/email with:

  • your full name and contact details;
  • the title of the manuscript;
  • the category in which you are submitting;
  • links to your website, social media or other relevant professional platforms, if applicable.
  • confirmation that the manuscript is complete.

Do not provide a synopsis or explanation of what your manuscript is about. We want to read the work without being directed towards a particular interpretation.

2. A short biography which gives relevant information about yourself:
Your educational or professional background, previous publications and literary awards, if applicable. If you are new to publishing, do not worry. Previous publication or literary awards are not requirements for submission. Simply tell us who you are.

3. Your complete manuscript:
Submit the complete manuscript as one document in either .doc, .docx or .pdf format.
Use a standard, readable font such as 12-point Times New Roman or Arial. Do not use decorative or gimmicky fonts. Number the pages.
If the visual arrangement of the text is integral to the work, ensure that this is clearly evident in the manuscript.

4. Proof of payment:
Include proof of payment of the submission fee.

MANUSCRIPT LENGTHS

The following word counts are guidelines. They indicate the approximate length we generally expect for a complete, book-length manuscript. Manuscripts that fall somewhat below or above these ranges will nevertheless be considered where the length is appropriate to the work.

Poetry: Approximately 60–70 pages. Most Dryad Press poetry collections contain approximately 40–50 poems.

Short-story collections, memoir, creative non-fiction and multidisciplinary works: Approximately 50,000–70,000 words.

LANGUAGE

Manuscripts should be predominantly written in English. 

We welcome the inclusion of South African languages and other languages where this forms an integral part of the work. Where necessary, authors should provide translations or sufficient contextual information to allow the manuscript to be properly considered.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORK

We accept manuscripts containing individual works that have previously appeared in literary journals, magazines, anthologies or online publications, provided that this is clearly acknowledged in the manuscript.

For poetry collections, previously published individual poems should be identified. For short-story collections, previously published stories should be identified. For collections of essays or creative non-fiction, previously published essays or other pieces should likewise be acknowledged.

The manuscript as a whole must not previously have been published as a book, including through self-publication or digital publication.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary rights to submit and subsequently publish any previously published material incorporated into the manuscript.

ORIGINALITY AND AI-GENERATED WORK

Dryad Press publishes work that is conceived and written by human authors.

We do not accept manuscripts or creative work that has been generated, substantially rewritten or materially developed by generative artificial intelligence (AI), including ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools.

This prohibition includes the use of generative AI to produce, substantially rewrite, translate or materially alter poems, stories, memoir, essays or other creative writing submitted for publication.

Authors may use ordinary spelling, grammar and formatting tools, but the creative work itself must be the author’s own.

By submitting a manuscript, an author confirms that the work is their own original creative work and that it has not been materially generated or developed using AI.

Failure to comply with this requirement may result in a manuscript being withdrawn from consideration or, where discovered after acceptance, the publication offer being withdrawn.

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS

We accept simultaneous submissions. If your manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere while it is under consideration by Dryad Press, please notify us immediately and withdraw your submission.

SUBMISSION FEE

A Submission Fee of R250 per manuscript will be charged. The submission fee enables Dryad Press to refer shortlisted manuscripts to independent readers with appropriate expertise in the relevant literary field. It does not guarantee publication or inclusion on the shortlist.

Each manuscript constitutes a separate submission and requires a separate submission fee.

WHO MAY SUBMIT?

We welcome submissions from South African writers and writers whose work engages meaningfully with South African experiences, histories, cultures, languages and places whether within the country, or in the wider South African diaspora. Writers must be South African citizens, nationals or permanent residents of South Africa. We welcome submissions from writers at every stage of their literary careers. Previous publication is not a prerequisite for submission.

OUR READING PROCESS

  • Every complete manuscript submitted during the open submission period will be read and considered.
  • Manuscripts that are shortlisted for further consideration may be referred by Dryad Press to an independent expert with appropriate expertise in the relevant field.
  • This additional reading process may take several months. We ask for your patience while we give shortlisted manuscripts the careful consideration they deserve.
  • We aim to respond to all submissions within three months of the closing date. If you have not heard from us after this period, you are welcome to contact us at subs@dryadpress.co.za.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • Submissions will only be accepted during the advertised open submission period. Manuscripts sent outside this period will not be read.
  • We do not accept incomplete manuscripts, proposals, excerpts or works in progress.
  • We do not accept postal submissions.
  • Submissions must be sent by email to subs@dryadpress.co.za.
  • Dryad Press reserves the right not to publish any of the manuscripts received during the submission period.
  • Successful manuscripts will be published in the manner, format and length that Dryad Press considers appropriate.
  • We are unable to provide individual editorial feedback or advice on manuscripts that are not selected for publication.
  • Please do not contact us to discuss book concepts or ideas before submitting.
  • We cannot guarantee that manuscripts that fall outside our stated guidelines will be considered.

 

Above all, please submit work that you believe in, that has been carefully revised and that you consider ready for publication.

We look forward to reading your work!