We are interested in memoir and personal essay collections that blend style with substance and reach beyond the personal to tell us something new about the world.

We want nonfiction that makes the reader think and feel, work that humbles us with its joy, humor, embarrassment, anger, hope, grief, or all of the above, and gravitate toward writing that has something important to teach us--something that readers really need to know, but might not have understood this was a need until the last word of the work.



We are interested in work that explores the depths of the human experience and show appreciation for and commitment to the art of nonfiction. We admire books that have important stories to tell and fresh, bold methods of telling them. Character-driven, lyric, immersive work is likely to catch our eye. Please see individual editor biographical statements for more detailed information on our person aesthetic predilections.

We do not have a strict word count. However, as we are a small, fully independent press staffed entirely by volunteers, any books over 100,000 words are less likely to be feasible for us at this time. All submissions have a fee of $10, which help us to maintain the press. As outlined here, we have a number of feedback options, including Expedited Response, Personal Feedback, and Editorial Critique. We answer all submissions, and will do our best to reply within eight weeks. 
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We accept simultaneous submissions; please mention this in the initial query letter. Please also let us know straightway if your project has been either accepted for publication or if you have received a request for the full manuscript elsewhere. All submissions are first read by our readers, as well as Director of Prose, and are evaluated without regard to background, biography, or other considerations. Excerpts are read first, with the supporting information used to aid decisions afterward. Our  editorial staff then considers those submissions encountered favorably by our readers, and from there a collective decision is made to either request the full manuscript or to pass on the project. All manuscripts requested in full will be read promptly by the editorial team, and responded to as soon as possible.
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When submitting, please include:

-An excerpt containing the first 7,000 words of your manuscript, ending at a natural break in the narrative (going very slightly over the word limit, if strictly necessary, is permissible).
-A traditional query letter, comprising a general narrative introduction to your book, 2-4 comparable titles, a brief third-person bio of approximately 100 words, and a note as to why you are sending your work to IOE.
-A synopsis of 1-2 pages, outlining the characters, situation, narrative arc, progression, themes, conflicts, resolutions, and overall conclusion (complete with spoilers). Note that there may be some overlap​ between the synopsis (a more detailed document) and the introductory portion of the query letter.​​

General Formatting Guidelines
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• All submissions should be in Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, one-inch margins.
  
• Please include page numbers.
  
• We can only consider work written in English, but welcome British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English in addition to American English.
  
• Please proofread and only send us polished, completed work.

We are looking for full-length collections of poems that perform Olympic feats with language that leave a reader in wonder while still referring back to the basic things that make us human. We want powerful imagery and enjoy the juxtaposition of images in interesting and unexpected ways.

We want poems that make the reader think and feel, work that humbles us with its joy, humor, embarrassment, anger, hope, grief, or all of the above, and gravitate toward writing that has something important to teach us--something that readers really need to know, but might not have understood this was a need until the last word of the work.
​​

• Submit full-length manuscripts of minimum of 60 pages paginated consecutively with a table of contents.
  
• Include a cover page with a clear title of the work.
  
• Please single space poems.  
• Include a cover letter that describes your work that also includes a short 3rd person biography of no more than 150 words. 
  
• If your work is a simultaneous submission, please let us know immediately if it is published elsewhere. 
• Writers may not submit more than once per calendar year.​
  

​​General Formatting Guidelines
​

• All submissions should be in Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, one-inch margins.
  
• Please include page numbers.
  
• We can only consider work written in English, but welcome British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English in addition to American English.
  
• Please proofread and only send us polished, completed work. Submit as a Microsoft Word or a .pdf file.

When submitting, please include:
 

• An excerpt containing the first 7,000 words of your manuscript, ending at a natural break in the narrative (going very slightly over the word limit, if strictly necessary, is permissible).
• A traditional query letter, comprising a general narrative introduction to your book, 2-4 comparable titles, a brief third-person bio of approximately 100 words, and a note as to why you are sending your work to Iron Oak Editions.
• A synopsis of 1-2 pages, outlining the characters, situation, narrative arc, progression, themes, conflicts, resolutions, and overall conclusion (complete with spoilers). Note that there may be some overlap​ between the synopsis (a more detailed document) and the introductory portion of the query letter.​​
• We accept simultaneous submissions; please mention this in the initial query letter. Please also let us know straightway if your project has been either accepted for publication or if you have received a request for the full manuscript elsewhere.

 
General Formatting Guidelines
 

• ​We only consider literary fiction (no genre submissions) either novel or short story collections.
• All submissions should be in Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, one-inch margins.
• Please include page numbers.
• We can only consider work written in English, but welcome British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English in addition to American English.
• Please proofread and only send us polished, completed work.

Why IOE Critiques Are Beneficial:
 

• Objective Perspective:  Editors provide a fresh, unbiased perspective of a writer's work by identifying areas for improvement that a writer may overlook because of their closeness to the material.
   
• Save Time and Energy: Receiving developmental feedback from an editor allows writers to focus their creative strengths by leaving the refinement process to a professional making the journey to the finished piece more efficient.
• Effective Preparation for Publication: Having a well-edited and polished manuscript increases a writer's chances of securing representation from agents or publishers.
• Maximizes Market Potential: By addressing potential issues in the developmental stage, writers can increase the marketability and sales potential of their work.

The Iron Oak Editions editorial staff offers critiques of both small and longer manuscripts (both poetry and prose).  Cost varies based on manuscript length. See details below. 

You can message us to be invoiced via PayPal or Critique payment can be made at our "shop" link at our website.  (Home (ironoakeditions.com) Submissions for critique without payment at our website shop will be withdrawn.

If you'd like an invoice sent to you vial Paypal, or a quote for short story or small number of poems, contact Ken Harmon at admin@ironoakeditions.com. 

Manuscripts uploaded to our Submittable account without the correct corresponding payment submitted to our website or Paypal will not be read.

Prose Manuscript Editorial Critique

Benefits of a Prose Critique:
 

• Improved Structure and Flow: An editor helps ensure a cohesive structure, logical pacing, and engaging transitions between scenes
   
• Address Plot Holes: Editors can identify inconsistencies and plot holes that may confuse readers and detract from the overall story.
   
• Enhance Character Development: Editors can reveal areas where characters my need more depth or clarity, making them more relatable and believable.

Novels, Short Story Collections, & Creative Non-Fiction

Editorial Critique is a more substantial option for those who wish to receive detailed feedback on the strengths and weakness of a manuscript, with an emphasis on areas of focus in future revision. Each Critique submission will be read and replied to by one of our Editors, who will write an editorial letter based on their read and evaluation of your work. The letter will consider a range of fictive elements, including but not limited to narrative perspective, character, dialogue, language, structure, setting, themes, and composition. The editor will focus on areas of the manuscript that represented the biggest obstacles to engagement, and the aspects which ultimately kept us from offering publication.

         In this way, the letter is designed to be a document offering specific and actionable guidance for future revision towards publication of the project elsewhere. The letter may include other work to consult as influences and considerations of theory, criticism, and/or craft. The letter will be a sophisticated read of your work by one of our editors, based on their individual background, knowledge, and approach. As part of your submission, you have the option to direct your covering letter to a specific editor. Please note we cannot guarantee that this will be the staff member to provide feedback on your work, but we will do our best. If you have a second choice, feel free to list that information in your letter. See specifics below.


Info & Pricing for Prose Editorial Critiques (Developmental Edits):

    • "Vibe Check" for the first 10 pages of a book or first chapter (or an individual short story or essay); $10 per page; contact Ken Harmon at admin@ironoakeditions for your personalized invoice. Payment available via Paypal or Stripe. Please mention the email associated with your Paypal or Stripe account in your message.


After making payment, upload your manuscript to Submittable as a double-spaced MS Word document.


For each of the following, visit our website shop to make payment via Stripe or Paypal:

• First 50 pages of your manuscript, with an editorial letter of between 5-7 pages: $600; (approx. 4 week turnaround)
• First 100 pages of your manuscript, with an editorial letter of between 8-10 pages: $1000 (approx. 6 week turnaround)
• Full read of a manuscript under 100,000 words, with an editorial letter of between 10-12 pages: $1500 (approx. 8 week turnaround)
• Full read of a manuscript over 100,000 words, with an editorial letter of between 10-12 pages: $2000 (approximate 10 week turnaround)



Feedback for Poetry:

Benefits of a Poetry Critique:

• Enhanced Clarity and Coherence: Editors can help poets refine their language and structure to ensure that a poem's message is clear and coherent.
• Improved Imagery and Symbolism: Editors can suggest ways to strengthen imagery and symbolism, making the work more impactful and engaging
• Refined Lanugage and Style: Editors can help poets polish language, rhythm, and line breaks to create a more refined piece.

Editorial Critiques for Individual Poems:   Writers may also request editorial critiques of individual poems that may not be part of book project for $18 per page. This will include an editorial overview for each piece as well as individual comments for individual lines. Contact Ken Harmon at admin@ironoakeditions.com for an invoice.  Payment available via Paypal or Stripe.

Poetry Book Manuscript Editorial Critique
 

-Up to 10 pages of poetry book project:  $180 (approx. 2 week turnaround); comments on individual poems and one page editorial letter
    -Up to 20 pages of poetry book project:  $360 (approx. 3 week turnaround); comments on individual poems and 2 page editorial letter
    -Up to 40 pages of poetry book project:  $820 (approx. 5 week turnaround); comments on individual poems and 4 page editorial letter
    -Up to 60 pages of poetry book project:  $1180 (appox. 6 week turnaround); comments on individual poems and 6 page editorial letter
    -Full manuscript (up to 80 pages of poetry): $1540 (approx. 8 week turnaround); comments on individual poems and 8 page editorial letter


After making payment at our website store Home (ironoakeditions.com), upload your manuscript to Submitiittable.  Payment is available for all major credit cards (MC, Visa, Amex, Discover) when you select Stripe, and you can make payment via Paypal as well)