LITERARY NONFICTION

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

We are drawn to original, ambitious, unapologetically intelligent, and culturally resonant projects across the full spectrum of literary nonfiction. In particular, we are interested in writing that is complex, nuanced, and multi-layered. At the same time, we value clarity of vision, texture, risk-taking, and international resonance. We also love projects that explore horizons beyond the obvious and go beyond conventional standards, weaving narrative with philosophy, theory, criticism, oral history, archival research, visual material, and other elements. Regardless of content or subject-matter, we put a premium on literary nonfiction that plays with or pushes the boundaries of form, style, and content, including work that foregrounds technical, conceptual, and narrative experimentation. More than any theme or aesthetic approach, our central concern is with literary and artistic excellence.

We welcome all forms of literary nonfiction, including narrative nonfiction, literary memoir, essay, criticism, creative-critical writing, narrative journalism, and literary biography. Please note that we are not looking for straightforward scholarly or rhetorical nonfiction.

EXAMPLES OF OUR TASTE IN THIS CATEGORY

These are some examples of literary nonfiction we gravitate towards:

‣ Known and Strange Things by Teju Cole
‣ The Naked Don’t Fear the Water by Matthieu Aikins
‣ Surrender by Joanna Pocock
‣ Counterpoint by Philip Kennicott
‣ The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
‣ H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
‣ The Reactor by Nick Blackburn
‣ My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland
‣ Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges
‣ Lunch With a Bigot by Amitava Kumar
‣ Three Rings by Daniel Mendelsohn
‣ A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt
‣ Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman
‣ Love’s Work by Gillian Rose

HOW TO MAKE A SUBMISSION

To learn more about how to submit your work for consideration, please visit this page.