Question 1

The 2026 Open Reading Period in Poetry is now closed. We reached our cap. We'll open again next year!

Accepted Answer

YesYes Books holds an annual Open Reading Period for full-length poetry manuscripts. Collections by a single author as well as collaborative manuscripts are eligible for submission. Beginning December 28, 2025 you are invited to Submit here! 
 
Details and Instructions:
• Submission period is December 28, 2025 through March 15, 2026 or until submission cap of 500 is reached. Cap was reached in 2023, 2024, and 2025 so we recommend submitting early!
• All submissions must be made through our Submittable system.
• The reading fee is $25. If your manuscript was on the short list or long list in the Open Reading Period in Poetry in a prior year, you are invited to email KMA at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com for a free submission link.
• Manuscripts must include 48-120 numbered pages of poetry and a table of contents. An acknowledgments page is not required but can be included.
• A brief bio in the cover letter is optional. 
• Manuscript revisions are not allowed during the Open Reading Period. You are welcome to withdraw and resubmit a revised manuscript but it will require an additional reading fee.
• Simultaneous submissions are fine (of course!), just let us know if your manuscript is picked up elsewhere by withdrawing and offering a note in the Submittable system.

Full Length publication with YYB comes with the following:
$1000 advance toward royalties
40 author copies
15%-25% royalties
$500 toward tour expense
 
Email us at info@yesyesbooks.com if you have additional questions.
Thank you for considering YesYes Books for your work. We look forward to reading your manuscript!
 
KMA Sullivan
Publisher, YesYes Books

Question 2

Our 2026 Vinyl 45 Chapbook Prize is now closed. Check back next year!

Accepted Answer

The Vinyl 45 Chapbook Contest is open to poetry, prose, and mixed genre chapbook manuscripts, 20-25 pages in length including title page and table of contents. Collaborative manuscripts are eligible for submission. Submissions are open from May 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 or until submission cap of 400 is reached. Submit here!  
 
Details:
Entry fee is $20. If your manuscript was a semifinalist or finalist in the Vinyl 45 Contest in a prior year, you are invited to email KMA at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com for a free submission link.
The manuscript may include pieces that have been published previously, but the manuscript as a whole must be unpublished.
Simultaneous submissions are fine (indeed, expected), but entries should be withdrawn immediately if accepted elsewhere. The entry fee will not be refunded.
Once submitted, manuscripts may not be revised during the reading period without a complete withdrawal and resubmission which would include the payment of a new entry fee. You may enter the contest as many times as you like, but each entry will require its own separate entry fee.
Your manuscript must be a single Word doc, docx, or PDF. Please include a title page and table of contents (if applicable). We prefer paginated submissions. Please check that your name, email address, and other contact information does not appear anywhere in the document, including on the title page. Do not include publication acknowledgments.
 
Winner will receive the following:
Publication by YesYes Books
A limited edition print run of 400
$500 prize
50 author copies
An additional $250 toward tour expenses
 
Additionally, at least 2 Finalists will receive the following:
Much sincere public congratulations for being finalists
Possible publication by YesYes Books (if a Finalist is chosen for publication the contestant will receive all of the items listed above except for the $500 prize). YesYes Books does not guarantee publication of any Finalists.

The Winner and Finalists will be chosen by KMA Sullivan, YesYes Books Publisher, and the fantastic YesYes Books editorial staff. 
 
Email me at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com if you have additional questions.
 
Thank you for considering YesYes Books. We look forward to reading your submissions!
 
KMA Sullivan,
Publisher, YesYes Books

Question 3

Our 2026 Open Reading Period in Fiction is now open!

Accepted Answer

YesYes Books will open the Open Reading Period in Fiction on June 1st, 2026! This year we are looking exclusively for short story collections (150-250 pages) and novellas (60-120 page). Collaborative manuscripts are eligible for submission. We consider manuscripts in a broad range of genre and narrative style but in general we desire fiction of strong voice and ebullient ingenious imagination. Think Kelly Link, N.K. Jemisin, Noy Holland, Michael Cunningham, Terry Pratchett, Nnedi Okorafor, and Shirley Jackson. We reserve the right not to choose a manuscript but plan to publish at least one fiction manuscript from each ORP.  Submit here! 
 
Details and Instructions:
• Submission period is June 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 or sooner if submission cap of 300 is reached.
• All submissions must be made through our Submittable system.
• The Reading Fee is $25. If your manuscript was included on the short list or long list in the Open Reading Period in Fiction in a prior year, you are invited to email KMA at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com for a free submission link.
• Submit an excerpt consisting of up to 30 pages of your novella or short story collection. You may include a cover letter with a summary of the project as a whole (not more than two pages) but such a cover letter is not required. Revisions are not allowed during submission period. You are welcome to withdraw and resubmit a revised sample but it will require an additional submission fee.
• A brief bio in the cover letter is optional. 
• Simultaneous submissions are fine (of course!), just let us know if your manuscript is picked up elsewhere by putting a note in the Submittable system and withdrawing though the system.
• Longlisted manuscripts will be identified in the early fall and those authors will be given two months to submit full manuscripts. Publication offers will be determined after this point.

Publication with YYB comes with the following:
$1000 advance toward royalties
40 author copies
15%-25% royalties
$500 toward tour expense
 
Email me at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com if you have additional questions.
Thank you for considering YesYes Books for your work. We look forward to reading your manuscript!
 
KMA Sullivan
Publisher, YesYes Books

Question 4

The 2026 Pamet River Prize is now open!

Accepted Answer

The Pamet River Prize is a nomination-based contest open to first or second full-length books of poetry or prose by woman-identifying writers, gender-queer writers, and native writers. You may nominate your own work or the work of others during the nomination period. Submit here!

Details and Instructions: 
• The nomination period is June 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026 but may close earlier if the nomination cap of 300 is reached.
• All nominations must be made through our Submittable system.
• Nomination fee is $20. If you were a semifinalist or finalist in the Pamet River Prize in a prior year, you are invited to email KMA at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com for a free submission link.
• Please provide a cover letter with name, contact information, and a brief bio of the writer whose work is being nominated. If you are nominating the work of a writer other than yourself, you are welcome to include some words regarding why you are nominating the work of this particular writer—though such testimony is not required. If you are nominating your own work (which we also strongly encourage), along with your brief bio you may include a few words on your full-length project—again, this is not required. Max word count for bio and statement is 250 words total.
• Submit a sample consisting of a) 10 poems, b) a single story, c) a single essay, or d) a section of a novella, memoir, or short novel. Maximum length of sample is 20 pages. 
• Sample revisions are not allowed during nomination period. You are welcome to withdraw and resubmit the sample but it will require an additional fee. 
• Semi-finalists chosen from nominated samples will be invited to submit full manuscripts. They will be given two months from invitation to send in their full manuscripts.

Winner of the Pamet River Prize receives the following:
$1000 Prize
40 author copies
15%-25% royalties
$500 toward tour expense
 
YYB may also offer publication to manuscripts beyond the winner. Those authors will receive everything listed above, but the $1000 mentioned above will be an advance toward royalties. 
 
The winner, finalists, and semifinalists are chosen by KMA Sullivan, YesYes Books Publisher, and by YesYes Books editorial staff and readers.
 
Email me at kmasullivan@yesyesbooks.com if you have additional questions.
 
Thank you for considering YesYes Books. We look forward to reading your nominations!
 
KMA Sullivan,
Publisher, YesYes Books

Question 5

We are looking for Assistant Editors in Poetry, Fiction, and Communications!

Accepted Answer

It's been a long time since we have had an editor call. We hope you will put your hat in the ring!

We are looking for three Assistant Editors, one each in Poetry, Fiction, and Communications. Go to our Submittable page to apply. We will be open to applications until July 31 in each category or until cap of 30 is met. 
-KMA

Assistant Editor, Poetry
Experience
Knowledge and love of contemporary poetry as demonstrated through training, publication, prior editorial experience, and, most importantly, extensive reading. BFA/MFA and publications not required.
Responsibilities
·      Read and vote on poetry submissions
·      Assist with publication and distribution logistics for poetry titles
·      Attend monthly All-Hands phone call or Zoom (never longer than an hour)
·      Assist with other areas of the organization as needs and interest indicate
Time Commitment
·      3-5 hours per week (flexible as life happens)
Benefits
This is, generally speaking, a volunteer position, but we have a few things to offer.
·      An honorarium of $300 twice per year (January and July). Increased to $600 twice per year after successful first year.
·      Some assistance with AWP costs: registration (unless otherwise covered by school etc.), $200 reimbursement toward other AWP costs.
·      BOOKS and YYB Swag (Have you seen our gorgeous tote that is only for YYB authors and editors?!)
·      Profuse thanks and appreciation!
 
 
Assistant Editor, Fiction
Experience
Knowledge and love of contemporary fiction as demonstrated through training, publication, prior editorial experience, and, most importantly, extensive reading. BFA/MFA and publications not required.
Responsibilities
·      Read and vote on fiction submissions
·      Assist with publication and distribution logistics for fiction and mixed genre titles
·      Attend monthly All-Hands phone call or Zoom (never longer than an hour)
·      Assist with other areas of the organization as needs and interest indicate
Time Commitment
·      3-5 hours per week (flexible as life happens)
Benefits
This is, generally speaking, a volunteer position, but we have a few things to offer.
·      An honorarium of $300 twice per year (January and July). Increased to $600 twice per year after successful first year.
·      Some assistance with AWP costs: registration (unless otherwise covered by school etc.), $200 reimbursement toward other AWP costs.
·      BOOKS and YYB Swag (Have you seen our gorgeous tote that is only for YYB authors and editors?!)
·      Profuse thanks and appreciation!
 
 
Assistant Editor, Communications
Experience
Prior experience in some aspect of social media/publicity and skills in rhetoric. Writing sample will be part of application.
Responsibility
·      Write monthly newsletter
·      Update “News” on website
·      Manage correspondence with review/interview venues
·      Attend monthly All-Hands phone call or Zoom (never longer than an hour)
·      Assist with other areas of the organization as needs and interest indicate
Time Commitment
·      3-5 hours per week (flexible as life happens)
Benefits
This is, generally speaking, a volunteer position, but we have a few things to offer.
·      An honorarium of $300 twice per year (January and July). Increased to $600 twice per year after successful first year.
·      Some assistance with AWP costs: registration (unless otherwise covered by school etc.), $200 reimbursement toward other AWP costs.
·      BOOKS and YYB Swag (Have you seen our gorgeous tote that is only for YYB authors and editors?!)
·      Profuse thanks and appreciation!

Submit

The 2026 Open Reading Period in Poetry is now closed. We reached our cap. We'll open again next year!

Our 2026 Vinyl 45 Chapbook Prize is now closed. Check back next year!

Our 2026 Open Reading Period in Fiction is now open!

The 2026 Pamet River Prize is now open!

We are looking for Assistant Editors in Poetry, Fiction, and Communications!

Our 2026 Submission Calendar has begun. Please check out the categories below to find the one you are interested in. We look forward to reading your work!