Recommenders for Writers

Priorities

Literature for Children and Youth. Priority is given to writers who demonstrate a high level of literary talent and address issues that resonate with young people. We also prioritize projects from writers whose experiences and communities have been underrepresented in or historically excluded from children's publishing. We are keen to review works of fiction and non-fiction, including graphic novels.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Arc is interested in all styles and forms of poetry. We look forward to seeing work from Indigenous poets as well as other under-represented communities. Priority is given to regional poets from Ottawa, including but not limited to Indigenous artists, artists of colour, and new generation poets.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Augur Magazine is interested in speculative fiction and poetry of various lengths. Augur is not interested in drama, comics/graphic novels, children's books (middle grade or picture books), or nonfiction of any kind. We welcome both traditional and non-traditional storytelling modalities, and are specifically interested in writers who are presently under-represented in publishing. We especially like to support works and storytelling techniques outside of the white Western canon, written by diasporic and/or Indigenous creators.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Our primary areas of interest are short fiction, literary non-fiction, and regional history for the Windsor area and for Ontario more generally. We will evaluate applications based on the quality of the writing, but we will be giving submissions under these genres special attention. However, we do read and consider all genres.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We are interested in literary fiction, poetry, and literary non-fiction. We are particularly interested in using the program to learn about new voices, and continue to make connections with groups we wish to support such as Indigenous authors, writers with disabilities, and writers who are persons of colour. Book*hug publishes contemporary poetry, literary fiction and literary non-fiction. We like work that: explores how writing operates in our complex world; is engaged with contemporary issues; does both. We want to learn what writers who identify with marginalized groups are producing.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
BookLand Press publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry books written by members of all OAC priority groups, such as Indigenous writers, writers of colour and writers with disabilities.

Deadline(s)

• November 15, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• December 15, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• January 12, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
As a press that focuses exclusively on poetry, Brick Books is interested in poetry manuscripts only. We will prioritize promising manuscripts from Indigenous, racialized, disabled, and queer emerging poets. Brick Books publishes poetry of high literary quality. We'll be looking for emotionally evocative and finely crafted work whose art engages the sense and music of language; for authenticity of voice, aptness and originality of imagery, and significance and urgency of subject matter.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Fiction and non-fiction for adult and younger readers. We are interested in manuscripts by writers with Indigenous heritage and writers whose life experience is reflected in their work and which is missing from the mainstream. We are interested in authenticity, originality, importance of story and character, and command of language. Special attention is given to emerging writers and writers whose stories are necessary contributions to the building of a national literature. Priority will be given to the work of Indigenous writers, as well as writers from and writing about communities under-represented in the literature of Canada.

Deadline(s)

• October 14, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• November 29, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• January 13, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We especially welcome applications from young, diverse and Indigenous writers. We are particularly interested in place-based literature (Greater Toronto Region) although this is not a requirement in the work.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We are actively seeking nonfiction such as politics, history, current affairs, sport, biography, and more. We are also interested in literary fiction.

We are NOT accepting poetry, children's or YA fiction or nonfiction, or graphic novels.

We invite writers from all sectors of our diverse cultural and literary community here in Ontario and are committed to ensuring equitable access for writers of colour, those with disabilities, Indigenous writers, young writers, and all other OAC priority groups.

Deadline(s)

• November 22, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We are looking for fresh, original writing in any genre, and we accept applications in all categories except children's literature. We publish a heady mix of commercial and literary works in a variety of genres, from literary to speculative fiction, from memoir to poetry to the creative, experimental, and liminal works in between. We love being startled by brilliant prose, arrested by striking imagery, and challenged by original new ideas; we strive for a standard of excellence in everything we publish, and we're looking for applications that align with this vision. For more details about our personal preferences and what we publish, please see the submissions page on the ECW website as well as our wide selection of published books.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Groundwood Books specializes in children's and young adult literature that seeks to embrace diversity and is unafraid of dealing with difficult topics. We publish picture books and illustrated nonfiction for children ages 2 - 8; middle-grade fiction and nonfiction for readers ages 8 - 12; young-adult fiction and nonfiction for teens 12+; as well as poetry and graphic novels across all age groups. In particular, we seek collaboration with Indigenous authors, authors of colour, as well as authors who write from perspectives that have been traditionally underrepresented in Canadian children's literature.

Deadline(s)

• November 08, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• January 10, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Guernica has a long-standing history of publishing ethnic, minority and diverse voices. As well, we publish many emerging writers and writers who have been marginalized. Thus, these (combined with a solid proposal and good writing skills shown) would be our priorities for recommendations.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We are looking for works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction (dealing with current events, history, lifestyle, and science topics) that demonstrate a high level of literary merit. Our interest is in works that are artistically vibrant, unique, and appeal to a wide readership, and in nonfiction that puts forward new and well-argued ideas. We are especially interested in a diverse and broad range of authors, with an emphasis on artists from under-represented communities.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
In reflection of our commitment to publish diverse voices and experiences, we will prioritize LGBTQ2SIA+ writers, Indigenous writers, and writers of colour.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Kids Can Press is committed to developing and promoting literary and artistic talent in all its diversity by amplifying underrepresented voices; and to nurturing a love of reading by inviting kids into books that capture different experiences and open their minds to new ideas and perspectives. Looking for both literary merit and commercial appeal in our acquisitions, we publish engaging picture books, early chapter books, and graphic novels that showcase original and diverse characters, voices and stories; and innovative non-fiction that explores compelling content in unique ways. We like funny, genuine, thoughtful, heartfelt and clever (in any combination!) approaches to all sorts of stories and subjects.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We will prioritize IBPOC and LGBTQ2S authors who are living, or have some connection, to northern Ontario.

Deadline(s)

• January 08, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
We will consider works that reflect the growing diversity of Canadian culture; we will consider younger writers who demonstrate originality in form and content.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
MUSKRAT would like submissions from a wide array of Indigenous identified writers across all writing genres. From established to new generation writers from urban and rural communities across Turtle Island and internationally; we are interested in works from the heart on any topic that matters to you.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Our interests are in literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction from emerging and established writers. We are looking for freshness of voice and style, original subject matter, distinctive poetic or narrative structure. Due to the large volume of applications we don't tend to recommend writers more than two years in a row in any one category. 

Deadline(s)

• December 31, 2024, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Our area of interest is literature for children between the ages of 0-14, including picture books, graphic novels, non-fiction, and early chapter books. We are interested in projects that speak to young readers' interests, intelligence, and imagination. Our priority is in publishing the work of emerging artists, and in particular, stories from authors with diverse perspectives that have been traditionally underrepresented in children's literature. We look for high quality writing, age appropriateness, and non-fiction with an innovative approach or an emphasis on narrative vs. a straight presentation of facts.

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Palimpsest Press accepts non-fiction and poetry applications. We particularly encourage submissions from BIPOC and LGBTQ2S writers, along with those who have disabilities / have been diagnosed with mental illness. We also prioritize local (Windsor and Essex County-based) writers. Palimpsest Press prefers projects with a strong sense of cultural engagement that are well written (for poetry, we are looking for material that is formally and sonically innovative) and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Deadline(s)

• October 15, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Fiction and non-fiction for children, youth, and adults; especially works that promote diversity, LGBTQ+ voices, empowerment, and strong female protagonists and role models. Special interest in Holocaust remembrance and work from writers from diverse communities, including Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour, and writers with disabilities.

Deadline(s)

• November 15, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Priorities
Works that explore the breadth and diversity of comics as a medium. Successful applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to personal expression, through whatever genres or mix of genres they choose to explore in their works. We will also consider non-fiction prose projects that explore comics history.
 

Deadline(s)

• January 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET