Submissions information

12 Willows Press publishes fiction and nonfiction for young readers through adults, with a particular interest in work that engages environmental themes while offering a sense of hope. We seek stories that broaden understanding, explore solutions, and illuminate how we adapt to a changing world.

Submissions status

We are currently not accepting general submissions.

Because we are a small, mission-driven press, we may still consider work that closely aligns with our focus on environmental themes, place-based storytelling, and hope-centered narratives.

If you believe your manuscript is an exceptional fit, you may send a brief query that includes:

  • a 2–3 sentence description of the project

  • the intended audience

  • how the work connects to environmental themes

Please do not send full manuscripts unless requested.

Current call for submissions

Thinning Light: Literary Reflections on Fall’s Transformation in Maine

A 12 Willows Press Charity Anthology
Launching December 2026

12 Willows Press is excited to announce Thinning Light: Literary Reflections on Fall’s Transformation in Maine, the fourth annual volume in our Literary Reflections On charity anthology series. The anthology will launch in conjunction with the Bangor Authors’ Book Fair & Literary Festival in December 2026.

This year’s collection explores fall as a season of transition and transformation—where light thins, growth slows, and the natural world shifts toward dormancy. We’re looking for work that reflects Maine in autumn: its landscapes, working lands, harvest cycles, emotional thresholds, and the subtle changes that signal what comes next.

We’re honored that Lisa Steele, author, educator, and founder of Fresh Eggs Daily, will write the introduction, helping frame the collection through her deep connection to seasonal living, land stewardship, and Maine’s agricultural rhythms.

Supporting Maine Agriculture and Land Stewardship

As with all volumes in this series, Thinning Light is a charity anthology. $1 from the sale of every copy will be donated directly to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), supporting its work to advocate for organic agriculture, local food systems, and sustainable land use across the state.

Submission Guidelines

Call opens: February 1, 2026
Deadline: April 30, 2026

Eligibility

  • Submissions are open to anyone, but contributors must legally reside in Maine at the time of submission.

Genres Accepted

  • Fiction
  • Nonfiction / Essays
  • Poetry
  • Black-and-white visual art (photography, drawings, pen-and-ink, etc.)

Length & Limits

  • Prose: up to 2,500 words
  • Poetry: up to 3 poems per submission
  • Visual art: up to 3 pieces per submission
  • You may submit to one genre only

Previously published work is acceptable.

Editorial Standards

  • All submissions must be fully ready for publication and carefully edited.
  • Submissions requiring heavy editing will be declined.

Format Requirements

Text Submissions

  • Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
  • 12-point Times New Roman
  • Double-spaced for fiction and nonfiction
  • Poetry may be single-spaced

Artwork Submissions

  • High-resolution JPG or PNG files
  • Black-and-white only

Additional Requirements

Contributor Copies

  • Each contributor will receive one free softcover copy of the anthology.

Bangor Authors’ Contributor Awards

All submissions will automatically be considered for the 2026 Bangor Authors’ Writing and Art Awards. The anthology editors will select finalists in the following categories:

  • Fiction
  • Nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Visual art

Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and announced at the Bangor Authors’ Book Fair & Literary Festival in December 2026.

Previously awarded works are not eligible.