Meet us in St. Louis

The St. Louis Anthology Call for Submissions

Belt Publishing will be compiling an anthology of essays, stories, and poems about St. Louis in 2019 as part of our City Anthology Series.

Even amidst its modern decline, St. Louis has been a city that shaped the region and country since it was founded more than 250 years ago. This anthology will explore the local stories that became national headlines — the catalyst of the Black Lives Matter movement, refugee resettlement, the local impact of the Manhattan Project, etc. — through historic and first person perspectives, while of course celebrating the culture of the Lou. Provel, anyone?

We are not looking for news-related pieces unless there is a personal/emotional connection to news events (such as the unrest in Ferguson) and submissions should retain their relevance for years to come. We are actively looking for stories from St. Louis’ African American, Bosnian/Kosovar, Latinx, LGBTQ, and other communities, so please circulate.

Not a writer? That’s okay. We still want to hear your story, and can help you tell it.

Stories that involve humor, heartbreak, redemption and discovery — and food — will be given priority.

Submissions that delve into the details and history overlooked during the coverage of the unrest following the police killing of Mike Brown, through a first person perspective, are highly encouraged.

Stories that ramble will be frowned upon.

We’re looking for:

  • Nonfiction personal essays between 300 and 2000 words.
  • Reported/researched nonfiction pieces between 300 and 2000 words.
  • Poetry related to St. Louis (and the greater metro area).
  • Space pending, we may publish longform pieces over 2000 words. Query first.
  • No Fiction.

Authors can submit multiple pieces. We will accept previously published pieces, but the author must include the original publication information and have the rights to the piece. Accepted submissions will likely be edited in coordination with the author.

Contributors will receive an honorarium.

The anthology will be edited by Ryan Schuessler, a native St. Louisan who has written about the region for outlets including Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

To submit an entry, please:

Include author’s full name and contact information (phone, email, address and 3-4 sentence bio)

Indicate where the author lives/where “story” takes place (i.e. North Side, South City, North County, Soulard, etc.)

Write “SUBMISSION” on the subject line

Submit all entries and questions to: [email protected].

Submissions are due by July 1, 2018.

SPONSORS:  Interested in underwriting or sponsoring this book? Email Publisher Anne Trubek at [email protected].

 

Banner photo by Daniel Schwen, via Wikimedia Commons