OUR BOOKS!
Steel Toe has published 30 books since 2003 and began publishing prose in 2020. Please see our full catalog HERE!
Please send us your edgy and risk-taking, diverse and dynamic work! All subject matter welcome, inclusive of historically marginalized voices.
2024 PRIZES
We're pleased to announce the Steel Toe Books 2024 Prize in Poetry opened January 2, 2024! The 2024 Prize in Prose will launch in January 2024 after we’ve announced the 2023 winner.
All books submitted to the awards are considered for general publication and are published as print and eBooks. In addition to the winner, we look to publish 1-2 other titles in each category.
Awards Deadline September 1, 2024 All submissions are read blind and adhere to the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics.
2024 Full Length and Chapbook Reading Periods
Alongside our prizes we host quarterly full-length book reading periods in each genre, and a chapbook category which includes an honorarium and copies. We publish 1-2 chapbooks per year. Books selected from our general open category receive a regular royalties-based contract, copies, and significant marketing for the title. We submit all titles to awards and reviews. Editors in house read general open submission titles blind and look for personal and emotional connections to the work.
Our full-length book submission period for poetry and prose until Deadline March 31 for the 1st Quarter (Winter), the 2nd Quarter (Spring) Deadline TBA, 3rd Quarter (Summer) Deadline TBA, and 4th Quarter (Autumn) Deadline TBA will be announced in succession.
Our Chapbook submission period is open until Deadline August 1, 2024.
NOTES
Please see individual entry categories for guidelines. All submissions are read blind and adhere to the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but please inform us promptly of a withdrawal.
All submissions should be polished, final drafts.
Please see individual categories for deadlines.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but please inform us promptly of a withdrawal.
A Note on Re-Submissions / Edits: Please take care to dot your i's and cross your t's. We cannot entertain most requests for edits once submitted. Folks are allowed to re-submit to the open or prizes, but it's typically best to allow some time to pass before resubmitting and or to have worked on the piece in a substantial way. It's best not to re-submit to the open in the same year.
*Please use direct messaging via social media for instructions on how to apply for a fee waiver if you are suffering hardship of any type.
$500 award and publication for a full-length poetry collection. No maximum page count. All manuscripts are considered for standard publication in addition to the prize. Longlist, shortlist, and the award are announced in December 2025. The selection will also receive a $1,000 promotional campaign across social media and other ad networks.
Deadline September 1, 2025
Reading:
Our policy is to read submissions blind. Also, we follow the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics.
Submission Guidelines:
Please include a short bio in the section below and attach your submission separately with no identifying marks.
Manuscript Formatting Guidelines:
12 pt font, single space.
***please remove author name and other author identifying remarks from the submission***
We encourage all identities, peoples, and positive beliefs to submit!
Please see our previous award winners and announcements for insight into our selection process:
2024 Award Selections and Lists
2023 Award Selections and Lists
2022 Award Selections and Lists
2021 Award Selections and Lists
2020 Award Selections and Lists
*All awards are an advance and against royalties.
$500 award and publication for a full-length collection of prose in the form of Novel, Short Story, Essay, Creative Nonfiction, Memoir and hybrid forms. No maximum page count. All manuscripts are considered for standard publication in addition to the prize. Longlist, shortlist, and award are announced in December 2025. The selection will also receive a $1,000 promotional campaign across social media and other ad networks.
Deadline September 1, 2025
Reading:
Our policy is to read submissions blind. Also, we follow the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics.
Submission Guidelines:
Include a summary of the book as well as a longer synopsis (250 words max) in the section below and submit the manuscript separately with no identifying marks. Please also include a short bio.
Manuscript Formatting Guidelines:
12 pt font, double spaced.
***please remove all identifying marks from the submission***
We encourage all identities, peoples, and positive beliefs to submit!
Please see our previous award winners and announcements for insight into our selection process:
2025 Award Selections and Lists
2023 Award Selections and Lists
2022 Award Selections and Lists
2021 Award Selections and Lists
2020 Award Selections and Lists
*Award is an advance against royalties.
Steel Toe Books looks to publish 1-2 full length books from our open submission pool, selected by the editors and other staff each year. Our open submission period will be looked at with a different eye, favoring connection and personal criteria. We offer 15 copies and a standard publication contract, with invitations to events and readings (pandemic permitting). All books are sold via BookShop, Amazon, and other venues.
Submissions may be declined or accepted on a rolling basis. It will generally take us 9-12 months to reply, sometimes less and occasionally more. If it's been 12 months or you have an offer and would like to check the status of your manuscript, please reach us through the Submittable interface or through social media.
Submission Guidelines:
Please include a short bio in the section below and attach your submission separately with no identifying marks. Poets do not need to include a synopsis.
We encourage all identities, peoples, and positive beliefs to submit!
Manuscript Formatting Guidelines:
12 point font, single space for poetry, and prose poetry in any standard font style.
***please remove author name and other author identifying remarks from the submission***
Submissions may be accepted or declined on a rolling basis.
Deadline:
June 30, 2025
We organize reading on a quarterly system. We use the quarterly system to announce when we are reading to help ourselves organize periods and in order to help writers with gauging our reading periods.
Steel Toe Books looks to publish 1-2 full length books from our open submission pool, selected by the editors and other staff each year. Our open submission period will be looked at with a different eye, favoring connection and personal criteria. We offer 15 copies and a standard publication contract, with invitations to events and readings. All books are sold via BookShop, Amazon, and other venues.
Submissions may be declined or accepted on a rolling basis. It will generally take us 9-12 months to reply, sometimes less and occasionally more. If it's been 12 months or you have an offer and would like to check the status of your manuscript, please reach us through the Submittable interface or through social media.
Submission Guidelines:
Please include a short bio in the section below and attach your submission separately with no identifying marks. We encourage all identities, peoples, and positive beliefs to submit!
Manuscript Formatting Guidelines:
12 point font, single space in any standard font style.
***please remove author name and other author identifying remarks from the submission***
Submissions may be accepted or declined on a rolling basis.
Deadline:
June 30, 2025
We organize reading on a quarterly system. We use the quarterly system to announce when we are reading to help ourselves organize periods and in order to help writers with gauging our reading periods.