General Submission Guidelines 2025

Submission Process

Thank you for your interest in The Hellebore Press. Submissions will open on July 25, 2025. Use our Google Form to share your work with us. We aim to provide a transparent, communicative, and inclusive review process that centers writers, poets, and artists. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, expect a response within 2-4 weeks.

Notifying folks about the status of their work within a reasonable time frame is important to us so inquire through email if you do not hear from us within the reading period. *No DMs via Twitter or Instagram please*

Email: thehelleborepress [@]gmail [dot] com *Only email for inquiries*

Note: We no longer accept submissions via email. Try our Google Form instead. We will only use email to update you on the status of your work or to respond to inquiries.

Behind the Scenes

Denise Nichole reads and reviews all submissions. After work is selected, contributors may be asked to undergo a brief revision process to ensure that work is ready for publication. The revision process incorporates reflective questions, feedback, and edits. We offer this service to support our contributors but recognize that this is not standard practice. Rest assured, that is why we do it. It is our hope to offer resources that support writers and poets throughout each stage of their career. Part of that includes developmental editing and mentorship.

Angel Camarena assists with the editing and formatting of each issue. They collaborate with Denise to prepare issues for publication by proofing and organizing individual pieces of writing.

There are no reading or submission fees.

Why? Literary and artistic resources should be afforded to all. Fees create more barriers for writers, poets, and artists who are already denied access to the industry. Our mission is to amplify the voices of exemplary creatives– not exploit our community.

Underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to submit. The Hellebore Press invites perspectives and narratives from: women, BIPOC, neurodiverse, disabled, indigenous, non-binary, immigrant, international, and LGBTQIA2S+ identities.

Reading Periods *Updated Process*

Submissions will be open from July 25, 2025 until July 30, 2025. Please use the Hellebore Press Submission Form.

Micro poetry, prose poetry, narrative poetry, flash fiction (under 1000 words), and flash nonfiction (under 1000 words) is welcome. We are especially interested in collage/hybrid work, visual forms that blend writing with photography or illustrations, and mixed media.

All featured contributors will sign a publishing agreement and receive a $25 honorarium on the date of publication.

To have the best possible chance of publication, follow the guidelines and refer to the tips.

Submission Tips

We seek work that disrupts the canon. While we appreciate traditional forms and styles (and have featured it before!) we tend to gravitate to work that reinvents language, takes bold and daring risks, and pushes the boundaries of genre. At the same time, we want to spotlight work that is accessible and clear. Style is important to us as is voice.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate complex formatting and line spacing due to our new theme.

Our archive is teen/young adult friendly and inclusive, so please do not send us work that is violent, hateful, or gratuitous. No graphic depictions of any kind whatsoever. 

Theme & Topics for Issue 13 & 14

To submit your work use our Google Form.

HUES Scholars Program

HUES is back! We are offering an affordable course for students, writers, and poets of color who have not yet published a full length book. Our HUES Lecturer for Summer 2024 was jason b. crawford!

Join us online to grow in your craft. Build community and express yourself. Receive direct support from our Publisher, Denise Nichole who will share feedback and guidance along the way.

Scholarship Guidelines

The Hellebore Poetry Scholarship Award *Closed*

The Hellebore Poetry Scholarship Award offers a monetary book and supply scholarship to one honoree who demonstrates excellence in the poetic arts.

Please note: The Hellebore Poetry Scholarship Award is currently closed while we raise funds.

Terrarium 2025

Update about Terrarium: We thoroughly enjoyed working with students on Issue 10 & 11 but will take a break this year to focus on the relaunch of other programs. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to working with more student editors in 2025.

Thanks!

Don’t forget to check out the FAQ for more tips. There is some very helpful information there that applies to all of our submission periods.

Looking forward to receiving and reviewing your work.