Sapling is a weekly newsletter for writers.

Specifically those actively publishing and trying to get published by literary journals, small presses, and independent publishers.

Many resources (some very good, others not so helpful) exist to point writers toward possible venues for their work in the small press world. As a writer seeking publication, you are probably familiar with many of them. Sapling is not meant to replace a large directory of publishers or a listing of every open call on Submittable. But unlike lengthy directories and databases, Sapling is curated by a human being every week. We strive to feature publishers and journals with a wide variety of missions, tastes, and styles, and those we choose to profile will always be currently open to work.

Over Sapling’s fifteen years and 780+ issues, we’ve spoken to the editors and publishers of Feminist Press, Two Dollar Radio, and Kenyon Review, and emerging authors Shane McCrae, Ben Mirov, Nicole Steinberg, Keisha Bush, Monica Drake, and many more.

Our commitment to you: curated content, in your inbox weekly. (Free subscribers receive one issue per month, on the first Tuesday.)

 

Who are the editors?

Sapling is put out by the editors at Black Lawrence Press. I’m Kit Frick, the current human being behind Sapling. I’m the Managing Editor at Black Lawrence, and previously, I edited the Chapbook Series. I am also a writer. Over the years, I’ve submitted work to upwards of 200 literary journals and magazines and more than 100 small presses. I’ve been there, in the trenches. Sifting through the open calls for submissions, double-checking the contest guidelines, puzzling over websites that haven’t been updated since 2021 (is this journal even still active?), despairing over my dwindling submission budget, and updating my spreadsheet with yet another form rejection or oh-so-close finalist nod.

I’ve received countless rejections and some very exciting yes’s. In addition to my novels published by one of the big NYC places, I have a full-length poetry collection and two chapbooks published by small, independent presses, and I’ve had poems appear in four dozen or so literary journals.

Why subscribe?

Every week, Sapling profiles a contest, a small press, and a literary journal currently open to work. Each issue also features an interview with an editor, publisher, or emerging writer, providing a window into the small press world.

The first issue of the month will be free on Substack. Only paid subscribers will receive the remaining weekly issues. (In other words, free subscribers will receive 12 issues a year, on the first Tuesday of each month. Paid subscribers will receive all 52 issues a year, at the rate of $5/month.)

That’s 156 potential new outlets for your work, plus an in-depth look into the experiences of dozens of emerging authors and publishing professionals, in interviews that go beyond what you’ll find on their websites. All and all, it shakes out to about $1.15/issue, which we hope you’ll find worthwhile. Also, you’ll be supporting the work of a small press.

Paid subscribers will get full access to the publication archives as well, beginning with our January 7, 2025 issue.

Kit Frick
Sapling Editor 2025-

Yvonne Garrett
Sapling Editor 2013-2024

Kit Frick
Sapling Editor 2011-2013

Diane Goettel
Sapling Founder & Editor 2009-2011