What we want
Bannister Press is looking for strongly unique voices and incredible new ideas. We specialize in supernatural and fantasy stories loved by adults and young adults.
🚫 We do not accept works created using generative AI. If you’ve used AI in the creation of your manuscript, then we are not a good fit for you. 🚫
Are you ready to publish? Want to know what we’re looking for in each story? Get our free checklist for publishing.
***SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT ADHERE TO FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WILL BE REJECTED UNREAD.***
FICTION – Novels
Bannister Press is looking for strongly unique voices and incredible new ideas. We specialize in supernatural and fantasy stories loved by adults and young adults.
We do not accept works created using generative AI. If you’ve used AI in the creation of your manuscript, then we are not a good fit for you.
Submission Format: Format using William Shunn’s Modern Manuscript Format (https://www.shunn.net/format/story/) and use Times New Roman.
Attach the first 1500 words of manuscript in doc, docx or rtf format.
SUBMIT: Google Form
Status: OPEN
Anthology 2025
OTHER: the 2025 fantasy short story anthology (Book 2 of the Other Anthology series)
We are seeking short stories that are visually evocative (or character/narrative focused) and that leave the reader thinking about the story long after closing the book. We don’t want a lesson, we want an experience that makes us come alive.
To get a better idea of what we’re looking for, read Other: the 2024 speculative fiction anthology.
GENRE:
Speculative Fiction. Give us stories of wonder. Humour is fine as long as it’s not about the mic drop. No erotica, gore, or excessive violence. 🚫
Send us your best work, fully edited. Only one story per author will be accepted. No retellings; we want original stories created by humans. Writers can be from Canada, U.S. or international. No reprints. 🚫
SUBMISSION:
🚫No multiple or simultaneous submissions. (Please do not send us something to consider if you are sending it somewhere else. Please do not send more than one submission to us at a time.) If you’ve been rejected, read our free checklist before submitting again.
🚫No reprints.
🚫No flash fiction. Stories should be 2500 – 3500 words.
🚫We do not accept submissions written whole or in part by AI.
Submission Format:
Use the Google Form with your story attached as a doc, docx or rtf.
Format your manuscript using William Shunn’s Modern Manuscript Format (https://www.shunn.net/format/story/) and use Times New Roman to save our eyes.
PAYMENT:
One-time payment of $0.08 CAD per word to be paid on publication date.
STATUS:
Deadline: August 31
[UPDATE July 19, 2025: Responses have been sent to all submissions received up until and including July 18, 2025. Please contact if you submitted before July 19 and don’t see a reply.]
Writers will be notified of final decisions after submissions close.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES WILL BE REJECTED UNREAD.
The 5 things we’re looking for in your manuscript
We are so delighted for you! You’ve accomplished the number one thing most people wish they’d done: you wrote a book! We know just how much of a Herculean task this is, and we want you to celebrate your accomplishment!
We also know that writers are at times in love with their work, hate their words with a fiery passion, and become blind to their manuscripts. Taking your story out of your head and onto the page often comes with hiccups. The writer will always see what they intended and not necessarily what’s on the page, but this is a skill that can be developed.
We know you’re excited. We know you might be sick of looking at your words and want this project off your desk. But don’t make the mistake of submitting too early. Too often we see stories that we might have accepted if the writer had spent more time polishing.
This guide will provide you with 5 things we think you need to check before you submit your manuscript.
BANNISTER PRESS 