What we publish
Personal essays and creative nonfiction about the messy parts of being alive: grief, family, the body, desire, rage, love that didn’t hold, love that held too tightly…
We’re not looking for tidy endings. We want writing that trusts the reader.
Read us before you submit.
What we don’t publish
Fiction and poetry. We love both, but they’re not what we do here.
A few specifics
- 2,500 words maximum.
- One submission at a time. Wait to hear from us before sending another.
- Simultaneous submissions are fine. Just withdraw from us if you’re accepted elsewhere.
- Previously published work is considered case by case. Tell us where it ran and why you want us to have it.
- All rights revert to you. If you republish, credit TMS.
- A photo of yourself or something that fits is welcome but not required.
- A third-person bio of 100–125 words, with no review quotes. We’ll trim anything longer.
- We respond to everything. Give us 90 days before following up.
On AI
We publish work that comes out of specific human lives. By submitting, you’re telling us the writing and structure are yours, not a generative AI tool’s. Spelling and grammar checkers are fine. Anything beyond that, tell us in your cover letter. Undisclosed AI use means rejection, or retraction if we’ve already published.
Why we’re here
The Manifest Station has been publishing since 2011 because we believe words matter. Especially now.
We’re looking for pieces that refuse to look away. For writers who talk themselves out of submitting.
If that’s you, send us something.
— Angela & Amy
