A Modern Publisher featuring Guts, Grit, and Great Stories
Submitting to Alibi Syndicate Press
A Different Kind of Publisher — and a Different Kind of Submission Process
At Alibi Syndicate Press, we do things a little differently.
We’re a modern publisher focused on partnership, professionalism, and story-driven publishing — and that means we’re selective about who we work with and how submissions happen.
Right now, submissions are by invitation only, through:
- Direct invitation from our editorial team
- Conversations at writing conferences or events
- Anthology invitations (watch for open calls on our email list)
We’ll open to unsolicited submissions only a few times each year, and when we do, the announcement will go first to our author email list.
If you’d like to be considered when those windows open, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss your chance.
Join the Author email list to be considered for future calls
When We’re Open
We typically announce open submission windows a few weeks in advance. These may include:
- Standalone novella and novel submissions
- Themed anthology calls
- Short fiction projects tied to our ongoing series or seasonal events
Exact dates will vary — so stay tuned through the email list and social channels.
How to Submit
When submission windows open, please follow all posted guidelines carefully. It’s not just about following rules — it’s about showing you can work professionally, respect deadlines, and pay attention to detail.
We require submissions to use Shunn Standard Manuscript Format
(the industry standard).
That means:
- Double-spaced, 12-point readable font (Times New Roman or Courier)
- Standard margins and header with your name, title, and page number
- Indented paragraphs (no extra line spaces)
Following these instructions is just as important as having a great story. We’ve seen more manuscripts rejected for formatting sloppiness than for weak plots. Questions? Here's a step by step guiide to using the Shunn method
A Note About AI
We encourage authors to use AI tools responsibly — for brainstorming, editing assistance, or admin work like metadata, blurbs, and marketing copy.
However, our AI policy is clear:
- Manuscripts must not be more than 25% AI-generated text.
- We rely on the honor system — we trust our authors to be transparent.
- Any book exceeding that limit cannot be copyrighted under current law and will be ineligible for publication with us.
In other words: AI can help you polish, but it can’t replace your voice. The Syndicate is built on authentic storytelling — and that means your story should come from you.
Questions: Click on the button below to review our stance on AI.
What We’re Looking For
We’re drawn to:
- Strong characters and emotional arcs
- Distinct voices with something to say
- Tight pacing and clean, professional prose
- Stories that bend genre conventions — mystery, noir, thriller, speculative, and literary with edge
We value both fresh ideas and skilled execution. If you can deliver both, we’ll be all ears.
Our Promise
When you submit to Alibi Syndicate Press, you’re not just sending a manuscript into the void.
We’re a small but responsive press. We’ll treat your work — and your time — with respect.
We can’t accept every story, but we do read every one we receive during open calls. And if we invite you to publish with us, you can expect transparency, fair contracts, and real support — not just a release date.
A Quick note on Discrimination
At Alibi Syndicate press, we don't descriminate based on age, gender, religion, sexual identity, or any other criterial other than how great your story is. We hope we get stories from those in all walks of life, but just like we won't reject a story based on any of the identifiers listed here, we also won't accept stories based on those criteria. Everyone, and every story is welcomd here, and your story matters. With a limited number of releases a year, it's inevitable that most of the submissions we recieve will not be accepted. But no acceptance or rejection of a story is in any way personal. What we accept must fit our brand, our current needs, our quality standards, and must be something we can proudly market under our brand name. That's it.
No discrimination, ever. But no special favors either. Everyone gets the same shot at an alibi. We hope you're one of the successful ones.