Submissions open: 22 May 2026
Submissions close: 7 June 2026
This is an open call for adult fiction manuscripts — short stories and novellas. We are looking for writers based in Zimbabwe whose stories are rooted in this place, alive with its voices, and honest about its contradictions.
We offer a fee of USD$200 for successful short story submissions, USD$400 for Novellas. Should the subsequent work be sold internationally we offer royalties and a further fee, based on the rights sale. The work should be set in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, the broader African world, or in the imagination of people who come from here. Please read the requirements carefully before submitting.
1. Short Story 5,000 words
We will publish a selection of short stories as standalone books in digital and print formats. 5000 words is the target length for final manuscripts, and we understand you may have to write more than that initially.
A short story is not a chapter with no novel attached to it. It is a complete thing: one moment, one tension, one shift in the world or in a person. We are interested in short fiction writers who understand this and know the power of constraint. They use the limited space to do something that a novel, with all its room, could not do as well.
Stories may be submitted individually; if you wish to submit more than one, please send each in a separate email.
2. Novella 20,000 words
The novella is a form that African fiction has not always been permitted to inhabit. It is longer than a story and shorter than a novel. We believe the format suits the kind of writing that is emerging from Zimbabwe right now — focused, pressurised, unwilling to waste a word.
We are interested in all genres — literary fiction, crime, thriller, romance, speculative fiction, historical fiction, magical realism, and genre work that refuses easy categorisation. The quality of the writing and the truth of the story matter more than the shelf it would sit on.
Submit your full manuscript. If it is part of a longer project you are developing, include a brief note describing the broader work.
Send to submissions@afronautpress.com
What We Will Not Accept
- Work that has been previously published in any format.
- Work that is under simultaneous submission to another publisher.
- Manuscripts that do not meet the minimum word count
- Work submitted without the required cover letter and author biography
- Work created by AI
- Work that dehumanises people based on ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, or any other characteristic.
How to Submit
Send your submission to: submissions@afronautpress.com
Name your manuscript file:
SURNAME_FIRSTNAME_TITLE — (for example, MOYO_CHIEDZA_THEWATERLEVEL.docx)
Use the subject line of your email:
SUBMISSION — [FORMAT] — [TITLE] — (for example: SUBMISSION — NOVELLA — THE WATER LEVEL)
Every Submission Must Include
● Your manuscript. As a Word document (.docx) or PDF, in the format described above.
● A cover letter. One page maximum. Your name, your location in Zimbabwe, the title and format of your submission, and a brief description of your story — three sentences is enough. Tell us a little about yourself as a writer: not your CV, just who you are and why you wrote this.
● A synopsis. For novellas and novels: a synopsis of the complete story, including the ending, no more than 500 words for novellas and 800 words for novels. For short stories: a one-paragraph summary is sufficient.
● A brief author biography. 100 to 200 words. If you are a first-time writer, say so. We are looking for writers, not publishing histories.
● Contact details. Your full name, email address, phone number, and the city or area in Zimbabwe where you are based.
Submissions open: 22 May 2026
Submissions close: 7 June 2026
Editorial decisions are final
The Afronaut Press editorial team will make all selection decisions. We will not enter into correspondence about why a particular manuscript was not selected. If your manuscript is not selected for this series, we encourage you to submit again when our next open call is announced.