Gemma Open Door wants book proposals for its teen and adult literacy program. They’re looking for short fiction and memoirs of 10,000 words or less that are written at the second- to fifth-grade reading levels. Currently, they are specifically seeking to expand their selection of LGBTQ titles.
The editors write:
More than 36 million adults cannot read above a third grade level in America. Millions of immigrants work to develop English language skills so they can participate in their communities, find opportunity, and gain respect. A literate society is essential, now more than ever. …
Gemma Open Door for Literacy, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, publishes books, eBooks, audiobooks and other resources for adults and young adults acquiring English language literacy skills. We bring age-appropriate, engaging content to folks who would otherwise have only children’s books to study. Our books are unusual in the literature as they feature adult-themed stories at a low reading level. Gemma Open Door has more than 60 titles in print, and to date, we have distributed more than 50,000 copies across the country.
Submitting to Gemma Open Door
- Publisher: Gemma Open Door
- Publication type: book
- Word count: up to 10,000 words
- Payment: royalties
- Deadline: no deadline
- Response time: several weeks
- Format: Send an inquiry, not a complete manuscript. Your proposal should include a working title, a one-paragraph synopsis of your work, a table of contents, and a sample chapter. Also include an estimated delivery date, intended audience (must be an adult audience, but you can list specific demographic groups as an audience), competing and related books, a short biography, and marketing opportunities you can provide.
- Will they take simultaneous submissions? Not applicable.
- Will they take multiple submissions? Not specified. Read more about multiple and simultaneous submissions.
- Will they take reprints? No.
- Additional notes: “Fiction or non-fiction works should have short sentences, frequent chapter breaks, wide spacing, and vocabulary-building text to help build a sense of mastery and self-esteem.”
Find more details at Contact | Gemma Media, and don’t forget to tell them you found their submission call here!
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I post paying submission calls every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I focus on fiction calls, but occasionally post paying opportunities for creative nonfiction and poetry.
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