FIVE THINGS
Lintusen Press is looking for a variety of LIST STORIES.
THE BRIEF:
- Authors are invited to contribute one (or more) stories based on a five item list. Any genre is fine.
- Your stories should be 750 to 1500 words as a loose guideline.
THE FORM:
- The list story uses the ancient rhetorical device of enumeratio to structure the plot.
- Finnian Burnett reminds us that the list is a vehicle for the narrative. Each item should be a vehicle for reflection that advances the plot. The list story should end with a surprise reveal. (Something revelatory to both the narrator and the reader).
- We are looking for stories with FIVE items. The list doesn’t have to be numbered, but it can be. We suggest you brainstorm things you can itemize:
e.g. 5 times I almost died, 5 things I found in my mother’s purse, 5 places I want to visit, 5 good dogs, 5 boys I shouldn’t have dated in high school, 5 disgusting things I ate, 5 planets to avoid, etc.
- Check out this blog by author Kathleen Jennings about the form:
- Alina Stefanescu has created a list of 70 list stories that you can check out for inspiration:
FORMAT:
FIVE THINGS will be released as both ebook and paperback to be distributed through Draft2Digital to major book retailers around the world.
DEADLINE:
Please submit your piece(s) by Oct 25, 2026. (If you have more than one, send each separately)
SUBMISSION:
Submit your story in the body of an email to submissions@LintusenPress.ca
NO ATTACHMENTS, please.
Include
- subject line include FIVE and your story title
- your name (and pen name, if applicable),
- your email address,
- snail mail address
- story title
- story word count
- a short author bio (~50 words).
There are no submission fees.
PAYMENT:
This anthology is a royalty share project. Each contributor will receive a share of royalties from sales through Draft2Digital. All contributors require an account at D2D in order to be paid. Authors are also able to purchase copies at a wholesale price to re-sell at their in-person events or local stores.
RIGHTS:
Story copyright remains with each author. Accepted authors grant Lintusen Press exclusive publication right to their accepted story for one year after the book’s publication date. After which time, though the anthology will still be available for sale, authors may re-sell or re-publish their piece.
PROMOTION:
We hope contributors will promote the book on their social media channels, local media, personal websites, and blogs, etc.
BEAVER MOOSE CANOE TWO
SHORT STORY CALL:
Lintusen Press is looking for a variety of tall tale style short stories celebrating Canadian stereotypes. AGAIN!
THE BRIEF:
Canadian authors are invited to contribute a tall tale style story about Canada. You are encouraged to dive deeply into Canadian stereotypes and our cultural iconography.
Your stories should be 1500 to 3000 words as a loose guideline. (Keep them engaging and fun).
Feel free to include characters that feature in your other published work and reference that work in your bio.
What do we mean by stereotypes and iconography? We’re thinking: Tims. The Hip. Friendly Giant. The Losing Leafs. Poutine. Mr Dress Up. CBC. Canoes. Cabins/cottages. Maple syrup. Snow. Canada Geese. The Bay. Pow wows. Zellers. Portage & Main. CN Tower. Hockey. Banff Springs. Calgary Stampede. Klondike. The Empress Hotel. Fishing. Hunting. Logging. Sorry. etc.
FORMAT:
Beaver Moose Canoe will be released as ebook and paperback to be distributed through Draft2Digital to major book retailers around the world.
DEADLINE:
Please submit your piece(s) by Feb 28, 2027
SUBMISSION:
Submit your story in the body of an email to submissions@LintusenPress.ca
NO ATTACHMENTS, please.
Include
- subject line include BEAVER and your story title
- your name (and pen name, if applicable),
- your email address,
- snail mail address
- story title
- story word count
- declaration that no generative AI was used
- a short author bio (~50 words).
There are no submission fees.
PAYMENT:
This anthology is a royalty share project. Each contributor will receive a share of royalties through Draft2Digital.
RIGHTS:
Story copyright remains with each author. Accepted authors grant Lintusen Press exclusive publication right to their accepted story for one year after the book’s publication date. After which time, though the anthology will still be available for sale, authors may re-sell or re-publish their piece.
PROMOTION:
We hope contributors will promote the book on their social media channels, local media, personal websites, and blogs, etc.
PROMPTS:
Here are some fun prompt cards you can print off to prompt your tall tale! Feel free to share with your writing group. https://lintusenpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/canada-prompt-cards-from-lintusen-press.pdf
PDF of CALL:
Here is a pdf of this submission call to share with your writing group. https://lintusenpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/beaver-moose-canoe-submission-call.pdf
FLASH ADVENT CALENDAR ANTHOLOGY
SHORT STORY CALL:
Lintusen Press is looking for twenty-five 5OO word flash fiction pieces for a winter holiday themed anthology scheduled for publication when there are sufficient accepted pieces.
THE BRIEF:
The holiday season offers stresses and joys. This family friendly flash fiction anthology will offer a readers a daily story for each day leading up to Christmas day.
Your humorous, joyful, and/or heart-warming story will be between 475 and 525 words. (Not including the title).
A variety of genres are welcome: fantasy, sci-fi, romance, gothic, etc. Feel free to include characters that feature in your other published work and link to that work in your bio.
Feel free to submit several stories in your submission either in a single email (preferred) or in separate emails (in case you think of something after the first email is sent!).
FORMAT:
Flash Advent Calendar will be released as ebook and paperback, distributed through Draft2Digital to major book retailers around the world.
DEADLINE:
AUGUST 31, 2026
SUBMISSION:
Submit your story in the body of an email to submissions@LintusenPress.ca
NO ATTACHMENTS, please.
Include
- subject line include FLASH ADVENT and your story title
- your name (and pen name, if applicable),
- your email address,
- snail mail address
- story title
- story word count
- a short author bio (~50 words).
There are no submission fees.
PAYMENT:
Accepted authors will share royalties on books sold in retail outlets. Royalties will be calculated and paid by the aggregator Draft2Digital. All contributors must create a D2D account with financial documentation and information in place within a week of being notified their royalty share (i.e. % of each book sold) or lose their place in the book. D2D sends royalty payments monthly. The more books sold, the more authors earn.
RIGHTS:
Story copyright remains with each author. Accepted authors grant Lintusen Press exclusive publication right to their accepted story for one year after the book’s publication date. After which time, though the anthology will still be available for sale, authors may re-sell or re-publish their piece.
PROMOTION:
All contributors are expected to promote the book on their social media channels, local media, personal websites, and blogs, etc. Lintusen Press will provide images and ads for this purpose.
A PDF of this call is here. Feel free to print to share with your writing group.
free to print to share with your writing group!
THE MAD ADVENTURES OF HENRIETTA AND HER TRAVELING HEN HOUSE (working title)
~live writing collaboration @WWC~
August 15, 2026 @ When Words Collide Writers’ Conference Calgary, AB. During the collaborative writing workshop, we will plan a collaborative novel tentatively called THE MAD ADVENTURES OF HENRIETTA AND HER TRAVELING HEN HOUSE. Conference participants, come with your ideas, ready to brainstorm! We’ll create synopsis, and at the end of the session, participating writers will be invited to write a chapter of this book, to be released August 2027.
Info here.
HAPPY TAILS ANTHOLOGY
SHORT STORY CALL:
Lintusen Press is looking for short fiction pieces for an anthology themed around PETS. Publication to be determined when sufficient submissions have been received.
THE BRIEF:
We live with pets who bring entertainment and love into our lives. Send us your 1500 to 3000ish word stories about pets. Your story could be creative non-fiction or fiction. Set them anywhere from Ancient Greece to future space. Live or robotic.
FORMAT:
Happy Tails will be released as ebook and paperback, distributed through Draft2Digital to major book retailers around the world.
DEADLINE:
Deadline for submissions: JANUARY 31, 2027
SUBMISSION:
Submit your story in the body of an email to submissions@LintusenPress.ca
NO ATTACHMENTS, please.
Include
- subject line include HAPPY TAILS and your story title
- your name (and pen name, if applicable),
- your email address,
- snail mail address
- story title
- story word count
- a short author bio (~50 words).
There are no submission fees.
PAYMENT:
Accepted authors will share royalties. Royalties will be calculated and paid by the aggregator Draft2Digital. All contributors must create a D2D account with financial documentation and information in place within a week of being notified their royalty share (i.e. % of each book sold) or lose their place in the book. D2D sends royalty payments monthly. The more books sold, the more contributors earn.
RIGHTS:
Story copyright remains with each author. Accepted authors grant Lintusen Press exclusive publication right to their accepted story for one year after the book’s publication date.
PROMOTION:
All contributors are expected to promote the book on their social media channels, local media, personal websites, and blogs, etc. Lintusen Press will provide images and ads for this purpose.
A PDF of this call is here. Feel free to print to share with your writing group!
NOVELLAS & POETRY COLLECTIONS
We are open to submissions for 20-30,000 word novellas in the following genres: Young Adult, cozy mystery, science fiction, fantasy and clean romance.
We are open to submissions for poetry collections, ideally themed. 30-75 poems (depending on length, etc)
Novellas: Submit a query letter, a one page synopsis (single spaced, size 12 font), and the first chapter (or the first 10 pages, whichever is longer, double spaced) to submissions@LintusenPress.ca In the subject line, indicate NOVELLA and the working title.
Poetry: Submit a query letter, a thematic statement, and 3-5 poems (no more than 10 pages) single spaced to submissions@LintusenPress.ca In the subject line indicate POETRY and the working title of the collection.
(If you need clarification, here are links to Jane Friedman’s excellent guides for crafting your query letter and your synopsis)
Lintusen Press 