What makes independent publishing different from mainstream publishing? For one, there is a large difference between non-profit and for-profit operations. According to the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses:

• Independent literary publishers are mission-driven - they focus on publishing literature.
• Independent literary publishers provide access to the voices of entire communities.
• Independent literary publishers produce over 98% of poetry being published each year, and the majority of literature in translation and works of fiction by emerging writers.

Placing the cause and calling of literature ahead of the bottom line, independent literary publishers serve as a primary link between writers—particularly those representing emerging voices, culturally specific communities, and literary art forms not fostered by mainstream publishers—and readers. Independent literary publications create an enduring record of cultural activity, and they provide an essential alternative to the voices heard through large-scale, commercial publishing. Nearly a thousand primarily non-profit literary magazines, presses, and online publishers can be found across the country, in every state, serving hundreds of unique audiences. Ultimately, they connect diverse communities of readers who would remain otherwise isolated from their living literary heritage.

To connect you—the student, the reader—to some of the inner workings of this literary community and of our press in particular, we at Sarabande offer the links below.

The World of Publishing
As a testament to the collaboration and community that is publishing, this page contains links to others in the business such as the CLMP, our distributor, and similar presses.

What We Look For
To show you how Sarabande carries out its mission, we’ve included a list of our editorial guidelines.

Advice on Submitting to Our Contests
What kind of writing catches the publisher’s eye? This page may be helpful for the aspiring writer.