Introducing the Soma Nami Press short story submission

Do you have that story that not only captivates but also resonates with the diverse voices and perspectives that collectively contribute to the kaleidoscope of Kenyan culture? This call is for you.

Soma Nami Press is a newly established publishing house based in Nairobi Kenya. Soma Nami Press exists to share outstanding East African stories with the world and to bring compelling Pan-African stories to East Africa.

The publishing house is currently looking for short stories that will make up their very first Kenyan anthology. At this time, they are looking for fiction that celebrates, unpacks, questions and critiques the essence, beauty and peculiarity of Kenyaness. For this inaugural anthology, they are interested in submissions that are playful, enjoyable and offer a delightful reading experience. Writing that is boundless and daring while still being communicative and accessible. Submissions are not restricted to any genre as long as they recognizably speak to the subject matter.

Submission Guidelines

1. Submission is taken as an acceptance of these submission rules.
2. Submit your short story between January 10th 2024 and March 15th 2024 (11:59pm, Kenyan time). Stories submitted after the entry date will not be accepted. 
3. All entries must be made through this online form.
4. Your short story should be 2000-5000 words long (including the title, your name, and contact details).
5. Please do not submit work that does not speak to the subject matter
6. Submission Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, and submitted in .doc or .docx format.
7. Submissions will only be accepted from Kenyan citizens, and you will need to provide proof of citizenship if your work is accepted.
8. Submit an author bio and links to any previously published works
9. All entrants must be age 18 years and above
10. All submissions must be in English although they may include other languages in them.
11. We will accept original works ONLY that have not been published before. Stories selected for the anthology will undergo editing, copywriting, and proof reading as necessary and you can expect to undergo several rewrites.
12. Multiple Submissions: Authors may submit up to two stories, but not more than one may be accepted per author.
13. Only submit work that is exclusively your own work. Plagiarism is not acceptable.
14. There is no submission fee

Submission Deadline: Submissions will be accepted until March 15, 2024.

How to Submit:

Include your story as an attachment and a brief cover letter that includes your name, contact information, and a short bio.

Follow this link to submit

Selection Process:

All submissions will be reviewed by our editorial team. We will notify selected authors by April 30, 2024. Due to the volume of submissions, we regretfully cannot provide individual feedback on each entry.

Compensation
Accepted submissions will receive a one-time and final compensation based on the final word count. Compensation will be paid up upto Kes. 10,000

Important Note: 

1. By submitting your work, you agree to grant us first worldwide publication rights should your story be accepted for the anthology. 
2. World rights of the anthology will remain with Soma Nami Press. Soma Nami Press will hold non-exclusive publishing rights to your story in perpetuity.
3. Excerpts of stories published in the anthology will be used for promotional purposes online.
4. Writers whose work appears in the anthology will be expected to take part in publicity activities, including online.