Submissions
The Lost Island Writing Contest
Instead of opening submissions year-round, Lost Island Press runs a writing contest where at least one winner lands a publishing deal. We welcome writers of YA dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy novels to enter.
Submissions are currently closed
Our last writing contest ended on December 31, 2025. We haven’t scheduled our next contest yet. In the meantime, you can prepare by reading the guidelines below and joining our newsletter.
Who can enter the Lost Island Writing Contest?
No agent required
As an independent press, we handle submissions directly.
All ages welcome
Several of our authors won past contests as teenagers.
International writers
English-language writers based outside the US are welcome.
How does the contest work?
Prepare your manuscript
Ensure you have a full draft to submit that meets our requirements.
Enter during our next submissions window
Upload your manuscript and answer several questions through our submissions portal.
We’ll begin the judging process
Our team will evaluate submissions, host interviews, and select a small group of finalists.
Watch your email inbox
We may ask follow-up questions or request a scheduled call.
We’ll send contracts for review
We typically select 1-2 winners. Each winner will receive a publishing deal.
Is this a good fit?
Career-focused
You want to build a long-term writing career and publish more books over time.
Love our genres
YA dystopian, sci-fi, and/or fantasy are the main genres you explore as a writer.
Open to collaboration
You’re willing to revise your work and work closely with an editor throughout the process.
Comfortable on camera
You’re open to appearing in photos and video content for marketing purposes.
In a rush
You’re looking for someone who will publish your book with minimal edits within a quick timeframe.
Expecting full creative control
You’re not comfortable with editorial suggestions or making changes to your work.
How much time will I have to submit?
While we don’t host a contest every year, when we do, the submissions window is always from October to December.
Contest announced
We reveal the upcoming submission window ahead of time, giving you months to prepare.
Submissions open
Submission form goes live on October 1.
Submissions remain open.
Submissions close
Final deadline: December 31.
Evaluation, interviews, & decisions
Submissions are reviewed and final decisions are sent by March 31.
What kind of books qualify?
Only one submission is allowed per writer. If you’re working on multiple projects, choose your best piece, and ensure that it meets the following criteria:
Target audience
Young adult (YA). Typically defined by teen protagonists and limited sexual content.
Genres
Dystopian, sci-fi, or fantasy. Realistic-leaning stories with elements of these genres are also accepted.
Word count
60,000–120,000 words. We only consider full-length novels—no short stories, novellas, or anthologies.
Series status
We’ll consider a standalone, a standalone with series potential, or the first book in a duology/trilogy.
Completion
Your manuscript doesn’t need to be fully edited, but it can’t be partially written.
Publication status
Unpublished is preferred. Self-published works are allowed if you’ll take them down and re-edit with us.
Quick FAQs for this section
- Yes, we’ll consider new adult (NA) protagonists (20–25 years old) if any and all romance is strictly fade-to-black/closed-door.
- Yes, occasional POVs from older adult characters are acceptable if they are not the primary protagonist.
- Yes, your book can be set in any time period!
- No, we do not accept the first book in a series of 4+ books.
- Yes, submitting your book as “a standalone with series potential” instead of “the first book in a duology/trilogy” will typically better your odds. There have been exceptions to this rule.
Do you have any content restrictions?
We aim to publish YA stories that are intense and emotional for all ages—but still appropriate for a teen audience. These are the guidelines we choose to follow at our press:
Romance & sexual content
At most, fade-to-black/closed-door romance is expected. Explicit sexual scenes are not accepted.
Sexual offenses
Sexual harassment or attempted sexual assault may be included if handled with narrative care.
Violence & profanity
We are more flexible here. Violence and profanity can be intense if appropriate to the tone of the story.
Quick FAQs for this section
- Yes, passionate makeout scenes are okay.
- Yes, implied off-page sex is okay.
- Yes, exploring the fear of sex is okay.
- No, “poetic” or “abstract” on-page sex scenes are not okay.
What should I prepare before the submissions window?
Full manuscript
Write and edit your full manuscript to the best of your ability with the time you have.
One-sentence premise
A clear, concise description of your story. Consider using Mel Torrefranca’s premise description formula:
Premise formula
When [the protagonist] [is affected by the inciting incident], they must [take action] to [achieve their goal]—but if [they fail, they will suffer the risk of failure].
Example: When a telepathic teen girl reads the mind of a serial killer, she must secretly record his crimes to gather concrete evidence for the police—but if he catches her, countless more innocent lives will be lost.
3–5 paragraph summary
This is essentially a mini synopsis and should be written in 3rd person, present-tense. Please spoil the key plot points, including the ending. We expect it to be dry and informational.
Quick FAQs for this section
- No, your book does not need to be professionally edited.
- Yes, you can submit an unedited first-draft if you’re short on time. Some writers have won by doing this.
- No, we’re sorry, but you can’t request an extension since we’re on a strict schedule
How does the judging process work?
Lead judge
Our founder, Mel Torrefranca, oversees the selection process and makes final decisions.
Editorial team
Key members of our team, including editors, are involved in reviewing and evaluating submissions.
Past winners
Previous contest winners participate as judges during the final phase of the selection process.
How should I format my manuscript?
If you’d like to get ahead on formatting your manuscript file, please refer to our formatting requirements below.
Page Setup
- Word document (.doc or .docx)
- Standard letter size (8.5 x 11 inches)
- 1-inch page margins on all sides
- Times New Roman, 12-pt font
- Set line spacing to 1.5x
- Add “Last Name / Working Book Title / Page Number” to the top right header of every page
- In the text body, indent each new line by 0.5 inches
Chapter Dividers
Please add a page break before each new chapter.
Ensure your chapter number is in ALL CAPS, centered a few lines down.
Optionally, you can add a chapter title, such as the POV character’s name or a creative phrase. Please put this on the next line after the chapter number, centered an in ALL CAPS as well.
Examples of acceptable formats:
CHAPTER 1
FALL AFTER FALL
CHAPTER 1
VICTOR
CHAPTER 1
Cover Page
Please include a title page (the first page) with the following:
Top left corner: Your legal name, email, phone number (include country code), and mailing address (include country)
Mel Torrefranca
+1 (000) 000-0000
1846 E Innovation Park Dr STE 100
Oro Valley, AZ 85755, United States
Centered in the middle: Your working book title and pen name (ALL CAPS)
WORKING BOOK TITLE
MEL TORREFRANCA
What do the winners get?
If you win the Lost Island Writing Contest, you’ll receive a full publishing deal and long-term support from our team.
Publishing deal
Single, two-book, or three-book deal depending on your project. You’ll have time to review the contract and ask questions before signing.
No upfront costs
We cover all production expenses—editing, cover design, formatting, and more. You never pay us. We only make money when you do.
Full editorial process
Developmental editing, beta feedback, and copy editing to bring your book to a professional, bookstore-ready standard.
Real production timeline
Your book will likely be published the following year. We prioritize quality over rushing releases.
50% royalties
Earn 50% of net profit on every sale, paid monthly. This is roughly 3–5× what big publishers pay.
Author copies
Receive a complimentary finished copy and order additional copies at wholesale price.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your lingering questions aren’t answered below, you’re welcome to email info@lostislandpress.com.
Is there a fee for submitting my work?
Our contests are completely free, and always will be.
How do I make the story I’m submitting stand out?
Two biggest pieces of advice from our judges:
- Lead with a strong hook—something that grabs us within the first few pages.
- Ensure your protagonist has a compelling struggle and a goal with real stakes.
Where is the submissions form?
If submissions are open, you’ll see a button for our submissions portal at the bottom of this page. From there, you’ll upload your manuscript and answer a variety of questions about yourself and your work. Please set aside a good chunk of time for this process, because once you submit, you won’t be able to edit your submission again.
If you don’t see a submissions portal button, submissions are closed.
Is it okay if it’s a first draft, or the more polished the manuscript is, the better?
We’ve selected first drafts as winners in the past! We’re reviewing these books knowing that they’re not fully edited, but putting some time into polishing it doesn’t hurt, of course.
If I get published through this contest, will I need to publish future works with Lost Island Press, or can I pursue other paths (self-publishing, getting an agent, etc.)?
Nothing stops our authors from leaving Lost Island Press for future projects, but we look favorably upon writers who are open to working with us long-term. Trust goes both ways (that we’ll continue to publish their work, and they’ll continue to collaborate with our team).
My book is pretty grounded and leans contemporary. Am I still eligible?
We don’t publish contemporary novels at this time. However, if your contemporary story contains subtle fantasy or sci-fi elements, it might still fit into our fantasy or sci-fi categories, even if it leans contemporary.
What if my book is an adaptation/retelling?
That’s perfectly fine, as long as the source material is in the public domain.
Learn More
We recommended that you also read our Publishing Model before submitting your work to us.