Submissions
The Lost Island Writing Contest
Instead of opening submissions year-round, Lost Island Press runs a contest where at least one writer lands a publishing deal. It’s our unique way to scout talent.
Learn about our past contest winners here.
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 submission window
Upload your manuscript and answer several questions through our submissions portal.
We’ll begin the judging process
Our team will evaluate submissions and identify key prospects.
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
You mainly envision yourself writing speculative fiction in the future.
Open to collaboration
You’re willing to revise your work with editorial guidance throughout the process.
Comfortable on camera
You’re open to sending us photos and video content for marketing purposes.
In a rush
You’re looking for someone who will publish your book quickly, with minimal edits.
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 submission 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
Submissions 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-fitting piece, and ensure that it meets the following criteria:
Target audience
Young adult (YA) or general adult fiction. We don’t publish middle grade at this time.
Genres
Dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy, or other speculative fiction subgenres (full list here).
Word count
Full novel between 60,000–120,000 words. No short stories, novellas, or anthologies.
Series status
Must be a standalone, a standalone with series potential, or the first in a duology/trilogy.
Completion
Your manuscript doesn’t need to be fully edited, but it can’t be partially written.
Publication status
Unpublished preferred. Self-published works allowed if you’re open to re-editing.
Quick FAQs for this section
- Yes, your book can be set in any time period!
- No, we do not accept the first book in a series of 4+ books. This does not mean that spinoffs or prequels are off the table, but they would be part of a separate, future contract.
- 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.
Do you have any content restrictions?
We do not have notable content restrictions for adult books. Of course, we hope that sensitive topics be treated with care, regardless of age category or genre.
YA-specific guidelines
For YA books, we aim to publish stories that are intense and emotional for all ages—but still appropriate for a teen audience. “Appropriate” is subjective, so these are the guidelines we choose to follow at our press:
Romance & sexual content
Fade-to-black/closed-door romance only. No explicit on-page sexual scenes.
Sexual offenses
Sexual harassment or attempted sexual assault may be included if handled with narrative care.
Violence & profanity
Heavy violence and profanity may be included if appropriate to the tone of the story.
Quick FAQs for YA-specific guidelines:
- 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.
- Yes, if your book features a teen protagonist but contains explicit sexual content, please submit it under our “adult” category.
What should I prepare before the submission 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 our founder’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, 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, review and evaluate submissions.
Past winners
Previous contest winners participate as judges during the final stage.
How should I format my manuscript?
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 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 year following your signing date. We prioritize quality over speed.
50% royalties
Earn 50% of net revenue on every sale, paid monthly. This is roughly 2-4× what big publishers pay.
Author copies
Receive a complimentary published copy and order additional, personal 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. Connection to your characters is powerful and can easily outweigh other factors.
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, 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 a little time into polishing wouldn’t hurt, of course.
If I’m offered a publishing deal, do I need to sign the contract?
Not immediately. You’ll have time to review the contract and ask questions before deciding whether to accept the offer. If you choose to pursue other options, we may offer your spot to another finalist, as we promise to sign at least one winner from every submission window.
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 story contains subtle speculative fiction elements, it might fit into our “fantasy” or “reality-bent” 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.
Next Steps
We recommended reading our Publishing Model before submitting your work to us.