We are elated to bring back submission opportunities for full-length titles to Not a Cult via the Solstice Prize. The Solstice Prize is granted in three genre categories, awarding a $2,000 advance and a publishing deal with Not a Cult for each category:

• Poetry, mixed media & art books will be considered in this category but are judged much more stringently due to their complexity. 
• Nonfiction, essays
• Fiction, novels, or short stories

Not a Cult will accept submissions for the Solstice Prize from February 3, 2026 through April 17, 2026. Recipients of the award will be announced on June 21, 2026. 

Please upload your submission file as a single PDF that includes the elements stated under the guidelines. 

Guidelines for Poetry:

• A ten-poem sample from your manuscript
• Please indicate the approximate length of your full manuscript
• A book description          
• About the author
• Comparable titles
• Any relevant past publications
• Any relevant public-facing social media accounts 
• *If you’re submitting mixed media / something that would constitute an art book, please submit samples of the visual material

Guidelines for Nonfiction:

• 1,500-3,000-word excerpt from your manuscript
• Please indicate the approximate length of your full manuscript
• A book description          
• About the author
• Comparable titles
• Any relevant past publications
• Any relevant public-facing social media accounts      

Guidelines for Fiction:

• 1,500-3,000-word excerpt from your manuscript
• Please indicate the approximate length of your full manuscript
• A book description          
• About the author
• Comparable titles
• Any relevant past publications
• Any relevant public-facing social media accounts         

The submission fee for the Solstice Prize is a purchased title from www.notacult.media within the submitting year.