Manuscripts Wanted for Publication by or About Prisoners 

If you are a prisoner who has written a book, or would like to write a book, we want to publish it. All books on any subject are welcome. We do not screen or censor in any way, so you are free to write anything you wish. There is no charge to you to publish your book and no charge to anyone who wishes to read it. Plus you retain full rights to your book if you later wish to place it with a literary agent or commercial publisher. Placing your book on our website is in fact a good way to bring it to the attention of agents and larger publishers. (You won’t get an agent or publisher unless there is a “buzz” or following for you and your book, which our free publishing program can help provide. Even bestselling author Stephen King had to self-publish and give away his first five books, which were eventually picked up and published by commercial publishers after he was “discovered.”)

When we receive your book, it will be scanned in its entirety, just as you submitted it to us. Do not only a portion of your book and tell us that more will be sent later since we will publish only what you initially sent and not ad to the book later (though you can send us a different book with another title which we will publish). Any language is acceptable. Whether handwritten or typed, your book will be digitally scanned and published exactly as we receive it. It can even contain drawings and photos if you wish to include them.

After we scan your book, it will be placed on the Internet for free worldwide distribution and reading at our website www.PrisonsFoundation.org and will remain there indefinitely (unless you or your new publisher compensates us $75 for the cost of removal). If you want to have a family member, friend (or enemy), literary agent, commercial publisher or anyone else read or download your book after it is published by us, just give that person the website address www.PrisonsFoundation.org and direct them to search for your name and the title of your book there. When a person clicks your name, your book will appear on their computer to read, download or print without charge to them. It’s as simple and easy as that.

Finally, you have a worldwide unfettered voice! Here are some guidelines you must follow for us to publish your book. 1. Every page of your book must be on 8 ½ by 11 paper and unbound (if the pages are wrinkled, creased or damaged, some pages might not scan); 2. Nonfiction and fiction books must be over 100 pages and not more than 500 pages; 3. Plays, screenplays, poetry books, music books, art books and comic books must be over 20 pages and not more than 150 pages; 4. A SASE showing your prison address must accompany your book so we can inform you of its imminent publication and verify that you are indeed the author; 5. The cover of your book or second page should contain your name, title of the book (not to exceed 10 words, including subtitle), date, whether the book is nonfiction or fiction, a brief paragraph about it (to entice readers to read your book) and both your prison address and your outside permanent address; 6. Legal motions, transcripts and court records (unless they are brief and part of your book) will NOT be published; 7. If your book includes photos or drawings, they must be glued firmly to 8 ½ by 11 paper exactly where you want them in your book; 8. Use only one side of each sheet of paper (though you can use paper with one side previously used for another purpose as long as you X-out the side that is not part of your book). I

f you write or type your book on both sides, it will still be published but all pages will be scanned as two pages, front and back (even blank pages) and none will be reproduced in color (also some pages might not scan properly).

We also recommend that you number and put your name on every page, write or print your book legibly and get another prisoner or staff member to edit your book before you send it to us. Remember, once your book is published on our website, it will remain there for posterity.

Finally, no manuscript will be returned. If you want a copy for yourself, either make it before you send the book to us or wait for it to be published by us at www.PrisonsFoundation.org so you (or your outside contact) can download or print it from the Internet. It will be on the Internet permanently, so you can print it anytime. We also regret that because of staff shortages we are unable to critique your book or respond to any questions you may have either before or after you send it to us. Kindly allow up to 60 days after we receive your book for it to be published on www.PrisonsFoundation.org.

Please send your book to Prisons Foundation, 2512 Virginia Ave. NW, #58043, Washington, DC 20037.  (or digitally submit it to staff@prisonsfoundation.org). Thank you and congratulations on your book’s imminent publication. You have every reason to fel proud.