On Paper Press
A publishing imprint of On Paper LLC
For stories that rupture silence and rebuild possibility.
We center BIPOC voices, queer voices, and stories from the in-between. We also uplift non-traditional voices, including white authors whose work interrogates power, advances justice, or lives in service of collective truth. If it tells the truth and refuses respectability, it belongs here.
On Paper Press
Truth. Legacy. Liberation.
On Paper Press is not here to replicate the publishing industry.
It’s a press built for possibility.
On Paper Press: Founding Manifesto
We were never meant to survive—but we wrote anyway. In margins. In code. In memory. In prayer. On napkins. In exile. In grief. In journals no one ever read. We wrote because we had to. We wrote because silence was too expensive. We wrote because the world refused to hold us, so we built a page big enough to hold ourselves.
On Paper Press is not just a publishing house. It is a declaration. A refusal. A homecoming. A survival strategy turned legacy.
We stand in the lineage of abolitionist presses. Of freedom writers. Of the Black, brown, queer, disabled, immigrant, mothering, mourning, multitasking, truth-telling people who have always been erased—and who always wrote back.
We don’t publish to perform. We publish to protect. We don’t print to persuade. We print to remember.
We are a press born of paper, but moved by people. By those who couldn’t find themselves on bookshelves and decided to build one. By those who live at the intersection of what the world calls too much—and still choose to speak.
We believe:
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Story is strategy.
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Memory is medicine.
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Grief is sacred.
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Healing is generational.
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And language can be a portal to freedom.
We are not neutral. We are not apolitical. We are not waiting for permission.
We publish what we wish someone would’ve told us. We print what the system tried to bury. We speak in the voice we were told was too raw, too angry, too broken, too brown.
We are On Paper. And we are printing what possibility looks like. In full color. With no apology. And with every ancestor at our back.
Welcome to the press. Welcome to the proof. Welcome to On Paper.
On Paper Press FAQ's
✍🏾 GENERAL
What is On Paper Press?
On Paper Press is a nontraditional publishing house that centers first-time authors, unheard voices, and the kind of work that doesn’t fit mainstream molds. We publish truth-telling, genre-defying, liberation-rooted projects that traditional publishers often overlook.
Are you a self-publishing company?
No. We are an independent press—not a vanity or self-publishing service. We co-create books with authors in collaborative partnership and share royalties, ownership terms, and vision. Our model is built to disrupt, not duplicate, the mainstream system.
What kinds of books do you publish?
We publish memoir, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, curriculum, zines, visual books, children’s literature, screenplays, music books, and more. If it lives on paper and has something to say, it belongs here. See our full list [above or here].
📤 SUBMISSIONS
How do I submit my work?
Fill out our submissions application. You’ll receive an email confirmation within 3 business days. We respond with a final decision or next step within 6–8 weeks.
Do I need to have a completed manuscript to submit?
Not always. We accept proposals, partial drafts, or full manuscripts. Be honest about where your project stands—we may help you shape it.
Will I receive feedback if I’m not accepted?
Yes. Every submission receives thoughtful review. If we’re not the right home for your work now, we’ll offer insight on why and what would make it publisher-ready.
Why do you ask questions like “Why On Paper?” in the submission form?
Because we’re not for everyone—and we’re not trying to be. We publish on purpose. Your answers help us understand how your project fits our vision and how we can serve your story.
📘 PUBLISHING PROCESS
What happens if I’m accepted?
You’ll meet with our team to co-create a publishing plan. Together, we’ll finalize your editorial approach, layout and design, timeline, royalties, and support tier.
What’s different about your publishing model?
We don’t require agents. We don’t reject work for being raw or emotional. We don’t filter by platform size. We protect the voice, not just the product. We give authors real partnership in the publishing process. See “What Makes Us Different” for more.
Will I own my book?
Yes. You retain all rights until a publishing agreement is signed—and even then, we only license the rights needed to publish. Our contracts are author-forward, clear, and negotiable.
💰 ROYALTIES + COSTS
How much does it cost to publish with you?
There’s no flat fee. Instead, we offer publishing tiers across three categories: Reach, Design, and Marketing. Some tiers are underwritten by the press; others may require a shared investment. Your royalty rate depends on which upgraded tiers you select.
Do you take a portion of book sales?
Yes, but only if we invest significant resources into publishing your book. We believe in shared reward. All terms are transparent and based on the tier you choose.
What if I can’t afford the upgraded tiers?
We offer underwriting options, payment plans, and strategic packages to make publishing accessible. You’ll never be rejected just because of budget.
📦 ARC COPIES + PROMOTION
Will I get ARC copies (advance reader copies)?
Only if it makes sense. ARC strategy is included in our Amplified marketing tier and offered as an add-on in Collaborative. We use ARCs to support blurbs, early reviews, and media coverage—not as a default step.
Will my book be promoted by On Paper Press?
Yes, if you select a marketing tier that includes shared or full promotion. Otherwise, we give you tools to promote your own launch successfully.
Do you publish audiobooks or trailers?
We offer those as part of our Amplified tier or as optional upgrades. Let us know what you need and we’ll build a plan together.
🧾 CONTRACT + LEGAL
Do I need to sign a contract?
Yes. Once we agree to publish your work, we’ll send a contract that outlines royalties, timeline, rights, and expectations. You’ll always have time to review and ask questions.
Who owns the rights to my work?
You do. We only hold the rights we need to print, publish, and distribute your book under our agreement. You can terminate the agreement at any time with proper notice.
Do you register with the Library of Congress?
Yes, we are a registered publisher with the Library of Congress. LOC registration is included in the Global Reach tier or can be added as an upgrade.