Black Lawrence Press
Black Lawrence Press is a U.S.-based independent literary publisher issuing novels, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, anthologies, chapbooks, and translations under multiple imprints, serving writers, readers, bookstores, and universities via contests, open reading periods, consultations, and direct sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Lawrence Press does
Black Lawrence Press is an independent literary publishing press based in the United States that publishes novels, poetry collections, fiction, creative non-fiction, anthologies, chapbooks, e-books, broadsides, and translations. Its frontlist and backlist span multiple formats and are issued under the Black Lawrence Press masthead and its subsidiary imprints, Nomadic Press (chapbooks) and Southeast Missouri State University Press (distribution and catalog partnership). The press explicitly courts historically marginalized voices through the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series and other calls, and maintains a steadily rotating contest portfolio — the Big Moose Prize (novel), Hudson Prize (poetry or short stories, $1,000 plus ten copies), St. Lawrence Book Award, Black River Chapbook Competition, Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, and the Derricotte/Eady Chapbook Prize — plus twice-annual open reading periods in June and November.
Manuscript acquisition is the operational core of the business and is funneled through the Submittable platform, supplemented by paid manuscript consultation services (Hybrid with EJ Colen, Poetry with H.R. Webster, Fiction with Rebecca Turkewitz). The press does not operate proprietary technology; its stack is a WordPress-based direct-to-consumer website (blacklawrencepress.com), third-party payment processing via PayPal/Braintree, Google Analytics, and an email newsletter (Sapling), with adjacent content properties Fair Copy journal and TR. Review of Translations.
Revenue is generated across five streams: book sales (typical price range $7.99 to $21.95) via direct website e-commerce, wholesale orders for bookstores, and a course adoption program for universities; contest entry fees of approximately $25 per submission plus an early-bird option that substitutes a Black Lawrence Press book purchase; manuscript consultation fees; recurring book subscriptions; and ancillary merchandise and journal advertising. Editorial leadership includes anthologies editor Abayomi Animashaun alongside the named consultants. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.
Black Lawrence Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Lawrence Press
- Legal name
- Black Lawrence Press
- Website
- https://blacklawrencepress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Black Lawrence Press is a U.S.-based independent literary publisher issuing novels, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, anthologies, chapbooks, and translations under multiple imprints, serving writers, readers, bookstores, and universities via contests, open reading periods, consultations, and direct sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Lawrence Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Literary Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)
Keywords
Black Lawrence Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Black Lawrence Press generates revenue primarily through direct sales of published books including anthologies, chapbooks, novels, poetry collections, fiction, non-fiction, and translations. Books are sold through their website e-commerce platform with prices ranging from approximately $7.99 to $21.95.
- Writing Contest Entry Fees: The press operates multiple annual writing contests including The Big Moose Prize, The Hudson Prize, The St. Lawrence Book Award, The Black River Chapbook Competition, The Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, and The Derricotte/Eady Prize. Entry fees (approximately $25 per submission) generate revenue while acquiring manuscript submissions.
- Manuscript Consultation Services: The press offers paid manuscript consultation services including Hybrid Consultations with EJ Colen, Poetry Consultations with H.R. Webster, and Fiction Consultations with Rebecca Turkewitz.
- Subscriptions: Black Lawrence Press offers book subscriptions through their subscriptions section, providing recurring revenue from subscribers.
- Wholesale and Course Adoption: The press sells books wholesale and offers course adoption programs for educational institutions, selling books in bulk to universities and bookstores.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Book Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Black Lawrence Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Lawrence Press is an independent literary publishing house that produces and sells poetry, fiction, non-fiction, chapbooks, anthologies, and translated works. The press also operates multiple annual manuscript competitions and writing contests, an Immigrant Writing Series, and offers paid manuscript consultation services to authors.
Product overview
Black Lawrence Press is an independent literary publishing press offering a portfolio of book products across multiple formats and through various programs. The core offering consists of published books including novels, poetry collections, fiction, non-fiction, and anthologies. The press operates under multiple imprints including Nomadic Press and Southeast Missouri State University Press. Supporting the publishing business are contest programs (The Hudson Prize, The Big Moose Prize, The St. Lawrence Book Award, The Black River Chapbook Competition, The Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, The Derricotte/Eady Prize), the Immigrant Writing Series for immigrant authors, twice-annual Open Reading Periods, Manuscript Consultation services, and Subscription offerings. Associated publications include Sapling (newsletter), Fair Copy journal, and TR. Review of Translations. The press also publishes chapbooks, broadsides, and e-books in various categories including fiction chapbooks, novels, short stories, poetry, and translations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nomadic Press: An imprint of Black Lawrence Press featuring chapbooks
- Southeast Missouri State University Press
Products and services
- The Hudson Prize An annual manuscript competition for a full-length book of poetry, with a winner selected for publication by Black Lawrence Press. Targeted at emerging and established poets submitting manuscripts.
- Big Moose Prize An annual literary award and manuscript competition, with the winning work published by Black Lawrence Press. Open to writers submitting across eligible genres.
- The St. Lawrence Book Award An annual competition for a first book of poetry, with the winning manuscript selected for publication by Black Lawrence Press. Aimed at debut poets.
- Black River Chapbook Competition An annual competition for a poetry chapbook, with the winning work published by Black Lawrence Press. Targeted at poets submitting short-form manuscripts.
- Philip Levine Prize for Poetry A prestigious annual poetry prize honoring Philip Levine, with the winning full-length poetry collection published by Black Lawrence Press. Open to poets nationally.
- Derricotte/Eady Prize A prize awarded to a previously published book of poetry, providing recognition and promotion for mid-career poets. Aimed at poets with an existing body of work.
- Immigrant Writing Series A dedicated publishing series at Black Lawrence Press focused on works by immigrant writers, supporting and amplifying diverse literary voices.
- Manuscript Consultations Paid editorial services providing authors with feedback on their manuscripts prior to submission. Delivered by editorial staff and consultants including EJ Colen, H.R. Webster, and Rebecca Turkewitz.
- Black Lawrence Press Books (Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Chapbooks, Anthologies, Translations) The core catalog of published books across multiple genres and formats, sold directly to readers through the press's online store and via wholesale channels. Priced between $7.99 and $21.95.
- Book Subscription Program A recurring subscription offering that delivers Black Lawrence Press titles to subscribers on a periodic basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hundreds of writers published through contests and open reading periods annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Lawrence Press
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Black Lawrence Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Black Lawrence Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- CLMP (Community of Literary Magazines and Presses)minorBlack Lawrence Press is a member of CLMP, the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses, which provides industry credibility, networking opportunities, and advocacy for independent literary publishers. This membership appears in the footer of their website.
- Southeast Missouri State University PressminorBlack Lawrence Press publishes books under the Southeast Missouri State University Press imprint alongside their own Black Lawrence Press and Nomadic Press imprints, as shown in their catalogs section.
- SubmittablecoreBlack Lawrence Press uses Submittable as their exclusive submission management platform for all contests and open reading periods, providing writers with a standardized digital submission experience.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Lawrence Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tin House Books: Independent literary publisher of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction with a strong editorial brand and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Comparable in catalog composition and contest/advisory programs.
- Sarabande Books: Independent literary press publishing poetry, fiction, and essays, with a flagship contest (the Kathryn A. Morton Prize) and a similar mix of imprint partnerships and direct-to-consumer sales.
- Coffee House Press: Independent nonprofit literary publisher with a curated catalog of poetry and fiction, plus contest-driven acquisition. Comparable in editorial niche, contest programs, and small-press direct sales.
- Copper Canyon Press: One of the largest independent literary presses in the U.S., publishing poetry and literary fiction through contests, an editorial-curated catalog, and direct-to-consumer sales. Highly comparable to Black Lawrence Press in format, audience, and contest-driven acquisition model.
- Four Way Books: Independent literary press publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction with contests (Levis Prize, Intro Prize) and a curated catalog. Comparable in scale, format mix, and contest-driven acquisition.
- Milkweed Editions: Independent nonprofit literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with contests and a strong direct-to-consumer and course adoption model. Comparable in editorial focus and distribution strategy.
- Graywolf Press: Independent nonprofit literary publisher of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction with a strong contest culture and direct sales. A larger-scale analog to Black Lawrence Press in editorial focus and prize-driven acquisition.
- BOA Editions: Nonprofit literary press publishing poetry and short fiction, with a national chapbook program and contest-based manuscript acquisition. Directly comparable in scale, format mix, and contest-led publishing model.
Emerging players
- Catapult: Independent literary publisher combining book publishing with an editorial blog and online community. Comparable in the literary fiction/nonfiction space and direct-to-consumer digital sales, though with a stronger digital footprint.
- Able Muse: Independent literary press and journal publishing poetry and fiction with editorial contests and chapbook programs. A smaller-scale peer with overlapping format and contest strategy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Black Lawrence Press social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Lawrence Press compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Black Lawrence Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Lawrence Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Black Lawrence Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Lawrence Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Lawrence Press
What does Black Lawrence Press do?
Black Lawrence Press is an independent literary publishing house that produces and sells poetry, fiction, non-fiction, chapbooks, anthologies, and translated works. The press also operates multiple annual manuscript competitions and writing contests, an Immigrant Writing Series, and offers paid manuscript consultation services to authors.
Is Black Lawrence Press a public or private company?
Black Lawrence Press is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Lawrence Press founded?
Black Lawrence Press was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does Black Lawrence Press make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are writing Contest Entry Fees, manuscript Consultation Services, subscriptions and wholesale and Course Adoption.
Who are Black Lawrence Press's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tin House Books, Sarabande Books, Coffee House Press, Copper Canyon Press, Four Way Books, Milkweed Editions, Graywolf Press and BOA Editions. Emerging players are Catapult and Able Muse.
Does Black Lawrence Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Lawrence Press.
What industry is Black Lawrence Press in?
Black Lawrence Press's product category is Literary Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAA, General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.