creative nonfiction Archives - Unencumbered Press

Minimalist graphic with the title “TELL ME” in bold black text, an orange brushstroke beneath it reading “A Poem from the Publisher’s Desk,” and a small arrow pointing toward the words “Unencumbered Press” on a white background.

May 7, 2026

“Tell Me” | A Poem from the Publisher’s Desk

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Poetry contemporary poetry, creative nonfiction, embodiment, emotional labor, intimacy, personal writing, poem, publisher’s desk, relationships, self‑reflection, Unencumbered Press, vulnerability

A poem about reassurance, bone‑deep longing, and the quiet ways we learn to speak to ourselves.

Graphic for Gunpowder & Peonies by John Carenen, featuring a smoky black‑and‑gray background, an orange ampersand, and illustrated peonies along the bottom. Story Title "Quicksand!"

April 24, 2026

“Quicksand!” By John Carenen

John Carenen Gunpowder & Peonies, Memoir 1950s Americana, 1950s Iowa, childhood fears, childhood imagination, childhood innocence, childhood stories, coming-of-age vignette, coming‑of‑age vignette, creative nonfiction, digital memoir series, family mischief, funny childhood story, humorous memoir, Iowa writers, literary series, memoir series, memoir writing, midwestern childhood, midwestern writers, nostalgic storytelling, personal essays, quicksand story, rural Iowa memories, sibling pranks, small-town Iowa, small‑town adventures

After seeing a man vanish into quicksand on TV, young John becomes convinced Iowa is riddled with deadly pits. A simple summer picnic turns into a comic showdown between childhood terror, sibling mischief, and questionable science.

April 10, 2026

“Her Name Was Eleanor” by John Carenen

John Carenen Gunpowder & Peonies, Memoir, Nonfiction 1950s Americana, childhood innocence, childhood stories, coming‑of‑age vignette, creative nonfiction, digital memoir series, humorous memoir, Iowa writers, literary series, memoir writing, midwestern writers, nostalgic storytelling, personal essays, small‑town Iowa

A tender, humorous childhood vignette from John Carenen’s Gunpowder & Peonies, capturing a five‑year‑old’s earnest proposal and the wonder of small‑town Iowa.

April 10, 2026

Gunpowder & Peonies | A Digital Memoir Series by John Carenen

Unencumbered Press Gunpowder & Peonies, Memoir, Nonfiction, Personal Stories 1950s Americana, author note, childhood stories, coming‑of‑age, creative nonfiction, digital memoir series, family stories, humorous memoir, Iowa writers, literary series, memoir writing, midwestern writers, new series launch, nostalgic storytelling, personal essays, small‑town Iowa, vignette collection

A nostalgic new digital memoir series from John Carenen. Gunpowder & Peonies brings to life the mischief, wonder, and narrow escapes of small‑town Iowa boyhood in the 1950s.

September 1, 2024

Publisher’s Picks for September 2024

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Altered Tarot, Book Publishing, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Publisher's Picks, Transparency Allison Russell, Arizona, Creative Inspiration, creative nonfiction, Flagstaff, Healing, Independent Publishing, Kickstarter Campaigns, Libby app, links, literary fiction, Melville House, MobyLives, muse, Music, Philip DeFranco, please comment, poetry, Resilience, September 2024, tarot, TBR, Technofeudalism, Transformation, Unencumbered Press, Wildflower Crafts, Yanis Varoufakis

Welcome to the inaugural post in my “Publisher’s Picks” series🙌🏻. Each month, I’ll share some of the shit—the creators, products, media, etc.—that is currently helping me navigate the beautiful/intense/wild… chaos of daily life. I don’t subscribe to the idea that everything happens for a reason or that life has a predetermined purpose. Instead, I believe in being present and finding joy in the here and now. In an uncertain world, it is our actions, thoughts, […]

August 24, 2024

Submitting to Unencumbered Press? Here’s What We’re Looking For

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Book Publishing, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Submissions anthologies, book submissions, bookshop.org, card decks, chapbooks, coffee table books, collaborative art books, contemporary poetry, creative nonfiction, innovative storytelling, literary fiction, literary maps, niche publications, publishing opportunities, zines

At Unencumbered Press, we are passionate about publishing work that challenges perspectives, inspires growth, and fosters meaningful conversations. We’re on the lookout for compelling, boundary-pushing stories and voices that resonate deeply with readers. This post outlines the specific types of submissions we seek, from literary fiction to creative nonfiction and contemporary poetry. Megan J. and I have curated lists of some of our favorite works in these genres on our bookshop.org affiliate profile. If your […]

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