Think Outside the Box: A New Publishing Opportunity for Outliers Members

D. P. Lyle

Oct 15

3 min read

What if the short story you've been meaning to write could become your first publishing credit?

What if you could work with a professional editor on that story—and see it published in a crime fiction anthology alongside other Outliers writers and instructors?

That's exactly the kind of opportunity we're excited to bring to Outliers Writing University members.

Introducing Outside the Box: Crime That Can’t Be Contained

Outliers Writing University is excited to announce a new anthology opportunity exclusively for members: Outside the Box: Crime That Can’t Be Contained.

We're looking for 14 crime fiction short stories from Outliers students to be included in a 16-story anthology, alongside two stories from Outliers instructors.

The anthology will also feature an introduction by Outliers co-founders, D.P. Lyle and Kathleen Antrim.

For writers who have dreamed about seeing their work in print, this is a chance to take an exciting step toward that goal.

What Does It Mean to Think “Outside the Box”?

The theme is intentionally wide open.

When someone is told to think "outside the box," we usually mean they should approach a problem in an unexpected way. But for this anthology, the box can mean almost anything.

Maybe it's literal.

A coffin. A cargo container. A bank vault.

Maybe it's a physical or professional space—a cubicle where someone spends every day, a workplace they can't escape, or a place where a character finds themselves trapped.

Maybe the box is financial, emotional, or situational.

A character could be trapped by debt, circumstance, coercion, fear, or a decision they can't take back. Or perhaps they're suddenly pushed into a situation far outside their experience and have to find a way out.

The possibilities are wide open.

We're looking for stories that take the concept somewhere unexpected while delivering the compelling characters, tension, and storytelling that make crime fiction so engaging.

Your Story Could Be Part of the Anthology

The anthology will feature 16 total stories:

2 stories by Outliers Writing University instructors
14 stories selected from Outliers students

Selected stories will represent a variety of crime fiction sub-genres, locations, characters, genders, and ethnicities.

And for the writers whose stories are selected, there's something particularly valuable about this opportunity:

You'll get to work with a real editor.

That's an experience that can be difficult to come by, especially for writers who are still building their publishing experience.

You'll have the opportunity to take a story you've written and work through the editorial process with a professional—while potentially seeing that story become part of a published anthology.

And you'll have something else you can carry forward in your writing career:

A publishing credit.

For some writers, this could be their very first.

A Chance to Take Your Writing to the Next Level

Writing a story is one thing.

Putting that story through a professional editorial process and seeing it published is another.

That's part of what makes this opportunity so exciting.

Whether you're working toward becoming a traditionally published author, building your publishing résumé, looking for a new writing challenge, or simply want to push yourself to write a great crime story, Outside the Box gives you a reason to put words on the page.

You don't have to wait until you've written a novel.

You don't have to have a long list of publishing credits.

You just need a story worth telling.

Submission Details

Stories submitted for consideration should meet the following requirements:

Length: 3,500–5,000 words

Genre: Crime fiction, any sub-genre

Deadline: February 28, 2027

Theme: The story should explore the idea of being or thinking "outside the box."

We're especially interested in stories that bring a diversity of locations, crime fiction sub-genres, and characters to the anthology.

The Opportunity Starts With Membership

There is one important requirement:

You must be an Outliers Writing University member to participate.

That means joining Outliers isn't just a way to access classes, replays, writing resources, and a community of writers. It can also open the door to opportunities like this one—opportunities to put what you're learning into practice and take the next step in your writing career.

If you've ever wanted to see your name in print, work with a professional editor, or earn your first publishing credit, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.