About Inkwell Press
Independent publishers of Buddhist literature and scholarship since 2010.
History & Mission
Why We Exist
Inkwell Press was founded in Edinburgh in 2010 by Helena Drummond-Scott and Roderick Cairns, two scholars who shared a conviction that the Buddhist literary traditions deserved a publisher willing to do them justice — one that would commission the finest translators, give scholars the time and editorial support to produce lasting work, and refuse to sensationalise or simplify traditions of extraordinary philosophical depth.
In an era of consolidation among publishing houses, Inkwell has remained resolutely independent. We have no investors and no imprints to maintain. Our editorial decisions are made on literary and scholarly grounds alone.
Over fifteen years we have published more than sixty titles spanning Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Pali, and Sanskrit Buddhist traditions. Our journal, now in its fourteenth year, has published work by scholars, translators, monks, nuns, and lay practitioners from more than twenty countries.
We are a small press in the oldest sense: a group of people who care deeply about books and believe that the right text in the right reader's hands can change a life.
At a Glance
- Founded
- 2010, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Books Published
- 62 titles (2010–2025)
- Journal
- Inkwell Journal, Vol. I–XIV (bi-annual)
- ISSN
- 2345-6789
- Distributor
- Gardners Books (UK & international)
"We believe that the Buddhist literary traditions of Asia represent one of humanity's greatest intellectual and spiritual inheritances — and that the finest scholarship can make them accessible without diminishing their depth."
The People
Editorial Team
A scholar of Tibetan Buddhism and former lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, Helena founded Inkwell after a decade in academic publishing. She has translated two books of Tibetan poetry and serves on the editorial boards of several Buddhist studies journals. Her particular interests are Nyingma literature and the vernacular devotional traditions of Central Tibet.
Roderick studied Classical Chinese and Japanese at Oxford before completing a doctorate at SOAS on Chan/Zen literary culture. He oversees Inkwell's East Asian list and serves as the founding editor of the journal. He has edited or co-translated eleven books, including the widely-used anthology Voices from the Zendo.
Niamh joined Inkwell in 2018 after completing her doctorate at Trinity College Dublin on contemporary Buddhist fiction in English. She manages the journal submission process, commissions reviews, and is the primary editor for Inkwell's creative writing list. She is also a practising poet with three collections to her name.
Open Submissions
Submission Guidelines
We welcome submissions to the Inkwell Journal year-round. Book proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. Please read the guidelines carefully before submitting.
Journal: Essays & Criticism
We publish scholarly essays, critical appraisals, and accessible academic writing engaging any aspect of Buddhist literary, philosophical, or artistic tradition. Work should be rigorously argued but accessible to an educated general reader.
- Length: 4,000–10,000 words
- Chicago citation style (notes and bibliography)
- Abstract of 150 words required
- Response time: 10–12 weeks
Journal: Translation
We welcome translations from any Buddhist language tradition. Translators should provide a brief introduction to the text, its context, and the translation choices made. We ask that translators hold the rights or have obtained permissions.
- Length: Up to 8,000 words translated text
- Introduction of 500–1,500 words
- Source text or reference required
- Response time: 10–12 weeks
Journal: Creative Writing
Fiction, memoir, and creative nonfiction with a clear engagement with Buddhist thought, practice, or culture. We are not looking for explicitly religious writing but for work that grapples honestly with these traditions and the lives lived within or alongside them.
- Prose: 2,000–6,000 words
- Poetry: 3–8 poems per submission
- Cover note of one paragraph
- Response time: 10–12 weeks
Book Proposals
We commission and acquire translations, scholarly monographs, essay collections, and works of literary nonfiction and fiction. We do not publish dharma books, meditation guides, or popular self-help. Please query before sending a full manuscript.
- Query letter of 1–2 pages
- Synopsis and sample chapter or chapters
- Brief biography and scholarly credentials
- Response time: 12–16 weeks
Send all submissions to: submissions@inkwellpress.co.uk
Contact UsDistribution & Rights
Where to Buy Inkwell Books
Inkwell Press titles are distributed in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Gardners Books. In North America, our titles are available through Ingram. For European and Australian orders, please contact us directly. Most titles are also available through major online retailers.
For translation rights, film and audio rights, or institutional licensing enquiries, please contact our rights department at rights@inkwellpress.co.uk.
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