Submit your work to publishers: a step-by-step guide
It’s been the school holidays, which means I’ve been trying to squeeze writing in between wrangling children and packing the dishwasher for the five millionth time. But now school’s back, I’m back to business. And today’s business is talking to you about preparing fiction and non-fiction work for submission. As an author and Melbourne copywriter, I submit work regularly to clients and publishers. Despite this, preparing work for submission remains a nail-biting process of ensuring everything’s just right.
For those fiction and non-fiction, or just interested, writers here today, I’ve prepared a quick step-by-step guide below to help you make sure you’ve covered all bases before submitting your manuscript to a publisher.
Due to the highly competitive nature of the industry, publisher submissions are high stakes and need to be as close to perfection as humanly possible. First impressions count, so read on before hitting the send button.
Here are some general steps for preparing to submit your novel to a publisher in Australia…
Edit, edit, edit and proofread your manuscript: Make sure your manuscript is as polished and error-free as possible. Consider feedback from an objective pair of eyes — such as a beta reader or a professional editor.
Research potential publishers: Look for publishers who have published books in your genre or field of interest. Read their submission guidelines CAREFULLY to ensure your manuscript meets their requirements.
Write a query letter: This is a letter that introduces you and your manuscript to the publisher. It should include a brief summary of or a short extract from your story, an author bio, and any relevant writing credentials or achievements. Limit your letter to one page only.
Prepare a synopsis: A synopsis is a summary of your novel's plot, characters, and themes. It should be clear, concise, and engaging. Don’t dig into the detail too much, but stick to the main character and storyline. Again, aim for one page in length.
Format your manuscript: Check the publisher's submission guidelines for specific formatting requirements. Generally, publishers want manuscripts double-spaced, in a readable font (such as Times New Roman), and with page numbers. Many publishers only want to read the first three chapters of your manuscript to begin with. Again, take note of the guidelines.
Submit your manuscript: Most publishers prefer electronic submissions. Follow their guidelines carefully and include any required materials, such as your query letter and synopsis. Before hitting SEND, double and triple-check all of the above — including spelling and grammar. You don’t want your submission tossed aside because you misspelt the publisher’s name for instance!
Waaaaaaaaait for a response: This is the most difficult step by far. Publishers receive a huge number of submissions, so it may take several weeks or even months to receive a response if you get one at all. Although this is hair-pullingly painful, try to avoid emailing, calling, texting or stalking the publisher. If you haven't heard back after the stated response time, send a polite follow-up email. If you don’t hear back again, try another publisher or even a literary agent.
Note: It is acceptable to submit to multiple publishers at once, but it’s good form to be transparent about this in your query letter.
Next blog I’ll talk about submitting to literary agents. In the meantime, here’s a short explanation of the difference between agents and publishers.
A literary agent is a professional who represents authors and helps them to find publishers for their work. An agent works on behalf of the author, negotiating contracts and securing book deals with publishers. They typically receive a percentage of the author's royalties as payment for their services.
A publisher, on the other hand, is a person or company that produces and distributes the finished product — books. Publishers typically acquire the rights to publish an author's work and are responsible for editing, designing, printing, and distributing the book. They also handle marketing and publicity for the book and pay the author royalties based on sales.
Many authors seek out literary agents to help them find a publisher and negotiate a publishing contract. Some publishers won’t accept unsolicited submissions directly from authors, meaning that an agent is necessary.
If you’ve already been through the publication process, I don't need to tell you that writing and then submitting a manuscript is full of highs and lows. So, be kind to yourself. Pat yourself on the back for the huge effort you’ve made thus far and for the fact you’ve put something into the world that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. Bloody well done!
For a list of Australian publishers, check out the 2023 publisher list on Reedsy.
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Discover my novels, Hello, Goodbye and Small Blessings at Allen and Unwin.