Services: How to get published

How to select a publisher

Publishers specialise in different genres, so do your research. Check your local bookseller and library. Look at locally published books. Find ones that are similar in content and approach to yours. You will quickly make a short-list of publishers to approach.

How to prepare a submission

Publishers get many approaches. To improve your chances of being considered, see if their website specifies what they want to see in a submission. As a general rule, you should send only:

  • a single sample chapter (not necessarily the first)
  • a self-addressed, pre-stamped return envelope
  • two or three pages (no more) about you, the book, and the likely market for it.

What publishers want to know about you:

  • name, age, gender
  • postal and email addresses, and telephone and fax numbers
  • books and articles you have written, with dates and publishers
  • your qualifications and experience, especially in your subject area
  • names and addresses of at least two individuals who are qualified to give an opinion on your work.

What publishers want to know about your book:

  • likely title and subtitle
  • probable length (word count)
  • number of illustrations, graphs and tables
  • whether you have cleared permission for any material taken from other sources
  • whether there is a bibliography, appendices, and footnotes/endnotes
  • the contents in as much detail as possible and a description of the book's scope and aim (for fiction provide a plot summary)
  • why you wrote the book and why you think there is a need for it
  • any key features – new material or approaches
  • whether the book been offered to another publisher.

What publishers want to know about the potential market:

  • whether you have identified any trade, professional, and/or library market for your book (give as much detail as possible)
  • the kind of people (profession if relevant, age, gender, interests, etc.) who will buy your book
  • whether there are any competing or similar books to yours on the market, what they cost, and how your book is different to them
  • whether there are any possible overseas markets
  • whether there are any markets for the book in translation, and in which language.

What to expect

Don't expect a quick reply. Publishers receive many manuscripts – big publishers get dozens every week – so it can take some time before they even have a chance to consider yours. If the publisher is interested, you will be contacted for more information or a full manuscript.
Publishers are reluctant to offer opinion or comment on your book, except in very exceptional circumstances. At most they will suggest alternative publishers to approach.