If you’ve finished writing your manuscript, you’ve had someone critique it and you’re sure you can do no more to improve it, you might now be ready to approach publishers. This can be a daunting prospect! It’s extremely difficult to secure a contract with a publisher, so you must do your research before trying to submit your work. If you get it wrong the first time, you’re unlikely to get a second chance with a publisher.
The first step is to identify the publishers that accept submissions in your genre (many publishers only accept specific genres). Also check that they are currently accepting submissions – some only accept them at certain times of the week or month, and some don’t accept them at all.
Publishers also have different procedures and guidelines for submissions. It’s vital that you check the submission guidelines of the publisher you’re researching, because if you don’t follow them correctly, your manuscript often won’t be considered.
They may request a synopsis and a few chapters of the work, or they may be happy to receive the whole manuscript, especially if it’s a picture book or a short chapter book. You may be asked to provide a document identifying the book’s market and competition, among other things. Publishers will usually also specify whether you should submit a hard-copy or electronic file.
Eliminate as many grammatical and spelling errors as possible from the text, and do not submit a first draft to a publisher. The manuscript must be in the best possible shape before submission.
See the Australian Publishers Association for a comprehensive list of Australian publishers, and SPUNC for a list of small and independent publishers.
