When a publisher doesn’t accept unsolicited submissions…

November 30, 2009 by Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant)
Filed under: Getting Published 

Cressida DowningYou’ve done your research, you know who to aim your work at, but there’s a big ‘No Entry’ sign that stops you going any further.

What do you do when a publisher says it doesn’t accept unsolicited submissions?

Sending your work in regardless runs the risk of an instant return or no answer at all, which is a dispiriting lack of communication. Not sending it feels like you are cutting off the perfect partnership for your writing career.

There are two ways around this – neither is perfect, but they are definitely worth a try.

In both cases, you are aiming to become a solicited submission.

One approach is to go to industry events, try to contact an editor in the relevant department, then see if your (brief) description of your work entices them to request to see it. This won’t always work, and can run the risk of antagonising the editor in question, who probably doesn’t have a lot of time for this sort of contact. However if you do come across someone who you think could help, it is worth a try.

The alternative is to get your submission taken on by a literary agent, and let the agent know why you feel that particular publisher is right for your work.

Once you are agented, you are no longer an ‘unsolicited submission’, and will be considered. Most agencies still consider unsolicited work, so it is easier to target them than publishers.

Best of luck!

Cressida
(editorial consultant)

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Comments

10 Comments on When a publisher doesn’t accept unsolicited submissions…

  1. Purnamasi on Dec 7, 2009 at 11:24am

    2. HI, How could I know that whether a publisher has asterisk mark or not? I will be evergreatful to you if you will clear my doubt as soon as possible.

  2. iran on Dec 8, 2009 at 10:35am

    3. hi
    is it so important that you have an agent to do the things you as an author could do. why don’t publishers take on novels that agents don’t support.

  3. Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Dec 8, 2009 at 16:16pm

    4. Purnamsi – Hi, you can get the information on whether a publisher is accepting unsolicited submissions by checking their entry either in the Listings on this website, or in the printed Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook.

    iran – Agents do a lot for authors – I’m sure we’ll have a blog post soon on what services they offer. In relation to unsolicited submissions, if a publisher receives a submission from an agent, they will know that someone within the industry has assessed the quality of the work.

    Cressida

  4. Audrey-K on Dec 9, 2009 at 10:40am

    5. Hi Cressida,

    I asked you another question earlier about getting an agent in the UK if you’re not from the UK. Thanks for your answer on that, by the way.

    I have another question for you: I’ve finally finished my synopsis. My covering letter is as good as it’s going to be. My sample chapters are polished and edited. I’ve made a longlist and a shortlist of agencies that I feel are best suited for my work. In short, I am ready to go out there and bag myself an agent.

    But now, the big question: I’ve done the research on all submissions guidelines. But who do you address your submission to, if the agency states just a general address for submissions? Like for instance when it says: “submission department” .

    Is it okay to just write to a dear Sir, dear Madam?

    Thanks again!

  5. badger on Dec 10, 2009 at 07:54am

    6. I feel it’s okay to write to “Dear Sir”, but it’s better to write to a name. Why not phone the office and ask? You can double check all the address details at the same time – that way your first contact will be thoroughly professional…

  6. Audrey-K on Dec 10, 2009 at 12:22pm

    7. Hi badger,

    Thanks for your advice. The thing is, I’m not in the UK, so phoning will be a) very expensive (postage already is) and b) I’m actually kinda scared that I will sound stupid, lol.

    But I might do so, yeah. Checking the address is probably a wise thing anyway.

    so thanks very much, I’ll think about it some more. (Is anyone else scared to take that last step? I’m pretty freaked out about it, truth be told. It all gets to be so real now. )

  7. Purnamasi on Dec 16, 2009 at 11:22am

    8. Hi, I am not asking whether a publisher is accepting unsolicited submisssions or not. My question is about ‘asterisk.’ So please answer to this query as soon as possible.

  8. Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Dec 16, 2009 at 14:50pm

    9. Hi Purnamasi, I think the asterisks you’re referring to indicate whether a particular publishing house is a member of the Publishers Association or Publishing Scotland. These appear in the UK Publishers listings in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. For more details on what these organisations do, take a look at their websites. Hope that clears up your query. Best wishes, Jo

  9. inish3 on Jan 9, 2010 at 10:20am

    10. Do you have a list of reparable Agents that you can send your manuscript to. Please let me know .

  10. Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks) on Jan 11, 2010 at 09:39am

    11. inish3 – yes, we list literary agents in the printed Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2010, which is availabe to buy at bookshops or online from A&C Black. You can also search for them by going to our Search page and choosing All Literary Agents from the dropdown menu under Category.

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