“50 Publishers Who Accept Unsolicited Manuscripts” by Joan Y. Edwards
Updated July 1, 2022.
Please write me at joanyedwards1@gmail.com if this list helps you get published. Also, let me know if a link no longer works. Publishers change their websites often. Thank you for reading my blog.
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Your revised and edited manuscripts are saying:
“Send me to a publisher. Send me. Send me. I’m ready!”
It’s okay if in the past you didn’t submit your work. Forget the past. Focus on right now. Check the guidelines for the publisher you’ve chosen. Look at the books they published. Do you like the illustrations on the covers? Are the books appealing to you?
If you’re like me, one of your stories says, “Send me to a publisher. Send me. Send me. I’m ready!” It’s waited anxiously for submission for days, months, or years. Now is the time to send your manuscript to a publisher. How can you turn down your sweet manuscript?
What? You’ve decided to do it now. Hurray!
It’s important to follow the very latest guidelines on the publisher’s website. Does this publisher accept unsolicited manuscripts? Do they want paper or online submissions? Are there certain months, they don’t accept submissions?
Some companies may offer you the opportunity to self-publish or vanity publish with them. Don’t do it. Go to a traditional publisher who does not charge you money for anything.
Adult
1. Algora Publishing (Adults, Non-fiction)
Algora is an academic-type press, publishing general nonfiction for the educated reader. We publish works by American and international authors.
Subjects relating to anthropology, business/economics, creative nonfiction, diplomacy, education, government/politics, health/medicine, history, language/literature, military/war/peace, music, nature, philosophy, political economics, secular analysis of religion, science, sociology, translations, travel-foreign experiences, women’s issues/studies may be considered.
2.Baen Books (Adults) Submission Guidelines Specialized – Science Fiction and Fantasy
Baen Books is a science fiction and fantasy publisher. It accepts unsolicited manuscripts for all books and prefers electronic submissions through its manuscript-submission form. Baen is very accepting of new authors and has a large e-publishing department.
3. Bancroft Press (Adults) Fiction and Non-Fiction
4. Blaze Vox Books (Adults) Submission Guidelines – poetry and fiction submissions.
5. Chelsea Green Publishing (Adults) Submission Guidelines Specialized.
Chelsea Green specializes in books that promote the “politics and practice of sustainable living.”
6. Carina Press Romance
7. Chicago Review Press (Adults) Nonfiction, Memoirs
Chicago Review Press publishes nonfiction in the following categories: African American interest, autobiography/biography, DIY, film, food and drink (not cookbooks), history, music, parenting, politics, popular culture, popular science, social science, sports, regional (Midwest), nature/outdoor/travel, true crime, and women’s interest.
8. DAW (Adults) was bought by Astra Publishing. I am checking about their submission guidelines.
DAW is actively seeking new works of science fiction and fantasy written by and/or featuring people of color, Native people, disabled people, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ people, and those from other underrepresented or marginalized communities. They may be closed to unsolicited submissions at the present time.
9. Harlequin Romance
We accept unagented submissions for Harlequin Series (sometimes known as “Category Romance”) books.
10. Hub City Press (Adult)
Hub City Press publishes books of literary fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. Uses Submittable Software for submissions.
Hub City Press is not looking for submissions in the following categories: romance, science fiction, true crime, mystery, cookbooks, how-to books, horror/paranormal or specific-religion inspirational books. We also can no longer accept queries for poetry collections. We do not publish books for young people (YA, middle grade or children’s).
11. Kensington Publishing Corporation (Adults) Fiction and Non-Fiction.
12. NCM Publishing (Adults and Young Adult, Fiction and Non-Fiction)
NCM editors are seeking tasteful provocative, intelligent fiction manuscripts in the areas of sexuality and erotica, romance, urban and street, science fiction, Christian fiction, and general interest, as well as nonfiction, and lively stories of all genres of fiction for the general population between the ages of 18 and older (as well as Young Adult fiction).
Along with your submission, please include a book marketing and promotions plan.
13. McFarland Books
Non-Fiction only. McFarland welcomes proposals for nonfiction manuscripts on a wide range of subjects, not limited to the following: popular culture and performing arts (especially film, television, dance, gaming), military history (especially World War II and Civil War), international studies, health topics, sports (especially baseball, boxing, American football), automotive (and planes and trains), literary studies (including both classic and genre fiction, mystery, SF, fantasy, horror), medieval studies, mythology, folklore, and women’s and gender studies. Multicontributor manuscripts and edited collections of essays are welcome.
14. Persea Books (Adult)
They publish fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. They do not publish genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, thrillers), self-help, textbooks, or children’s books.
15. Press 53 (Adults poetry and short stories)
Uses Submittable Software for submissions.
16. Regal House Publishing (Adult and Children)
Regal House (literary, historical, contemporary fiction, poetry via our Terry J. Cox Poetry Award, memoirs, short story collections via our W.S. Porter Prize), and our imprints Fitzroy Books (childrens, MG and YA fiction) and Pact Press ( full-length fiction, memoirs, essay collections, anthologies), are open for submissions from authors and literary agents.
17. Persea Publishing (Adult and Young Adult) Scroll down their page for submissions.
We publish literary novels and short story collections, creative nonfiction, memoir, essays, biography, literary criticism, books on contemporary issues (multicultural, feminist, LGBT), and literary and multicultural anthologies that are assigned in secondary and university classrooms.
18. Quirk Books(Adults-Fiction and Non-Fiction)
19. Redleaf Press (Adults Caring for or Teaching Children)
Established in 1973, Redleaf Press is a leading nonprofit publisher of exceptional curriculum, management, and business resources for early childhood professionals.
20. D.A. Owen Publications (Adults)
Science Fiction and Fantasy, Romance
21. Shambhala (Adult)
Currently our acquisition interests are on the topics of Buddhism, mindful living, yoga, psychology, health and wellness, nature, parenting, crafting, creativity, and cooking.
22. Sky Horse Publishing (Adult Non-Fiction)
23.Wolfpack Publishing (Adult)
men’s adventure, mystery & suspense and action-adventure (currently closed to unsolicited submissions.
24. Poets and Writers Small Presses Database for Poets and Writers (Adult)
Search for small publishers who publish poetry or collections of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction (memoir), etc. You can filter the genres and it will show you your choices.
Adults and Children
25. Andrew’s McMeel Poetry, Humor and children’s books
26. August Books (Adults and Children) Adult books about storytelling and collections of folktales.
Adults For our general trade line, we are interested in acquiring books related to folktales, stories from the oral tradition, stories from diverse cultures, scary stories and resource books about using stories or storytelling in the classroom.
Children For our Little Folk children’s picture-book line, we are seeking single-story manuscripts that feature traditional folktales.
27. Dreaming Big Publications Submission Guidelines (Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Children)
28. Familius (Adults and Children)
Familius is a mission-driven company. We believe that the family is the fundamental unit of society, and all of our books reflect that in some way. Our categories include parenting, marriage, family fun, education, cooking, health and wellness, children’s books, and fiction for both adults and young adults. Basically, if your book can help us achieve our mission of helping families be happy, we want to talk to you.
29. Free Spirit Publishing (Children, Teens, Parents, Educators, Counselors)
Free Spirit Publishing publishes high-quality nonfiction books and learning materials for children, teens, parents, educators, counselors, and others who live and work with young people.
30. Gibbs Smith Adults Nonfiction and Children’s Books.
Our main emphasis is on interior design, architecture, children’s, and cookbooks. Additionally, we accept submissions in the following subjects: arts and crafts, western humor with general appeal, general humor, and gift books.
31. Sourcebooks Adults and Children
32. TouchPoint Press Fiction and Nonfiction for Adults and Children
TouchPoint Press publishes titles across multiple genres and sub-genres. Our focus is not so much on a specific genre or sub-genre but on acquiring manuscripts that are exceptionally well-written, fast-paced, and engaging. At this time TouchPoint is only accepting submissions from the U.S.A.
33. Regal House Publishing
(Adult and Children) Regal House (literary, historical, contemporary fiction, poetry via our Terry J. Cox Poetry Award, memoirs, short story collections via our W.S. Porter Prize), and our imprints
Fitzroy Books (childrens, MG and YA fiction) and
Pact Press ( full-length fiction, memoirs, essay collections, anthologies), are open for submissions from authors and literary agents.
34. Seven Stories Press (Adult and Children Fiction and Nonfiction)
35. Shadow Mountain Publishing (Adult and Children – All genres.
We publish general fiction and nonfiction for all ages, all genres. We have a strong interest in middle grade fantasy and clean romance.
36. Sterling Publishing (Adult and Children)
37. Stone Pier Press (Adult and Children)
We’re looking for books about good food; books that inspire support for climate-friendly, agriculturally sustainable, and good-for-us eating. We tilt toward stories that feature solutions and problem-solvers. But what’s most important is that your book inspire greener eating, and be a really good read.
We’ll consider narrative nonfiction, guidebooks, memoirs, young adult novels, biographies, and children’s books. Among the books we’re developing is a handbook for the backyard carbon farmer, the intensifying hunt for a humane burger, and a funny kid’s book that kicks off a barnyard rescue series by introducing a pig named Sprig.
38. TCK Publishing (Adult and Children)
Fiction and Non-Fiction
39. Turner Publishing
Turner currently publishes 5,000 titles. Turner has a broad array of titles in fiction & non-fiction, including business, young adult, history, romance, mystery, cookbooks, health & wellness, animals, design, and more.
40. Albert Whitman & Company (Children)
Picture book manuscripts for ages 2-8. Novels and chapter books for ages 8-12. Young adult novels. Nonfiction for ages 3-12 and YA. Art samples showing pictures of children.
42. Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing is a leading publisher of humor, inspiration, poetry, and middle grade children’s books and licensed, pop culture-relevant calendars, publishing as many as 150 books and nearly 200 calendars annually.
43. Charlesbridge (Children)
Charlesbridge offers free activities to readers.
44. Chronicle Books (Children) Fiction and Non-Fiction Requires paper submissions.
45. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (Children)
46. Flashlight Press (Children)Flashlight accepts only picture books.
47. Holiday House (Children) Holiday House is a publisher of children’s books only. We specialize in quality hardcovers, from picture books to young adult, both fiction and nonfiction.
48. Peachtree (Children)
49. Ripple Grove Press (Children) Picture Books only (Ages 2-6)
50. Sky Pony Press (Children)
RESOURCES
Free Lance Writers
Jacob Jans. Freedom With Writing sends you reviews of companies that hire writers.
Jacob Jans. Writing Launch provides training for freelance writers.
Bethany Carl. “Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelancer:” https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-being-a-freelancer/
Places to get published:
Jacob Jans. Authors Publish Magazine sends you publishers accepting submissions of creative writing.
Emily Harstone. Ten Respected Publishers Who Accept Unsolicited Manuscripts.
Meera Nair. 20 Top Traditional Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts
Short Story
John Fox. Publishers of Short Story Collections:” https://thejohnfox.com/publishers-of-short-story-collections/
Kelly Gurnett. “Where to Submit Short Stories: 23 Magazines and Websites That Want Your Work:” https://thewritelife.com/where-to-submit-short-stories/
Charlotte Dillon has an awesome list of publishers and agents and many resources: http://www.charlottedillon.com/PubsAgents.html
Meera Nair. Writing Oasis. 20 Publishers Who are Accepting Unsolicited Submissions
Emily Harstone. Ten Respected Publishers That Accept Unsolicited Submissions
Library.wise.edu. Publishers of Feminist, GWS, and LGBTQ+ Publishers (may or may not accept unsolicited manuscripts)
Looking for an Agent? Check out “22 Literary Agents Who Are Looking for You:” http://joanyedwards.com/2013/09/06/22-literary-agents-who-are-looking-for-you/
Information to help you submit your work:
You Have the Writer Essentials for Submitting: Go for it.
Step 1 Get work critiqued, revised, printed, and proofed.
Step 2 Choose the publisher, editor, agent, or contest for this writing project.
Step 3 Write the pitch, query letter, cover letter, resume, bio, and/or proposal as required by the guidelines of the editor, agent, or contest you chose for submission this time.
Step 4 Proof and Send your pitch, query letter, cover letter, resume, bio, and/or proposal as required by the guidelines of the editor, agent, or contest you chose for submission this time.
May you reach all of your heart’s desires! Good luck with all your writing endeavors and your life.
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Joan Y. Edwards, Author
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Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
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