Checklist for Submitting a Manuscript to a Small Press Publisher

Sep 19, 2010
Suzanne Pitner

Small Presses Publish Books in all Genres - Mr. Grim on Flickr

As the publishing world goes through major changes, more authors are turning to independent book publishers. Here is a checklist to successful submissions.

Small book publishers, also known as indie publishers, are receiving more attention these days. As the bigger publishing houses become more conservative in the books they choose to publish, many authors are choosing to publish with a small press.

Small, independent presses are so named because they typically make smaller print runs. A major publishing house will print thousands of copies of books. A small press will have a print run of hundreds, or perhaps use print on demand book publishing, also called POD. This keeps the cost of returns down to a minimum.

Since the publisher is smaller, many authors receive more attention. They might receive more editing advice, or they might even have more assistance and guidance in marketing their new books.

These indie presses are more likely to publish niche books aimed at a small but targeted audience. They are not to be confused with self-publishers that charge the author a fee or with online book publishing companies that only sell e-books.

Checklist for Submitting to a Small Press

This checklist covers major things that an editor at a small press might look at when considering a manuscript. Additionally, this checklist applies when submitting to an agent or major publisher.

Find a book publisher that represents the genre of the novel. Don’t submit a romance novel or steampunk to a publisher that specializes in outdoor survival adventures. This requires a bit of research into the books published by that press.
Use standard formatting guidelines. This shows the author is professional and attentive.
Have an original hook for the book. What makes this particular manuscript special so that it will stand out from the other books of its type?
If a fiction book, is characterization, plot, setting, and theme all consistent and well written?
What type of marketing is the author willing to do? Does the author already have a platform, brand, and following? This is especially important for nonfiction books, but is also critical in selling fiction.
Is the author willing to work with the publisher, respecting that the small press knows the market intimately, and knows what will sell?

Read Submissions Guidelines Carefully

After reading the submissions guidelines, follow them. One of my writing instructors once said that if a writer follows the publisher’s guidelines, they will be in the top 10% of all authors submitting work.

Every book publishing company has different rules for submitting a manuscript. If they ask for a one-page synopsis and the first ten pages of the manuscript, include exactly what they request. Some will ask for the first three chapters. Some accept submissions by postal mail only.

There is no way to know what a publisher wants without reading the guidelines. Authors who do not follow the guidelines are rejected without even having their manuscripts read or considered.

Finding Small Book Publishers

Small book publishers are listed in writers’ guides alongside the large publishing houses. In addition, there are online resources such as Duotrope that list current small presses, magazines, and anthologies.

Publishing a novel with an independent press may be the best choice for many authors. Following this checklist to get the manuscript ready is the first step. The next step is following the publisher guidelines. Hopefully the best step will be celebrating a book birthday party when the first copy rolls off the press.