Authored by Natalie Montpas, UNG Press Intern
For many authors, finishing a manuscript feels like crossing the finish line—only to realize another race is just beginning: finding the right publisher! Choosing who to query is not about sending your work everywhere and hoping for luck; it’s about identifying the presses most aligned with your genre, audience, and long-term goals. Doing this research carefully not only improves your chances of acceptance but also establishes a stronger foundation for your publishing career.
Step 1: Begin with Research
The first step is to study publisher websites and catalogs. These reveal a press’s mission, editorial focus, and submission requirements. For example, the Book Proposal Submission Guidelines on the UNG Press website clearly outlines the genres it accepts—scholarly nonfiction, select creative nonfiction, textbooks, and New South literary fiction to name a few—and specifies the types of manuscripts it does not publish, such as poetry, YA, or family biographies. Submitting outside these categories is a quick path to rejection, no matter the manuscript’s quality.
As UNG Press Director Dr. BJ Robinson, explains, “the fastest way to get your manuscript rejected is to send it to the wrong publisher, that is, to a publisher who does not publish your genre.”
Step 2: Match Your Work to Their List
Once you’ve identified potential publishers, look at their existing lists. Does your manuscript complement their catalog? Consider:
- Genre: Do they publish work in your field?
- Audience: Are their readers academics, general audiences, or niche communities?
- Fit: Does your book fill a gap or strengthen a trend in their list?
If the answer is no, querying that publisher wastes everyone’s time. Stephanie Maddox, a former UNG Press intern, notes in How to Ace Your Query that, while creativity is important, adhering to a publishing house’s specific guidelines is vital. If your book doesn’t check all of the boxes, just keep looking!
Step 3: Study Submission Guidelines
Submission pages often specify required materials such as query letters, synopses, sample chapters, and author bios. Ignoring these details can undermine your professionalism. The UNG Press, for example, provides a Book Proposal Checklist where every box must be checked; otherwise, the submission is not reviewed.
Dr. Robinson stresses that careful compliance matters: “If authors cannot follow submission directions, why should a publisher trust them to follow editorial or marketing guidance later?”
Step 4: Recognize Red Flags
Not every press that calls itself a publisher operates with transparency. Dr. Robinson cautions against “press services companies” that sell services to authors rather than books to readers. Warning signs include:
- Landing pages that market to authors instead of readers
- Lack of staff listings or vague job titles
- Contract structures that are confusing or not revealed upfront
- Overuse of the term “products” instead of books
While such companies may put a book in print, they often lack the credibility of legitimate publishers. Authors should be cautious and seek presses that are transparent about staff, mission, and distribution.
Step 5: Decide Whether to Work with an Agent
Some authors also wonder if they should find a literary agent before querying. Dr. Robinson notes that large commercial publishers (such as the Big Five and their imprints) typically require agented submissions, but university and midlist presses often do not. Agents can provide value—vetting manuscripts, negotiating contracts, and supporting marketing efforts—but they are not essential for all paths to publication.
The choice really comes down to what you’re aiming for. If you want to reach a wide audience or make a pretty penny, having an agent might be the way to go. But if you’re targeting a specific niche or academic publishers, reaching out to them directly could work better.
Final Thoughts
Identifying the right publishers requires time and strategy, but the effort pays off. By researching catalogs, aligning your manuscript with a press’s list, following submission guidelines, avoiding red flags, and deciding whether to pursue an agent, you’ll not only increase your chances of acceptance but also ensure your work finds its best possible home.
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