How to Submit

Please read the following information carefully on how to prepare your work for submission.

At the end of this section is a link to the Submission Form. Once you have your work ready, please complete the form – it will only take a few minutes. When you hit ‘send’ at the end of the form, you will then be requested to attach your work. The file name needs to be the same as the Title of work you supply on the Submission Form.

Once we receive your work, we will email you an electronic invoice which allows you to pay, or, if you have told us on the form you are sending a cheque by post, we simply email an acknowledgement of receipt. We aim to do this within 24 hours of receiving your work.

Your Work
1. Please submit three chapters of your novel, preferably the first three, with a total count of no more than 15,000 words (not including chapter headings and page identification) of your novel. The word count is the crucial thing; more chapters are acceptable if they fit within that word count. All chapters must be contained in the one document.

This equates to around 50 A4 pages, at double line spacing, in font size 11 point and with margins of around 2.5cm – which is how we like to receive it. Please avoid using a smaller font size. Line-and-a-half spacing is acceptable.

Please calculate the word count (in Word 97 and Word XP, go to the Tools menu) and state this on your title sheet.

Please ensure there is a consecutive page number, your name and the novel’s title at the foot of every page. Do not re-start pagination for new chapters.

2. You’re welcome to also submit a synopsis of no more than two A4 pages, minimum font size 11 point, single spacing. We recommend you do this if the chapters you’re submitting are not the first three, when you should indicate whereabouts your chapters fit in. If you prefer not to send a synopsis; that’s fine.

3. We also review full novels up to 120,000 words. See Costs for details. Please submit in the same way as above.
For novels over 120,000 words, please email us for a quote.

4. Plays, poetry and short stories are submitted in the same way as a novel. Details, including fees, are in Plays, Poetry & Short Stories.

5. Your work file can be either a Word document or a read-only PDF file. The file’s name must match the Title of work you supply in the Submission Form.

6. For postal submissions of your writing (not just sending a cheque), please click here.

Our Process

1. We will begin the reviewing process as soon as we receive your payment. If you are paying by cheque, please ensure we know who it’s from and your Title of work, to marry up with the information you supply in the Submission Form.

2. We will endeavour to return your review(s) within 3 weeks of receiving your digital manuscript submission and your payment.

3. We return your reviews as Word attachments to an email address you specify. If this causes you a problem, please tell us when you submit.When you have your work ready, please complete the Submission Form.