For writers
Submissions
We read every enquiry ourselves. There is no reading fee, and we reply to every writer who follows these guidelines.
What we publish
The Pen Tribune list is small and deliberate. We look for fiction and non-fiction written in English that has a clear point of view and the craft to carry it. Our current list includes literary fiction, dystopian fiction, political economy and fiction for readers aged 8 to 12.
We do not accept manuscripts that have been published before in full, unless the rights have reverted to you.
What to send
Please use the enquiry form and choose "Manuscript submission". Include:
- the title, the genre and the approximate word count;
- a synopsis of no more than 500 words that gives away the ending;
- a short note about yourself and why you wrote this book.
Please do not send the manuscript itself at this stage. If we would like to read more, we will write to you and ask for the opening chapters or the full text.
What happens next
We aim to reply to every complete enquiry within eight weeks. If we ask to read the full manuscript, we will tell you how long that reading is likely to take. If we offer to publish, you will receive a written contract with the royalty terms stated in full, and you are free to take independent advice before you sign.
Simultaneous submissions
You are welcome to send your book to other publishers and agents at the same time. Please let us know if you receive an offer elsewhere.
Your work stays yours
Anything you send us is read in confidence and used only to assess your submission. We keep it for as long as our privacy policy describes and delete it sooner if you ask.