No author is born lucky enough to magically get their manuscript accepted by the publishers, especially in a country like Australia. A place with deeply selective publication houses and a highly competitive literary market. It is nearly a challenge, but not anymore. With the tips and tricks mentioned in the blog below, you will soon be familiar with the ground rules.
This blog will teach you everything about the manuscript submission in a way that no Australian book publisher will ever dare to reject your story. No, no, we aren’t going to teach you how to intimidate them, but we will surely tell you the secret of becoming irresistible to publishers.
Present Your Book to the Australian Book Publishers Rather Than Submitting
The difference between the words ‘present’ and ‘submit’ lies in three things. Tone, intention, and perception. As long as you are just handing over your storybook to the publication houses, they are most likely not to respect it enough. Or even try to understand your vision behind it. But, as soon as you start presenting it, like maybe an offer, the perception will change.
They will now look at your manuscript more actively and think of it as something valuable. Hence, it is not always about what is in the book; more than 40% of the time, the way you offer it to the Australia book publishers makes all the difference. So, the first lesson of this author’s guide is to change your way of approaching this journey.
The 5 Rules of Working with Aussie Publishers
- Research the Publisher’s Guidelines
To begin with, first you need to identify a handful of suitable publishers. This is very easy. Then all you have to do is check the Australian Publishers Association website to see if they accept unsolicited manuscripts or require a literary agent. Make sure that you read each of their website carefully and look for a “Submissions” or “Getting Published” section. Then, note down the detailed instructions and make sure you stick to them.
- Prepare Your Manuscript and Supporting Documents
The second rule is for the documentation phase. Here, you need to write a persuasive query letter. Now, you might not necessarily know what that is, so here is a quick definition.
| It is a short formal sales pitch that the author is supposed to write for the literary agents, editors, or publishing houses. The purpose is to introduce them to your work and help generate their interest in publishing your book. Hence, this has to be in a very respectful tone, asking the recipient to meet in person for further discussions or get a sneak peek at the project. Such as the sample chapters or a complete manuscript after getting them checked by professional Australian book proofreaders. |
This document should include your full name, contact details, and a concise synopsis of your book. Then also write a brief bio in the third person, highlighting any relevant writing experience. Once the query letter is sent, you will soon receive a response.
Prepare yourself for either situation. They also might ask you to send the first few chapters or a significant portion of the manuscript. Hence, you need to have it organized for a smooth publishing process.
- Format Your Manuscript
Now comes rule number three, which is about formatting. When you reach this phase of your journey, you are supposed to be very careful. Everything has to go according to the standard formatting guidelines. For instance, the double-spaced text and a standard 12-point font like Times New Roman.
You must also include page numbers and keep everything consistent. Apart from this, to win the trust of the best poem and poetry book publishers in Australia, you need to make sure your book’s electronic and hard copies are identical.
- Ensure Originality and Rights
Rule four is to submit only the original work. This means that the manuscript you present to them for publication must be your own, original work. Not stolen from a fellow author or copied from Generative AI.
This is important because if your manuscript contains copyrighted material like extensive quotations or figures from other published works, used without consent, you will be in trouble. Hence, for anything that you have used other than what is originally yours, you must seek permission from the copyright owner of it, importantly, before you reproduce it.
- Be Patient and Follow Up
Following the fifth rule, once the story is ready, it is advised that you connect with professional proofreaders. They are the people who will further polish your book and make it publish-ready. Then, as soon as they signal a green flag, you can proceed with forwarding the requested part of the manuscript to them.
Once you have submitted, be prepared for a long wait. It can take a significant amount of time to receive a response. Sometimes, even months. So, do not get disheartened so quickly. But also don’t sit idly in the interval. Continue to pitch your script to other publishers and remember to follow up with each of them.
The Frequently Asked Questions of Authors
- What is an unsolicited manuscript?
An unsolicited script is one that you send to a publisher without being asked and usually without an agent. Many Australian editors accept these during open submission periods, but it is better that you follow their guidelines carefully if you want to be considered.
- What should I include in my submission package?
Your submission package should include
- a cover letter
- a brief synopsis
- sample chapters (usually the first three)
- an author bio
Additionally, always check the publisher’s website for specific requirements. They can vary for each of them, and ignoring them can hurt your chances of getting accepted.
- What genres are most accepted by Australian editors?
The local publishers often look for literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoirs, children’s books, crime, or romance novels. Apart from this, they also accept poetry and experimental work, but not very often. They are only accepted if submitted to niche or independent presses.
- What are common reasons for rejection?
The rejections often happen due to poor writing and weak structure. Moreover, it can also become your fate if you are not clearly following the submission guidelines, or if you send them work that doesn’t match the publisher’s genre focus. Other times, it is just timing or market saturation.
The Summary
To wrap up, it is important to understand that the submission process of getting your book published by Australian publishers is quite easy. Though only if you strictly follow the five important rules. Rule number one says you need to look for a reliable publication house and then also recognise their requirements.
Then rules number two, three, and four are about how you shape the script for a perfect submission. And finally, the last rule is how you need to be patient about the response. They will not just respond in a day. Hence, you need to strategize accordingly and make the most of the waiting interval.