How to Submit Your Manuscript to the Big 5 US Publishers

Feb 12, 2019

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Hi Everyone! Here’s a recently updated list of the Big 5 US Publishing Houses, their submission requirements for unsolicited manuscripts and links to submission details. I’ve also added two bonus publishers at the end for both US and Non-U.S Citizens.

I will updating this list regularly for you all and stashing it permanently under my ‘Resources – Traditional Publishing‘ page.

For those of you who don’t know, the Big 5 US publishers are represented in other countries too, which means Non-U.S. Citizens will need to submit their manuscripts to their own country’s equivalent Publishing House.

I have noticed while researching the Big 5 in the US that the options for submitting unsolicited manuscripts are incredibly limited – but it’s always a good time to be a romance writer!

Make sure to check back in a few months time to see if anything has changed!

Submit Your Manuscript to the Big 5 US Publishers

Hachette Book Group Submission Details:

Imprint that accepts unsolicited manuscripts:

Forever/ Forever Yours (romance)

In the body of the email: a query letter that includes the main hook of your story, the genre, the word count, a brief summary, and a little bit about you

A detailed 3-5 page synopsis as an attachment

Your completed manuscript saved as a Word doc. Forever Yours will only consider manuscripts that are complete at the time of submission.

Response time: up to 8 weeks

You should receive a response, even if rejected

HarperCollins Submission Details

Imprint that accepts unsolicited manuscripts:

Avon Impulse (romance) – CURRENTLY CLOSED

Submit online here

Input query letter, brief synopsis, best scene or first 1,000 words

Upload manuscript (unsure if must be completed MS)

Response time: 3 months

You should receive a response, even if negative

Witness Impulse (mystery, suspense, thriller) – CURRENTLY CLOSED

Submit online here

Input query letter, brief synopsis, best scene or first 1,000 words

Upload manuscript (unsure if must be completed MS, there is an option to say incomplete)

Response time: guessing 3 months (same as Avon Impulse)

Macmillan Publisher Index

Imprint that accepts unsolicited manuscripts:

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Submit via mail

Rules: Include a cover letter describing submission & first 50 pages of MS

If you wish to hear back include a self-addressed stamped envelope in submission

Response time: 3 – 5 months of receipt of submission

Penguin Random House Submission Details

Imprints that accept unsolicited manuscripts:

DAW (science fiction & fantasy)

Only accepts electronic submissions through their Submittable page

Response time: 3+ months

No response = rejection

Schwartz & Wade

Accepts picture books, middle grade, young adult, non-traditional non-fiction & graphic novels

Submit via mail: Schwartz & Wade Books, Submissions Editor, 1745 Broadway, 10-4, New York, New York 10019.

Digital imprints are apparently open for submissions, however, I didn’t have much luck with the links on this page (scroll to the end for digital imprints). Most of the links are duds and the only one that worked is for Loveswept & Flirt (romance & women’s fiction). Unfortunately, they are CURRENTLY CLOSED for submissions.

Simon & Schuster Submission details

Does not accept unsolicited manuscripts

Directs you to their self-publishing service for those of us who can’t get an agent: Archway Publishing

Submit Your Manuscript to a Smaller US Publisher

Entangled Publishing is an independent publisher of romantic fiction – no surprise they are open for submissions across all of their imprints!

Please see the submission information page or click on one of the links below:

Amara – 70k-120k word single title adult romance novels.
August – 20k-70k word category romance featuring Gen-X characters.
Bliss – 20k-60k sweet category romance.
Brazen – 20k-60k erotic category romance.
Embrace – New Adult romance novels or novels with romantic elements.
Entangled Teen – 70k-120k word romance novels or novels with romantic elements.
Indulgence – 45k-60k contemporary category romance.
Lovestruck – 20k-60k contemporary, romantic comedy category romance.
Scandalous – 20k-65k historical category romance.
Scorched – 15k-65k novellas, serialized novellas, and full-length novels, all with erotic romance elements.
Teen Crave – 20k-60k paranormal/scifi/fantasy YA category romance.
Teen Crush – 20k-60k contemporary YA category romance.