Austin Macauley Publishers have now reached a milestone of publishing for fifteen years! Throughout the past 15 years, we have created a name for ourselves as a leading hybrid publisher, giving opportunities to talented authors to showcase their work to the world. 

We understand how daunting the process of publishing a book can be for a new writer. There are so many processes new writers don’t know about yet. Therefore, to celebrate our 15th anniversary, we have put together 15 tips to get your manuscript accepted. These tips can go a long way in improving your manuscript submissions in the years to come. 

Before moving on to the tips, watch the video below to join our 15 years celebration.

Here are 15 tips from Austin Macauley Publishers to help you in your publishing journey.
 

1.  Choose Your Genre

Choosing a genre is the fundamental part of writing a book. It affects every aspect about your book, including the characters and plot lines. When you choose a genre beforehand, it will enable you to release your creative potential. Understanding your genre and sticking to it is the key to success in writing your manuscript. Therefore, choosing a genre is vital before you begin writing your manuscript.

2.  Do Adequate Research

If you want to get your manuscript selected, you need to ensure you have done adequate research on your book. No publisher wants to accept a manuscript that lacks structure, proper reasoning, and sufficient research. Make sure to do your research before filling an online submission form, even if it takes time. Once you have enough material, you can go ahead.

3.  Make Your Work Interesting

No one wants to read a boring story; not the audience, and not the publishers. If you are working on a memoir, you have to make it feel fresh and relevant to today’s readers. Your work should not be an inspiration from the existing books, rather it should provide something new to the readers. By reading books from various genres and authors around the world, you can enhance your writing skills and make your work blow the roof out!

4.  Assess Strengths and Weaknesses

No one can write the perfect manuscript, especially when it’s the first time. Your manuscript will contain some strong points as well as some areas that would need improvement. By assessing your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll know where you stand. Take out your notepad and start jotting down the strengths and weaknesses, and keep reviewing them from time to time. Also, ensure to keep adding points to it as you proceed further with your manuscript.

5.  Get a Mentor

To have a sound critique by your side is a blessing in disguise. It can be monumental to your growth as a writer. If you don’t have a mentor, consider getting one. Whether it’s your teacher or a family member, and you’ll be able to learn from your mistakes faster. 

6.  Ask For Feedback on Your Manuscript

The biggest mistake you can commit in the publishing world is to submit your manuscript without asking for second opinions. Consider asking your friend or peers to review your work so that they can give you an honest opinion. Do pay attention to what they say and take constructive criticism positively to nurture your manuscript. An agent or a publisher shouldn’t be the first one to read your manuscript. Instead, honest reviews from peers can help you strengthen your work.

7.  Build Networks

An author should get to know other people from the same industry. You can build networks by joining writing groups on social media, attending literary seminars and conferences, and giving your two cents on online writing forums. You can also use social media to your benefit by creating an author profile and using it to connect with other writers. Through other talented authors, you will learn valuable insights about the publishing world. Their advice can nurture your manuscript and increase your chances of getting accepted.

8.  Polish Your Cover Letter

Through a cover letter, you can show the publisher what your work is all about and how it provides them with what they are looking for. Address the person directly, and avoid using phrases like ‘To Whom It May Concern' as it lessens the impact. When submitting a manuscript, a well-written cover letter can bolster your manuscript to reach the next stage of the publishing process.

9.  Hire Editorial Services

Sometimes, you need to make sure your work resonates well with the expectations of the publisher. So, make sure you are submitting a manuscript that is close to perfection. An editor can be your saviour in such a case, as they ensure the work is up to the mark. Editors fix problems such as typos, grammatical mistakes, improper sentence structure and other minute errors. To ensure the quality of your work, you should hire an editor for your manuscript. However, we at Austin Macauley provide editorial services to all our authors.  

10.  Don’t Forget to Format

Every publisher has its own set of guidelines and policies regarding submissions. It is necessary to make your manuscript follow the specific rules. Generally, the guidelines would be available on the publisher’s website or Google. These guidelines give you an idea about the ideal text size, fonts, margins, spacing and page numbers. If no specific formatting guidelines are present, stick to the standard formatting rules, and you’ll be good to move ahead.

11.  Look Through Websites

Search through the website to find out which genres the publishers are pursuing. You could even look through some acknowledgements in published books to get a better idea. Websites provide an easy way for authors to understand their potential publishers. Check out our book collection.

12.  Post About Your Work Online

In the modern era, social media and the internet, in general, have vastly contributed to the boom of aspiring writers. The world is a global village, and now many writers are using online platforms to promote their work. You can do too. Posting about your work online increases your chances of getting accepted, more if people are already talking about it. Publishers find it hard to deny publishing a book if it gets praise or word of mouth online. So, use it to your advantage.

13.  Attend Conferences

Your education and writing skills can help you become a great writer. But to get recognized, you need further insights into the industry. You can do it by attending literary conferences held throughout the year. You’ll meet agents, publishers and editors to build a one-to-one rapport with them. They may even respond favourably to your work.

14.  Don’t Rush the Process!

Many writers get excited thinking about their book publication. It’s alright to get swayed by joy when you complete your first book-length manuscript. Our suggestion would be to take it slow from here on. You don’t want to waste your months of hard work to get spoiled by a lack of patience. Why rush your manuscript to an agent or the publisher? Evaluate your manuscript first until you are satisfied with your work. Only then submit it to the publisher.

15.  Prepare Submissions Material

Every publisher requires submission materials when you submit your work. This includes novel synopsis, query letters, sample chapters, and even a proposal. Be well aware of the requirements, so you don’t panic at the last moment.
 

Publishing a book requires patience, preservation, and support. For an author, nothing sounds better than getting his/her book published. It’s a feeling hard to come by. We hope the tips listed above will help you excel in the art of getting your manuscript accepted for publication. Let the publications begin!

Connect with Austin Macauley Publishers for more such blogs and submit your manuscript if you are looking for publishing your work. You can also make a quick and easy submission through the online submission form. You can stay updated with our new releases and activities by joining our family of authors and readers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.