Submissions
We personally read everything that is submitted to us and represent authors based all over the world.
Please follow the submission instructions below and read the FAQs before sending your manuscript. We really want to give your manuscript every chance of success, so please follow these instructions precisely. We cannot consider submissions that are sent to us in any other way. For more information on what a literary agency does, please visit the Writers & Artists Yearbook.
All agents are open for submissions and are listed on the Our Team page.
You can read about what each agent is looking for by clicking on their individual profiles.
Address your submission to the specific agent you feel most suits your work. You can read some helpful tips about selecting the right agent here.
If we receive a strong submission that is not right for our list, we will share it with colleagues.
General Submission Guidelines
Please fill in the Adult Fiction or Non-fiction or Children’s & YA forms below to submit your manuscript to us.
Please do not send us any submissions through the post or directly to any of our email addresses. We cannot consider any submissions not sent via the forms below. We also cannot return any items posted to us.
The manuscript and synopsis should be in Word format and 1.5 or double spaced.
For tips on writing your cover letter and synopsis, check out our blog posts here and here.
If other agents have requested your complete manuscript or you have an offer of representation, please let us know at submissions@madeleinemilburn.com (for Adult Fiction or Non-fiction) or childrens@madeleinemilburn.com (Children’s & YA). You should include the title of your submission, the agent you sent it to and the date you did so in the title of your email.
Adult Fiction Submissions
For Adult Fiction submissions, please only send us material when you have a completed manuscript, and when you are completely satisfied that the novel is at a point you are happy to share it.
In the same way you would write a formal covering letter, please paste an introduction to your novel in the designated box in the form below. You should include:
- A one or two-line elevator pitch
- Up to three comparable books or authors from the past ten years you’d place your book alongside
- A compelling blurb to get us interested in the story
- Any information about yourself that is relevant to the work you are submitting
Attach a one-page synopsis and the first three chapters, or first 10,000 words of the manuscript in one document. There should only be one attachment sent via the form. The synopsis should ‘tell the story,’ with spoilers, rather than ‘sell’ the story (that is done in the introductory email).
Non-fiction submissions
Non-fiction titles are often sold on proposal, so your book does not need to be complete at the time of submission.
When submitting a non-fiction project please start with a covering letter introducing yourself and your project, pasting it into the designated box in the form below.
You must also include one document, which contains a writing sample of c. 5,000 -10,000 words and a proposal.
Your proposal should include:
- What your book is about and why it needs to be written.
- Where it sits in the market, with reference to other similar or competing titles.
- Why you are well-placed to write the book, with reference to your background and any credentials or professional expertise you may have.
- A chapter outline, with a paragraph or two explaining what will be addressed in each chapter.
There should only be one attachment sent via the form.
Children’s & YA Submissions
For children’s & YA submissions, please only send us material when you have a completed manuscript, and when you are completely satisfied that the novel is at a point you are happy to share it.
In the same way you would write a formal covering letter, please paste an introduction to your novel in the designated box in the form below. You should include:
- A one or two-line elevator pitch
- Up to three comparable books or authors from the past ten years you’d place your book alongside
- A compelling blurb to get us interested in the story
- Any information about yourself that is relevant to the work you are submitting
Attach a one-page synopsis and the first three chapters, or first 10,000 words of the manuscript in one document. There should only be one attachment sent via the form. The synopsis should ‘tell the story,’ with spoilers, rather than ‘sell’ the story (that is done in the introductory email).
Please note that we aren’t currently considering picture book submissions.
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
How long does it take for you to consider a manuscript and do you get back to authors regarding the outcome?
We take up to 12 weeks to consider a manuscript. Due to the large amount of submissions we receive each day, we are afraid that we cannot guarantee a response to every applicant. If you have not heard from us after 12 weeks, you should assume that you have not been successful at this time. We unfortunately do not have the resources to give feedback to authors that we are not offering representation to.
How do I know if my submission has arrived with you?
You will receive an automatic email from the Agency confirming receipt. Please check your junk mail if you haven’t received this.
Can I submit my book about [insert topic] to you?
In all likelihood, yes. We cover most genres in fiction and a lot of topics in non-fiction. The best way of checking is to look at each agent’s profile on Our Team, which has information about what type of books they are looking for. If in doubt, however, please send anyway and we will take a look. There is no need to contact us in order to check.
What submissions don’t you accept?
We don’t accept submissions of TV/Film/Theatre scripts or poetry or picture books.
Can you suggest any resources or opportunities that would help me improve my writing/submission package before or after my submission?
Yes, we have a list that you might find helpful here.
Do you represent the TV/Film/Stage rights for books that you don’t represent?
We only represent the TV/Film/Stage rights for books that we represent.
Do you represent the international rights for books that you don’t represent?
We only represent the international rights for books that we represent.
Can I submit to you if my book is not finished?
For fiction, we request that you only submit to us when you’ve written a complete manuscript that you’ve edited thoroughly. For non-fiction, it’s okay if you haven’t written the book yet. We ask instead for a c. 5,000 – 10,000 word sample of your writing, but we suggest ensuring that it is the best possible version of your work.
Do I have to follow the rules that you’ve requested for submissions?
Yes, please do follow the rules, as we’ve requested the submissions in a particular format to enable us to consider your work as efficiently as possible. If you don’t follow these guidelines, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage.
Do you accept submissions from anywhere in the world?
We are proud to have a diverse client list with writers from around the globe, so yes, definitely.
Can I resubmit my manuscript to another agent at the agency if it is unsuccessful?
You are welcome to resubmit following an unsuccessful submission to a different agent after 12 weeks have passed. However, please flag who you originally submitted it to. We would also advise that you take some time to revise your work before sending it out again.
I have a question. Can I contact you?
Of course. You should find all information concerning submissions on this page, but if you have any questions please email info@madeleinemilburn.com. It is not necessary to ring us.
