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So You Want To Get Published
Manuscript Submission Guidelines
Random Guy Publishing is always interested in original stories, unusual ideas, bold voices, and books that refuse to follow the usual formula. We welcome writers with something meaningful, entertaining, strange, heartfelt, adventurous, funny, or completely unexpected to share.
That said, submitting a manuscript does not guarantee review, feedback, representation, or publication. Please read and follow every requirement below before contacting us. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines may be deleted without review.
Step One: Request Submission Access
Do not send manuscripts through the website contact form.
The first step is to send us a message through the Reach Out form requesting manuscript submission information.
Please provide a brief introduction and let us know:
- Your name
- The title of your manuscript
- The genre or category
- Whether the manuscript is complete
- Whether it is intended for children, young adults, or adults
If we are currently accepting submissions and your project appears suitable for consideration, we may contact you with a submission form and the email address used for manuscript submissions.
Please do not send attachments, manuscript pages, download links, cloud-storage links, or full pitches through the Reach Out form.
No Agent Submissions
Random Guy Publishing does not accept submissions from literary agents, managers, representatives, publicists, attorneys, assistants, or other third parties.
All submissions must come directly from the author or authors of the work.
Agent-submitted manuscripts will not be reviewed.
Manuscript Completion Requirement
Only completed manuscripts will be considered.
You must have the entire manuscript written before submitting sample pages. Do not submit outlines, partial drafts, unfinished manuscripts, concepts, story ideas, sample chapters from an incomplete book, or promises that the remaining pages are coming soon.
Although your manuscript must be complete, most authors should submit only the first 10 pages for initial review.
Standard Manuscripts
For novels, novellas, nonfiction books, memoirs, poetry collections, graphic-novel scripts, chapter books, middle-grade books, and young-adult manuscripts:
- Submit only the first 10 pages.
- Do not send the complete manuscript unless it is specifically requested.
- The manuscript itself must already be complete.
- Begin with page one of the actual book.
- Do not select random chapters or what you believe are the “best” pages.
Children’s Picture Books
For children’s picture books:
- Submit the complete written manuscript.
- Include all page breaks or spread breaks when applicable.
- Clearly identify any illustration notes.
- Illustration notes should be brief and included only when the artwork is necessary to understand the story.
- Authors are not required to provide finished illustrations unless they are also the illustrator.
- Author-illustrators may include a complete book dummy or sample artwork.
- Any artwork submitted must be original or properly licensed.
Required Email Subject Line For Submissions
The email subject line must follow this exact format:
RGB Book Submission – Author Name, Book Title
Example:
RGB Book Submission – Jordan Smith, The Clockwork Forest
Submissions with missing, incomplete, misleading, or incorrectly formatted subject lines may not be opened or reviewed.
Do not use subject lines such as:
- My New Book
- Manuscript Attached
- Please Read
- Future Bestseller
- Publishing Opportunity
- Urgent Submission
- Book Idea
Required Information in the Email Body
The body of the submission email must include:
- Full legal name
- Preferred author or pen name, if different
- Phone number
- Complete mailing address
- Email address
- Book title
- Genre
- Intended reader age or audience
- Total manuscript word count
- Manuscript status confirming that it is complete
- A brief pitch
- A short author biography
- Any relevant publishing history
- Whether the manuscript has been previously published
- Whether the manuscript is currently being considered by other publishers
Your pitch must be no longer than two short paragraphs.
The pitch should explain:
- Who or what the book is about
- The central conflict, purpose, or subject
- What makes the book distinctive
- Who the likely reader is
Please do not include a lengthy personal history, chapter-by-chapter summary, marketing speech, life story, or several pages explaining why the book should be published.
Attachment Requirements
All submitted documents must meet the following requirements:
- Documents must be attached in PDF format.
- Do not submit Word documents, Google Docs, Pages files, ZIP folders, image-only files, or editable design files.
- Standard submissions must not exceed the first 10 manuscript pages.
- Children’s picture-book submissions must include the complete manuscript.
- Files must open correctly and must not be password-protected.
- Files should be clearly named.
- Do not send executable files or unfamiliar file types.
- Do not send cloud-storage links unless requested.
- Do not send revised files after submission unless requested.
Recommended file name:
AuthorLastName_BookTitle_Submission.pdf
Example:
Smith_TheClockworkForest_Submission.pdf
Manuscript Formatting
Unless otherwise instructed, manuscripts should be formatted as follows:
- Standard, easy-to-read font
- 11- or 12-point type
- Black text on a white background
- One-inch margins
- Double-spaced text for standard prose
- Page numbers included
- Author name and book title included in the header or footer
- No decorative backgrounds
- No oversized graphics
- No unusual fonts
- No watermarks that interfere with reading
- No tracked changes, editing notes, or reviewer comments
Children’s picture-book manuscripts may use clearly labeled page or spread breaks, such as:
Page 1
or
Spread 1
Poetry may retain intentional spacing and formatting.
Graphic novels and comics may be submitted as scripts, completed sample pages, or book dummies, depending on the project. Please clearly explain what is being submitted.
Content We Will Not Consider
We do not accept manuscripts containing smut, pornography, erotica, or material created primarily for sexual stimulation.
We will not consider works that rely heavily on:
- Graphic sexual content
- Explicitly pornographic scenes
- Sexual exploitation
- Sexual content involving minors
- Fetish-focused material
- Excessively adult themes presented without meaningful literary purpose
- Graphic descriptions of sexual violence
- Content that glorifies abuse, exploitation, or predatory behavior
- Hate propaganda
- Material encouraging violence against protected groups
- Instructions for criminal activity
- Plagiarized or stolen content
- Unauthorized adaptations of another creator’s work
- Unlicensed use of copyrighted characters or fictional worlds
- Manuscripts created primarily through copied or scraped material
Mature subjects may be considered when handled responsibly and when they serve a legitimate narrative, educational, historical, or literary purpose. However, Random Guy Publishing reserves the sole right to determine whether material is appropriate for our catalog.
Genres We Welcome
We are open to nearly every genre, especially books with a strong voice, memorable characters, fresh ideas, and something worthwhile to say.
Genres and categories we may consider include:
- Children’s picture books
- Early readers
- Chapter books
- Middle-grade fiction
- Young-adult fiction
- Family stories
- Adventure
- Fantasy
- Science fiction
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thrillers
- Horror
- Supernatural fiction
- Paranormal stories
- Historical fiction
- Contemporary fiction
- Literary fiction
- Humor and satire
- Action
- Westerns
- Crime fiction
- Speculative fiction
- Magical realism
- Dystopian fiction
- Folklore and mythology
- Graphic novels
- Comics
- Short-story collections
- Poetry
- Memoirs
- Biographies
- History
- Art and design
- Automotive books
- Technology
- Business
- Leadership
- Personal development
- Educational books
- Cultural commentary
- Cookbooks
- Hobby and lifestyle books
- Gift books
- Journals and activity books
- Unusual reference books
- Experimental formats
- Books that are difficult to place on an ordinary shelf but deserve one anyway
Romance may be considered when the story is driven by character, emotion, conflict, and relationships rather than explicit sexual content.
Faith-based and inspirational books may be considered, provided they are respectful and are not written to promote hatred, harassment, or harm.
The Legal Stuff
Originality and Ownership
By submitting a manuscript, you confirm that:
- You created the work or have full authority to submit it.
- You control the necessary rights.
- The work does not knowingly infringe on another person’s copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity rights.
- Any quotations, photographs, illustrations, lyrics, artwork, or third-party materials are properly cleared or clearly identified.
- The manuscript is not plagiarized.
- The submission does not contain confidential information belonging to another person or organization.
Do not submit fan fiction, unauthorized sequels, celebrity-based fiction presented as fact, or stories using protected characters that you do not own.
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Any use of generative artificial intelligence in the creation of the manuscript, illustrations, research, editing, or design must be disclosed at the time of submission.
The disclosure should briefly explain:
- Which tools were used
- How they were used
- Which parts of the project were affected
- Whether the final text or artwork was substantially created by the author
Failure to disclose significant artificial-intelligence use may result in rejection or withdrawal from consideration.
AI-generated content will not automatically be rejected, but originality, copyright concerns, authorship, quality, and transparency will be carefully considered.
Previously Published Material
Clearly disclose whether the manuscript or any portion of it has been:
- Self-published
- Posted online
- Released through another publisher
- Printed privately
- Shared through a paid membership platform
- Distributed as an ebook
- Published in a magazine, journal, blog, anthology, or newsletter
- Offered for sale
- Previously placed under contract
Previously published work may be considered, but publication history must be fully disclosed.
Do not describe a previously published manuscript as unpublished.
Simultaneous Submissions
Simultaneous submissions are allowed unless you are told otherwise.
If another publisher offers you a contract while your manuscript is under consideration, notify us promptly.
If you choose to withdraw your manuscript, send a brief and professional withdrawal notice. Do not send repeated messages demanding an immediate decision.
Multiple Submissions
Submit only one manuscript at a time unless you are invited to submit additional work.
Do not send several book ideas, multiple manuscripts, an entire series, or a catalog of everything you have written in one email.
For a proposed series, submit the first completed book and briefly mention that additional books are planned or complete.
Each manuscript must be able to stand on its own unless otherwise discussed.
Illustrations and Visual Materials
Do not include stock images, copyrighted artwork, celebrity photographs, internet images, logos, or artwork created by another person unless you have permission to use them.
Authors working with an illustrator should disclose:
- The illustrator’s name
- Whether the illustrator owns the artwork
- Whether a written agreement exists
- Whether the artwork is included as part of the submission
Random Guy Publishing may choose to use a different illustrator, designer, cover artist, or visual direction if the manuscript is accepted.
Submission of artwork does not guarantee that the artwork will be used.
Editing and Production Expectations
Manuscripts should be reviewed carefully before submission.
Authors are expected to submit work that has been revised, proofread, and presented professionally. A manuscript does not need to be perfect, but it should not be a rough first draft.
If accepted, the manuscript may be subject to:
- Developmental editing
- Copy editing
- Proofreading
- Fact-checking
- Title changes
- Cover changes
- Formatting changes
- Illustration changes
- Length adjustments
- Marketing-position changes
The author must be willing to participate professionally in the editorial process.
Response Times
Due to the number of inquiries and submissions received, we cannot guarantee a response to every submission.
Please do not send repeated follow-up emails.
Unless otherwise stated in the submission form, wait at least 12 weeks before sending one brief status inquiry.
A request for additional pages does not mean the manuscript has been accepted.
Silence should not be interpreted as an offer, agreement, contract, or promise of publication.
Feedback
We are generally unable to provide personalized editorial feedback on rejected manuscripts.
Rejection may be based on many factors, including:
- Current publishing schedule
- Market fit
- Catalog needs
- Production cost
- Audience size
- Editorial direction
- Similar projects already in development
- Manuscript readiness
- The overall fit with Random Guy Publishing
A rejection does not necessarily mean the manuscript lacks merit. Sometimes a good book simply reaches the wrong desk at the wrong moment. Publishing can be charming that way.
Submission Does Not Create an Agreement
Submitting a manuscript does not create:
- A confidential relationship
- An author-publisher relationship
- A promise to publish
- A promise to respond
- A promise to provide feedback
- A partnership
- An employment relationship
- A financial obligation
- An exclusive review arrangement
Random Guy Publishing may already be developing books, themes, characters, titles, products, or concepts that resemble material contained in a submission.
General ideas, themes, genres, premises, and concepts are not treated as exclusive simply because they were submitted.
No publication agreement exists unless a formal written contract is signed by all required parties.
Important Final Checklist
Before submitting, confirm that:
- The manuscript is complete.
- You contacted us through the Reach Out form first.
- You received submission instructions from us.
- The submission comes directly from the author.
- The email subject line follows the required format.
- The email body includes all required contact and book information.
- The pitch is no longer than two paragraphs.
- The attachment is a readable PDF.
- Standard manuscript samples do not exceed 10 pages.
- Children’s picture books include the complete manuscript.
- The file is clearly named.
- The work is original.
- Previously published material has been disclosed.
- AI use has been disclosed.
- Third-party artwork or copyrighted material has been identified.
- The submission does not contain prohibited sexual or exploitative content.
- The manuscript has been proofread.
- You have kept a copy of everything submitted.
Our Publishing Philosophy
We are not looking for books that simply imitate whatever is already selling.
We are looking for stories with personality, purpose, imagination, and the courage to be different. We value strong writing, thoughtful ideas, memorable presentation, and authors who understand that publishing is both a creative pursuit and a professional partnership.
Follow the rules, send us your best work, and give us a reason to keep turning the pages.