Submissions

Thank you for your interest in Beyond Words Publishing. If you are an author looking for information on having your work published, please read this page carefully.

Things to Consider:

• What kinds of work does Beyond Words publish?
• How can I submit my work for consideration?
• When will I receive a response?
• How can I be published elsewhere?
• How do I get an agent?

What kinds of work does Beyond Words publish?

To get an idea of what each genre represents and whether your work may fit, please browse our Featured & Upcoming Books list to get a feel for what we do. Beyond Words has a highly unique and innovative focus in the world of publishing; we publish an average of fifteen to twenty titles per year, and consequently cannot accept every submission.

We ARE accepting queries in the following categories:

Adult non-fiction:

• Mind, Body & Spirit
• Global Native Wisdom—Work that represents the wisdom, traditions, and spiritual viewpoints of indigenous cultures from around the world.
• Spiritual Lifestyles—Books that reflect the changing balance between spirituality and the modern world.
• Spiritual Parenting—Thoughtful works for raising and educating spiritual children.
• Holistic Health—Guidance from doctors or other medical professionals that integrates the mind, body, and spirit into medical issues.
• Science & Spirituality—Investigations into the emerging realms of science.
  
  

We are NOT accepting queries in the following categories:

•   Children’s and Young Adult books of any kind
• Children’s poetry
• Adult fiction, short stories, memoirs, or novels
• Adult poetry
• Cookbooks
• Textbooks/reference books
• Illustrated coffee table books
• Photography books
  
  

How can I submit my work for consideration?

Authors, please note: Because of the high volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. Submissions must come from an agent or through one of our trusted advisers. For more information see:

How can I be published elsewhere?

How do I get an agent?

Agents: Please provide us with a query letter, proposal, and sample chapter, if available. Please do not send the entire manuscript unless we request it, but please do indicate in your letter the current status of the manuscript, whether it is partial or complete, and what the word count is.
           
A complete proposal should contain the following pieces:

• Query letter
• Author biography, including any promotional activities, websites, or marketing items they may already be involved with
• One to two sample chapters
• Complete synopsis of the book, plus table of contents
• Market analysis, including comparative/competitive titles already out as well as the book’s intended audience

All materials must be submitted double-spaced and in 12-point font. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient American postage to cover the return of the materials, if desired.

Please let us know whether your submission is simultaneous or exclusive.

Please note: We are unable to respond to unsolicited email, telephone, and fax queries.

When will I receive a response?

• Email, telephone, and fax queries will not receive a response.
• Because of the volume of submissions we receive, it may take up to six months to receive a reply. Please do not contact us for updates during this period.
• Only submissions that include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient American postage will be returned or replied to.
• We regret that we are not able to provide critiques or comments on any work submitted.
  
  

How can I be published elsewhere?

If you are interested in being published elsewhere, we recommend you start with the following:

Go to a bookstore or library and find books that are similar to your book idea. If your idea is completely unique, look for something in a closely related field or subject area.

Look at the copyright page of the similar books and find out the name of the publishers.

Consult the Literary Marketplace at your local library. Find the current address and phone number of each publisher you found. Contact the publishers and request their submissions guidelines, ask if they prefer to work with agents and if they prefer query letters. For children’s books and photography books, keep in mind that many publishers prefer to choose the illustrator, so samples do not need to be sent (unless you want to be considered as an illustrator as well).

Follow the guidelines the publisher gives you.

Please be patient. Publishing houses are continuously working on projects at many different stages. Some will have their titles chosen years in advance. It may take awhile to respond to your submission and, if chosen, it may take a year before your book is complete.

How do I get an agent?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual recommendations on agents for your work. However, every year, a guidebook is published for the industry called Literary Marketplace. This will contain a listing of agents and publishers which will help you select one who will be your advocate and know how to work with your kind of project. Additionally, a book called Writer’s Market is an excellent guide to selling your work to different magazines, literary journals, and other opportunities. Both of these books are available at your local library.

Additionally, our publication, Spiritual Writing, will give you guidelines that are useful for this genre of publishing