Resource
Preparing your proposal
What to send us — and what to leave for later.
A proposal is not a finished book. It is a clear, generous invitation for an editor to meet your work. The aim is simple: give us enough to know whether your book belongs on the Prestige list — and whether we are the right publisher for it.
What we ask for
We deliberately keep our requirements light. We would rather read a strong twenty pages than a polished hundred-page pitch document.
- A short description of the book — what it is, what it argues, who it speaks to (200–400 words).
- A chapter outline or contents list, however provisional.
- A short writing sample (around 1,500–3,000 words) from anywhere in the manuscript — whatever you feel best represents the book.
- A short note about you, your work to date, and the readers you already reach.
What makes a strong description
Tell us what the book is about, and what it is really about. The plot or argument matters; so does the underlying claim — the reason this book exists.
Be honest about its shape. A novel-in-stories, a hybrid memoir, an academic study with general-reader ambitions — name it. Editors are not put off by unusual forms; they are put off by vagueness.
Choosing your sample
The sample we read does not need to be the opening. It needs to be the strongest writing you can show us. Many of the books we have acquired began with a sample taken from the middle of the manuscript.
About you
We are interested in writers, not platforms. A modest social following is not a barrier; nor is an existing one a guarantee. Tell us about the work that led you here — previous publications, talks, teaching, communities, anything that helps us understand the writer behind the proposal.
When you are ready, send your proposal through the submissions form. Every proposal is read by an editor, and we aim to respond within four weeks.
Letters from the editors