PUBLISH WITH US
Submission Guidelines
These guidelines exist to help authors submit their best work in a way that allows our editorial team to read and assess it fairly. Please read every section before submitting. Manuscripts that do not follow these guidelines may be returned unread.
1. Who We Are Looking For
Futures Publishing is looking for writers with a strong, distinctive voice — authors who have something urgent to say and the craft to say it. We are as interested in debut authors as we are in established ones. What matters to us is the quality of the writing and the strength of the idea.
We give particular attention to work that:
- Challenges assumptions or opens new ways of seeing
- Demonstrates literary ambition alongside accessibility
- Has a strong sense of place, period, or interiority
- Feels necessary — like only this author could have written it
2. Genres We Accept
We currently accept submissions in the following categories:
| Literary Fiction | Character-driven, prose-led narratives that prioritise voice and interiority. |
| Commercial Fiction | Compelling plots with broad appeal — thrillers, family sagas, upmarket fiction. |
| Historical Fiction | Novels set at least 50 years in the past, rooted in thorough research. |
| Narrative Non-Fiction | Reported or first-person non-fiction told with the pacing and craft of fiction. |
| Biography & Memoir | Life writing grounded in specific, vivid experience. |
| Politics & Society | Accessible, rigorous work on public affairs, policy, and ideas. |
| Science & Nature | Engaging popular science, natural history, and environmental writing. |
| Academic & Scholarly | Peer-reviewed or expert-authored works for academic audiences. |
| Young Adult | Fiction and non-fiction for readers aged 13–18. |
| Short Story Collections | Collections with a unifying thread — thematic, tonal, or stylistic. |
| Essays & Criticism | Personal essays, cultural criticism, and literary commentary. |
| We are not currently accepting: Poetry collections · Children’s picture books · Screenplays or scripts · Self-help · Fanfiction · Works previously self-published with significant readership. We will update this page if our list opens. |
3. Format Requirements
Manuscripts not submitted in the correct format may be returned without review. Please prepare your document according to the following specifications:
Document formatting
- Font: 12pt Times New Roman or Garamond
- Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout
- Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
- Paragraphs: Indent first line of each paragraph (0.5 inch); no extra space between paragraphs
- Page numbers: Bottom right corner, beginning from page 1 of the main text
- Header on each page: Author surname / Short title / Page number
- Title page: Title, author name, genre, word count, and contact email — no page number
File requirements
- File formats accepted: .DOCX or .PDF only
- Maximum file size: 10 MB
- File name: LastName_FirstName_Title.docx (e.g. Sharma_Priya_TheQuietSeason.docx)
- Do not submit ZIP files, Google Docs links, or shared drive links
Word count guidance
| Fiction (Literary / Commercial / Historical) | 70,000 – 120,000 words |
| Narrative Non-Fiction / Memoir / Biography | 50,000 – 100,000 words |
| Academic & Scholarly | 60,000 – 110,000 words |
| Young Adult | 40,000 – 80,000 words |
| Short story collections are assessed differently. Total collection word count should fall between 40,000 and 80,000 words. Individual stories may be of any length. |
4. What to Submit
Your submission package must include all of the following. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Cover Letter (in the submission form)
- Your full name, nationality, and email address
- Manuscript title and genre
- Total word count
- A one-paragraph pitch (2–4 sentences): what is the book, who is the audience, why does it matter now?
- Any relevant publication history or writing credentials (optional)
- Whether this is a simultaneous submission
Synopsis (250–400 words, uploaded as a separate document)
- A complete summary of the narrative arc, including the ending
- The central character(s), their want, their obstacle, and their change
- Written in present tense, third person (even if the manuscript is first person)
- Prose only — no bullet points or chapter-by-chapter breakdown
Sample Manuscript (first 3 chapters or first 50 pages — whichever is shorter)
- Must begin from Chapter 1 / the opening of the book — no excerpts from the middle
- Formatted to the specifications in Section 3 above
- Uploaded as a single file (.DOCX or .PDF)
| Do not send the full manuscript unless requested. We will ask for it if we wish to read further. Sending the full manuscript unsolicited does not improve your chances and may delay our response. |
5. Writing a Strong Synopsis
The synopsis is one of the most challenging pieces of writing an author will produce, and one of the most important parts of a submission. A weak synopsis can undermine an otherwise strong manuscript. The following guidance may help:
- Open with the premise — who is your protagonist and what do they want from the outset?
- Establish the central conflict early — what stands in their way?
- Move through the key turning points of the narrative — no more than three or four
- Do not hide the ending. Editors need to know the full arc.
- Avoid vague language: “things get complicated” or “tensions rise” tell us nothing.
- Keep it to one page (250–400 words). Longer is not better.
- Proofread it as carefully as you would the manuscript itself.
6. Language, Rights & Originality
Language
We currently accept submissions in English only. If your work was written in another language and translated into English, please state this in your cover letter and provide the translator’s name and credentials.
World rights
When we offer to publish, we typically seek world rights in all languages. If rights in certain territories or languages are already under contract or option, please disclose this clearly in your cover letter. Undisclosed rights arrangements may result in an offer being withdrawn.
Original & unpublished work
We consider work that has not been previously published in book form. Work serialised in magazines or literary journals, or posted on personal blogs, may still be considered — please disclose this. We do not consider work that has been self-published with a significant readership (defined as over 5,000 copies sold or downloaded).
AI-generated content
Futures Publishing requires that all submitted work is substantially the original creative output of the named author. Manuscripts generated primarily or entirely by artificial intelligence tools will not be considered. Authors must be able to attest that the work is their own.
7. Simultaneous & Multiple Submissions
We accept simultaneous submissions — that is, manuscripts submitted to more than one publisher at the same time. If your manuscript is offered publication elsewhere while under consideration with us, you must notify us immediately by email so we can withdraw our consideration.
We accept one submission per author at any given time. Please do not submit a second manuscript while one is already under consideration.
8. Response Times & Follow-Up
| Acknowledgement email | Within 3 working days of submission |
| Editorial review period | 8–12 weeks from acknowledgement |
| Follow-up (if no response) | After 12 weeks, one follow-up permitted via Contact page |
We respond to every submission — acceptance, rejection, or a request for the full manuscript. We do not offer detailed editorial feedback at the query stage, but aim to give a brief note with rejections where time permits.
9. Common Reasons for Rejection
Understanding why manuscripts are declined can help authors revise and resubmit elsewhere. The most common reasons we decline a submission include:
- The manuscript does not fall within our current list or genre focus
- The opening pages do not establish a compelling voice or situation
- The synopsis reveals structural or pacing problems in the narrative
- The writing feels unready — the manuscript would benefit from further revision
- The submission does not follow our format or content guidelines
- We have recently acquired a title that is too similar in concept or approach
- The market for this type of book is saturated or currently contracting
| A rejection is not always a reflection of the quality of the work. Publishing is subjective, and many acclaimed books were rejected multiple times before finding the right publisher. We encourage authors to continue submitting elsewhere. |
10. After Acceptance
If we wish to publish your work, we will contact you with an offer. This will typically include:
- An advance against royalties (amount varies by project and market)
- A royalty rate for print, digital, and audio editions
- A proposed publication timeline (typically 12–24 months from contract signing)
- Details of the editorial, design, and marketing process
- A request for a full author biography and author photograph
All terms are set out in a formal publishing agreement. We recommend authors seek independent legal or literary agent advice before signing any contract.
11. Questions & Contact
If you have a question not answered by these guidelines, please visit our FAQ page before contacting us. For submission-related questions only, you may reach us via the Contact page at futurespublishing.com/contact.
Please do not send manuscripts or queries directly to staff email addresses. Submissions sent outside the official form will not be considered.
| These guidelines are reviewed and updated periodically. Please check this page before submitting, as requirements may change. Last updated: May 2026. |