Today, there are countless publishers for new authors who don’t want to wait for a traditional publishing contract. Perhaps you, like many writers, have a book inside you and want to share it with the world. You feel the importance of your message and can’t wait to impact readers. Based on our research, the best publishers for new authors are Self-Publishing School, Dzanc Books, TCK Publishing, Skyhorse Publishing, and Morgan James Publishing.
However, lacking the answers to crucial questions can be a detriment to your writing journey. Where can you find a good publisher that walks you through how to publish a book? What publishers accept new authors? In this article, I answer these questions, and more. This is the year you can find your answers and publish your book. Let’s get straight into it!
Publishers for new authors: what’s covered
- How do new authors get published?
- How do I find a publisher as a first time author?
- 5 Publishers for new authors
- How much should an author pay a publisher?
How do new authors get published?
Much of the publishing process comes down to choosing the right publisher for your book. But how do you determine the best publisher for you?
Choosing publishers for new authors can be difficult. After all, your first publisher can make or break your debut experience. Because of this, it’s crucial to understand what you need from a publisher and what each publisher can provide.
Before settling on a publisher, consider the following:
- Are they viewed as credible by those in publishing?
- What types of books does the publisher focus on?
- How many titles do they publish annually?
- Do their authors bring in good sales?
If a publisher is well-established and works with happy authors, you may want to share your work with them. Remember the central goal of finding publishers for new authors is to find options. Shop your work to many publishers. Then you can decide which one works best for you.
How do I find a publisher as a first time author?
A simple Internet search will provide you with a plethora of publishers to choose from. For writers who hope to traditionally publish, literary agents typically find a publisher for the writer. If you choose to self-publish, you get to find the publisher you want to work with. This means you have quite a bit of creative control.
Once you find a list of potential publishers, do your research:
- Check their online reviews
- Reach out to authors who previously worked with them
- Browse through their FAQs or reach out directly with specific questions
You’re bound to find a list of publishers for new authors in no time! But does finding your own publisher sound overwhelming? To help you in your search, I share the top five publishers you can choose from as a self-published or hybrid author. With this in mind, let’s dive into five publishers for new authors and the various packages each one offers.
5 Publishers for new authors
Browse this list of publishers for new authors and set the groundwork for your writing dreams.
1. Dzanc Books
Dzanc Books, winner of the 2023 AWP Small Press Publisher Award, is a nonprofit publisher. Dzanc Books focuses on publishing innovative literary fiction and nonfiction titles.
They open submissions November 1 through January 1, so now is the time to review your proposal and take your manuscript through any final edits.
According to Dzanc Books’ submission guidelines, include:
- A synopsis of your work
- A brief author bio
- Your complete manuscript
Dzanc Books reviews each submission, so responses may take six months or longer. While you wait to hear back, consider submitting your work to one of the following publishers as well.
Before you choose to submit, make sure your project does not fit the following list of genres Dzanc Books does not accept:
- Previously released (or self-published) works
- Genre fiction (sci-fi, mystery, romance, etc.)
- Children’s books
- Young Adult
If you write nonfiction, this publisher may be a great starting point for you.
2. TCK Publishing
While TCK Publishing is currently closed to fiction submissions, they publish nonfiction across all major genres. They accept solicited and unsolicited manuscripts.
Put simply, this means that if you have a literary agent, your agent can shop your manuscript to TCK as a solicited manuscript. However, if you have yet to sign with an agent or prefer to pitch your work on your own, TCK accepts unsolicited (not agented) queries as well. This is great news!
Additionally, TCK is not a vanity or subsidy publisher—they do not charge fees to publish your book. Once you submit your query you can expect to hear back within two to three weeks.
Many publishers take months to respond to aspiring authors. In fact, many writers never hear back from publishers they query. For this reason alone, you may want to pitch TCK. Even if they pass on your project, they may provide you with valuable feedback on your submission.
Read more on TCK publishing here.
3. Skyhorse Publishing
Skyhorse Publishing is small and unknown compared to the “Big Five” publishers located in New York. Regardless, this may be one of its greatest strengths.
Started in 2006, Skyhorse Publishing is reputable in many ways:
- Fifty-seven New York Times bestsellers published
- More than 10,000 books on their backlist
- Over 450 titles planned over the next year
- Distributed by Simon & Schuster
- Twenty-three imprints
Additionally, Publishers Weekly dubbed Skyhorse the fastest-growing small publisher in America.
If you choose to submit to Skyhorse Publishing, be sure your manuscript is complete. While they only accept the first fifty pages of your work, if they are interested they will request your full manuscript. Because of this, they stipulate against submitting unfinished works.
Find accepted genres at their submissions guidelines.
4. Morgan James Publishing
According to Publisher’s Weekly, Morgan James Publishing, “Makes an extraordinary effort to help its authors to grow their own business.”
Even if you aren’t a business owner, Morgan James Publishing may be a great publisher for you. With five imprints targeting different genres, the chances of finding a good fit with Morgan James are high.
Morgan James grew from publishing just six books annually to publishing an average of 200 frontlist titles annually. This doesn’t include the blacklist—over 3,000 titles.
Headquartered in New York, Morgan James Publishing spans the globe. Their acquisitions offices appear in:
- Nashville, United States
- British Columbia, Canada
- London, United Kingdom
- Melbourne, Australia
Inspirational writers flock to publish with Morgan James, but they publish a wide variety of genres through their multiple imprints:
- Morgan James Nonfiction
- Morgan James Fiction
- Morgan James Faith
- Morgan James Kids
- Guerrilla Marketing Press
Submit a proposal to Morgan James Publishing.
5. Self-Publishing School
Writers and reputable publications alike regard Self-Publishing School as a leading publisher. College drop-out, Chandler Bolt, launched Self-Publishing School in 2015.
Despite his early absence from college, Chandler appeared on Forbes 30 Under 30 for his massive success with his multi-million dollar company.
Chandler takes a unique approach to publishing. Rather than begin working with writers once they have something to show for their efforts, namely, a completed manuscript, the Self-Publishing School model positions writers to have someone walk with them every step of the way.
Self-Publishing School offers:
- A book coach for every writer
- A community of authors to spur you on
- In-depth guidance on how to become a writer
- Help with design, marketing, and publishing your book
Do you resonate with one of the following? You want to:
- Use your book to build a business
- Create a full-time fiction career
- Leave a legacy by sharing your story
Every single day, authors at Self-Publishing School publish a book and achieve a massive step toward the success of their dream. The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc. 5000, Entrepreneur, and more have all featured Self-Publishing School. Plus, the success of the Self-Publishing School authors speaks for itself.
If you want to become a bestselling author but only have a blank page to offer, Self-Publishing School may be for you.
The coaches at Self-Publishing School walk you through every step. Do phrases like deep POV or direct characterization make your head spin? Does marketing or creating standout back cover copy sound out of your wheelhouse? No problem! Self-Publishing School’s expertise is in it’s name: school.
When you join Self-Publishing School, you learn not just how to be a writer, but how to become a published author.
Publishing your book does not need to be a singular journey. Join a team of passionate professionals to see your book through to completion…then find success so you can repeat the process!
How much should an author pay a publisher?
The price point for publishers for new authors varies based on what type of publisher you choose. If you decide to traditionally publish, the publisher will pay you an advance as well as royalties. If you choose to self-publish you will pay all the upfront costs. That said, self-publishing royalties are usually much higher than if you traditionally publish.
Companies like Self-Publishing School offer different packages and programs to best accommodate each author’s publishing needs. If you commit to the process, the return you make on your investment (ROI) will likely far exceed your initial output.
One of my author friends decided to self-publish and did so well he now spends his days as a full-time fiction writer. With hard work and persistence, the chances are that you could see your dream come true as well!
Publishers for new authors: choose yours today!
Now that you have a list of publishers to choose from, it’s time to take action. Remember the saying, writer’s write? Similarly, aspiring authors choose a publisher! If you want to publish your book, finding pubilshers for new authors is just your first step. Talking with publishers is step number two.
Book a free call and share your dream with a Self-Publishing School expert today. We can’t wait to hear about you and your book!
