Submit Your Book
Discover if working with us is the right fit for you!
Guidelines
At Once Upon A Queer Publishing, we are dedicated to amplifying new queer voices in speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, and other imaginative genres. To help us evaluate your manuscript, please carefully follow the guidelines below.
When you're ready, submit your work to [email protected] for review!
What We’re Looking For
- Queer-focused speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or related subgenres).
- Works that feature prominent LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or perspectives.
- Novels, novellas, or short story collections.
- Unpublished or debut authors are welcome!
Manuscript Requirements
Length:
- Novels: 50,000+ words
- Novellas: 20,000–50,000 words.
- Short Story Collections: At least 40,000 words combined.
Format:
- Submit your manuscript as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF.
- Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins.
- Include page numbers in the header or footer.
First 3 Chapters or 10,000 Words:
- For initial submissions, send the first three chapters or up to 10,000 words of your manuscript.
- If selected for further consideration, we may request the full manuscript.
Cover Letter
Include a brief cover letter introducing yourself and your work. Please include:
- Your name, pronouns, and contact information.
- The title, genre, and word count of your manuscript.
- A short summary of your story (1-2 paragraphs).
- Any relevant personal or professional background, including how your work aligns with our focus on queer speculative fiction.
Synopsis
- Provide a one-page synopsis (maximum 500 words) summarizing the key plot points, characters, and ending of your story. This helps us understand the full scope of your manuscript.
Submission Process
- Use our form to send your materials to us.
- Attach your manuscript excerpt, cover letter, and synopsis together.
- Ensure all files are properly labeled (e.g., “[Your Last Name]_[Book Title]_Manuscript”).
What to Expect
Response Time:
- We aim to respond to submissions within 4–8 weeks.
Next Steps:
- If we’re interested in your manuscript, we will reach out to request the full manuscript or schedule a follow-up discussion.
Additional Notes
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- We only accept unpublished works (self-published authors with new works are welcome).
- We do not currently accept poetry, nonfiction, or works outside the speculative fiction genre.
We are excited to read your work and appreciate your interest in submitting to Once Upon A Queer Publishing! Thank you for sharing your voice with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Once Upon A Queer Publishing?
We are a publishing house dedicated to elevating new queer voices in speculative fiction. We help authors bring their stories to life through professional editing, design, marketing, and distribution, ensuring their work reaches the audience it deserves.
What is speculative fiction?
This article has good list and helpful graphic of genres that fall under speculative fiction. Most can be catagorized as fantasy, scifi, or horror.
Will I retain the creative rights to my book?
Yes, absolutely! Our publishing company is dedicated to preserving and supporting your creative works.
What are the royalties?
Royalties are the earnings authors receive for each copy of their book sold. We offer fair and transparent royalty rates to ensure authors are properly compensated for their hard work and creativity. For more detailed information, go to the Services page.
Do I need to submit my whole book?
No, just the first 10k words or so as a sample. The submissions guidelines go over this in more detail.
I have a question I don't see anywhere?
Head over to the contact page and we'll get back to you soon!
I'm having technical difficulties.
Alright, see if the chatbot can help you, and if not, head over to the contact page. We'll do our best to sort out any problems as fast as we can!
