Traditional Publishing Support
Expert guidance on query letters, synopses, book proposals, and submissions outreach to literary agents and publishers
Overview of Services
One thing that separates The Editorial Department from others in the field is our commitment to helping writers find literary representation at the conclusion of the writing and revision process. We have assisted hundreds of authors with this over the years (you’ll find a list of agents and publishers handling our clients’ work here ), and many fine books have been traditionally published as a result—including several national bestsellers.
What to Expect
Our traditional publishing support program gives you feedback and guidance from experienced literary agents, editors, and pitch writing specialists who understand the demands of the market and specialize in crafting pitch materials that get results.
The exact process and consultant you work may vary based on your own specific needs, but the process can include:
The caveat, of course, is that the support we offer here is intended for works that realize a suitably high standard of quality and attention to authorial craft. The best query letter in the world won’t get you very far if your manuscript doesn’t deliver on the promises of its pitch. This is why anyone working with us at this stage can expect our utmost candor in assessing a work’s readiness for publication and constructive guidance if needed in addressing any challenges or shortcomings.
While we can’t guarantee that working with The Editorial Department will land you an agent or publisher, we can significantly improve your odds of success.
Further information about pricing, turnaround time, and coverage is available via links at right (desktop) or below (on mobile devices) or by contacting our author services director Ross Browne at the Tucson office.
Quicklinks
Recommended Reading
Query Do, Query Don’t No need to ask. Here are ten tips literary agent Kate Johnson wants you to remember.
I’ve recently worked through a post-holiday backlog of submissions, and stumbled on some recurring themes and – naturally – some recurring pet peeves. Agents are as diverse in their taste for query letters as they [...]
A View From The Trenches Literary Agent Lucas Hunt reflects on what authors need to know to be successful
If you want to publish today, your work must be impeccable. Whether you have a novel manuscript that has been slaved over for years, or are an expert in your field with a non-fiction book [...]
Hook, Line, and Sinkers: Writing the Great Pitch Tips from our staff on the all-important art of pitch-writing
Querying literary agents...looking for beta readers...entering writing contests...wooing potential book reviewers... These are just a few of the reasons you might need an effective pitch to entice someone to take an interest in your book [...]
“The idea that is proposed, supposed, or speculated about in a fiction may be simple, and idealistic, like the notion in Cinderella that the good and beautiful will triumph. Or it may be profound and unprovable, like the theme in Oedipus Rex that man cannot escape his destiny but may be ennobled in the attempt. Or it may be deliberately paradoxical and offer no guidelines that can be used in life, as in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, where the heroine, in order to adhere to her principles, must follow advice given on principles less sound than her own.” Janet Burroway