Submissions

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Like all Literary Agencies, we receive a high volume of submissions of all kinds, so it is important that you give yourself the best chance by preparing well before sending your work.

So before you press the send button, consider the following questions:

Have you researched the market?

Like anybody looking for work in any industry, find out as much as you can. Visit bookshops and libraries, talk to booksellers and librarians. You’ll find more on our Getting Published page.

Are you ready?

Please don’t submit unfinished work; we want to see writing and illustration at a stage at which you consider it publishable.

Avoid wasting your own time

We do not consider poetry, playscripts, screenplays or individual short stories.

Attention to detail

Many writers undermine their own work with undisciplined spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Then consider your potential publisher and readers:

A publisher wants to publish good books that will sell in quantity, and, if possible, internationally.

What makes you believe your book will be a commercial success?

What kind of reader do you envisage with your book in their hand?

To whom will a publisher, bookseller or librarian sell or lend your book?

For whom are you writing?

Is Fraser Ross Associates the right Literary Agency for you?

This website and our client list will give you an idea of the kind of writers, illustrators and books with whom we are currently working. But we aren’t looking for clones, and we are always open to new ideas.

Submission Guidelines for Fraser Ross Associates:

We accept unsolicited submissions by post and email – please follow the guidelines carefully.

Postal submissions should be sent to:

Fraser Ross Associates, 42 Hadfast Road, Cousland, Midlothian  EH22 2NZ

We do not collect submissions for which insufficient postage has been paid.

Email submissions should be sent using the contact form below, or to fraserrossassociates@gmail.com

When submitting by email, the email itself is the covering letter. You need not attach a separate document.

Our response time

We receive so many submissions every month that – regrettably – we can no longer respond to them all. We consider all submissions in date order. But we can only respond to those writers and illustrators to whom we may be able to offer representation. If, after 8 weeks, you have not heard from us, you can assume that your submission is not one we feel we can take any further.

Because of the number of submissions we receive, and our commitments to existing clients, we cannot offer feedback on submissions other than those we may want to take further.

Fraser Ross Associates can take no responsibility for the safe arrival or return of any manuscripts and/or artwork samples submitted.

The format for submissions should be
  • A4, double-spaced, with pages numbered. If sending hard copies, not stapled or bound in any way.
  • Emailed submissions should be Word or RTF documents, not PDFs
For novels, please send:
  • The first three chapters (or equivalent) – email as a single document, not separate chapters
  • Synopsis of novel (Please note – we need a synopsis, not a blurb)
  • Total word count for the completed book
For non-fiction, please send:
  • A one page proposal, including the envisaged readership and the reasons you are the best person to be writing this book
  • Opening chapter, and two further chapter outlines
For picture books, please send:
  • The complete manuscript without illustrations
  • If you are an author/ illustrator, please include 2 or 3 samples of your artwork (do not send originals) – colour – and a rough black and white storyboard/thumbnail sketches of the complete story, OR, if you prefer, a dummy rough of the proposed book.
For all submissions, please send:
  • An informal writing cv including past publications, if any, and an outline of your writing ambitions
  • Full contact details, including email
  • If you wish your manuscript returned, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. We cannot return manuscripts to writers living overseas.
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    Useful resources

    Sources of information for people interested in careers as writers or illustrators

    About Fraser Ross Associates

    Our Literary Agency is proud to represent outstanding writers and illustrators