publishing with penguin
SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPTS
Within the Penguin Group (which comprises various imprints) it is extremely rare for any unsolicited manuscripts or proposals to be accepted for publication. Manuscripts and proposals submitted by literary agents will always take precedence. Note that Penguin no longer publishes poetry and only very rarely publishes short stories.
The Adult Publishing Department - comprising Penguin Books (our primary paperback imprint) and Viking (our hardback imprint) - is NOT accepting unsolicited manuscripts at this time.
The Books for Children and Young Adults Department is currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts (including submissions for the Aussie Nibbles, Aussie Bites and Aussie Chomps series’ – see below for guidelines). Please refer to this website regularly for the most up-to-date information.
Manuscripts should be submitted in hard copy (double-spaced, and may be printed on both sides of the paper) along with a stamped self-addressed envelope to:
The Editor
Books for Children and Young Adults
Penguin Group (Australia)
PO Box 701
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Note: Penguin Group offices in other countries do not accept proposals.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE FOR WRITERS
Writing Assistance
If you are interested in writing and need general information and advice on how to begin, it is a good idea to look in your local library for books that will help you with the genre of writing you are interested in. Look out for Australian Writers' Marketplace which has just been published by the Queensland Writers' Centre and Australian Book Contracts (The Australian Society of Authors) in particular.
You might wish to check our catalogue under the broad subject of LITERATURE, LITERARY CRITICISM AND LANGUAGE to see what is currently available from Penguin Books Australia in the way of writing guides.
Contact the writers' centre in your state or territory for assistance with the writing process and referral to community writing groups, agents and manuscript assessment services.
- ACT Writers' Centre
- NSW Writers' Centre
- NT Writers' Centre Inc.
- Queensland Writers' Centre
- South Australian Writers' Centre
- Tasmanian Writers' Centre
- Victorian Writers' Centre
- The WA State Literature Centre
In general, when submitting manuscripts to publishers, three sample chapters are sufficient. Submissions should be double-spaced and can be copied on both sides. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if return of your proposal is required. There is no need to use expensive bindings. You should expect to wait up to four months for a response.
PUFFIN AUSSIE NIBBLES, AUSSIE BITES AND AUSSIE CHOMPS - SERIES RATIONALE
The Puffin Aussie Bites series has exceeded our wildest expectations, with around seventy-five titles in print now. We are frequently reprinting and the books are in constant demand. Kids love them. Teachers love them.
While we have a preferred word length of 6000 to 7000 words, we would like to be as open and flexible as possible about the kinds of stories we include in the series. However, to hook the children in at this difficult reading age, we do want the focus to be on the story. Here then is a random collection of thoughts in relation to that: plot-driven stories, cliff-hanger chapters, proactive characters, light-hearted fantasies, unpredictable storylines, satisfying outcomes, humour. The stories should be aimed at six to ten year-old Australian children.
As well as Aussie Bites, we publish the Aussie Nibbles series for lower primary with around fifty titles published so far. The same criteria apply – the stories should be enjoyable and able to be read by children, read alone rather than read aloud. For the Aussie Nibbles, manuscripts should be around 1200 to 1500 words, with an interest level for six to eight year-olds as they tackle their first chapter books.
As a result of the tremendous success of Aussie Nibbles and Aussie Bites, we were asked by children, parents, teachers and librarians to publish books for a slightly older age group where there is a demand for shorter, snappier, high-interest, easy-to-read books. While there are links to the Aussie Bites and Aussie Nibbles, this new series, the Aussie Chomps, reflects the concerns of that age group (eight to twelve year-olds) as they move towards adolescence and the challenges of the final years of primary school/starting high school. The Aussie Chomps are longer in length - between 10,000 and 12,000 words - so more challenging stories can be developed for that age group. There is no illustration content in the Aussie Chomps. We’re open to a wide range of stories and genres, but are particularly interested in action/adventure stories that would work for boy readers, and relationship/social issues stories that would appeal to girls.
If you would like to see the complete selection of Aussie Bites, Aussie Nibbles and Aussie Chomps published to date please refer to our Puffin website at puffin.com.au
The Books for Children and Young Adults department is accepting unsolicited manuscripts for the Aussie Nibbles, Aussie Bites and Aussie Chomps series. NB: When making unsolicited submissions, please send only one manuscript at a time and specify which series you have submitted it for.