We are a commercial fiction publisher, and as such, our goal is to entertain and satisfy our consumers. Please keep that guiding principle in mind while considering Lyrical Press as a potential home for your work.

Length Requirements:
Submission length: 15,000 words and up.

We will consider works longer than 100,000 words.

Length terminology: (for your reference when submitting)
Quick Read: 15,000 - 20,000
Novella: 20,001 - 35, 000 words
Short Novel: 35,001 - 60,000 words
Novel: 60,001 - 100,000 words
Super Novel: 100,001 words plus

What we're looking for:
We are actively seeking submissions in these genres (in no particular order of importance):

  • Action-Adventure
  • Erotica
  • Fantasy
  • Historical
  • Horror
  • Humor
  • Mystery
  • Paranormal
  • Romance (all categories)
  • Science Fiction
  • Women's Lit

We are not currently seeking poetry or young adult.

Regarding objectionable content, LPI will not consider any work that glorifies, justifies or excuses the following subject matter:

  • Pedophilia
  • Rape
  • Incest (in any form)
  • Bestiality
  • Necrophilia

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES:

We will only consider completed works. No partials or proposals. There is no need to query first. Just send the full manuscript as prescribed below. Please include the following information in your cover email:

  • Name
  • Pen name
  • Contact phone
  • Working title (include series name and details if applicable)
  • Word count
  • Genre(s)
  • A short blurb (no more than three paragraphs, please)

Please attach the following to your email:

  • The book, in its entirety
  • Two-page synopsis, attached separately

All submissions should be sent to: submissions@lyricalpress.com

FILE NAME CONVENTIONS:

For an example, let's pretend your name is Nora Asimov, and you're submitting a novel called "Fantastic Falls".

Please name your book file FANTASTICFALLS_sub_NoraAsimov
Please name your synopsis file FANTASTICFALLS_syn_NoraAsimov

BOOK FORMATTING TIPS:

Keep it simple. All we care about are the words. Beyond that…

  • 12pt black font (Times New Roman, Cambria or Georgia preferred)
  • Line spacing: 1.5 (or Multiple 1.25")
  • Margins: 1" all
  • One space between sentences, not two, please.
  • No double-spaces or extra returns between paragraphs
  • Use your word processing toys to indent new paragraphs. Do not tab or use the space bar.
  • Page-breaks between chapters
  • Do not use style elements or sections breaks

If you want to score major brownie points, please include your name, pen name, and email address in a header.

Please do include a title page listing the following information:

  • Name
  • Pen name
  • Contact phone
  • Working title (include series name and details if applicable)
  • Word count
  • Genre(s)

SELF-EDITING TIPS:

A few pointers to help you help yourself before submitting.

  • Use spell check. (You'd be surprised how many don't.)
  • No bold, underlined or other special fonts except italic, used only where appropriate.
  • Point-of-view: We prefer first or third person. Limit point-of-view to essential characters. POV impossibilities a/o most head-hopping within scenes will make editors cry.
  • Punctuation: Again, keep it simple. Avoid clusters of emdashes a/o ellipses.
  • Repetitive word use: Check carefully for repeated words and phrases in proximity and throughout the work.
  • Unnecessary words: Common offenders are that, had, and, really, very, little, then, and then, just, about, against, so, all, but, like, and was/were.
  • Sentence structure: Generally speaking, it should be varied to avoid striking uncomfortable rhythms. Beware paragraphs with every sentence starting with articles a/o pronouns. Beware any overabundance of present progressive verb tense, possessive pronouns, -ly adverbs and prepositional phrases.
  • Dialogue tags: Sometimes, less really is more. Not every line needs a tag, and "said" and "asked" are just fine. Use a good mix of action a/o speaker attribution tags. Seek balance and clarity when distributing front, middle or end.