Book Department SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

We are always on the lookout for exciting new work and welcome submissions from both published and debut authors, across many genres, and from any background. If you would like to submit your work to us, please follow the guidelines below and choose the agent most appropriate to your work. We enjoy reading submissions and appreciate approaches that show care, and awareness of our agents’ tastes.

Please note that we do not accepted submissions originated, written or edited by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

In brief, please send an introductory email, along with a synopsis and a writing sample, as Word.doc attachments; there are more details below. If you are submitting a non-fiction proposal, please send an introductory email, along with your proposal, which should include a synopsis, chapter plan and sample material, as advised below.

You can find a list of our agents and read more about their tastes, here. 

Please note that:

  • Isobel Dixon is on sabbatical from reading and considering new work, and is not receiving submissions currently.

  • Juliet Pickering is now closed to submissions until the new year (2025).

Please read the individual agent pages in order to be able to submit to the most appropriate agent. Please only submit to one agent at Blake Friedmann — our agents will pass your work on to a colleague if they think it has promise but would be more suited to someone else. We do not represent books for children.

We regret that we are no longer able to accept paper submissions. Please submit via email. We cannot open external links within emails as this compromises security, so please attach your work to your email, as requested below.

Please do not send a query asking whether you can submit your project; go ahead and submit your work to the appropriate agent.

Further tips:

  • The title of your work and your name should be included in the subject line of your email.

  • Your cover letter — introducing us to your book and to you — should form the body of the email (see more details below).

  • Attach your synopsis and sample as Word documents (please do not send PDFs or Pages), preferably with with 1.5 line spacing. Please number your pages.

  • Each attachment should be named with the BOOK TITLE and YOUR NAME (plus SYNOPSIS or CHAPTERS).

  • Each document should have a first page with the book title, your name and contact details. Include your contact details in the email too!

  • If you are using a pseudonym, please include both your real name and your pseudonym on the sample material, as well as in the email.

    FICTION SUBMISSIONS

    When submitting a work of fiction, please attach:

  • A full synopsis, of 250-300 words (the full story in brief, including the ending — more details below)

  • The first three chapters, or first 10,000 words (please do not send later chapters instead!)

NON-FICTION SUBMISSIONS
When submitting a non-fiction proposal, please attach:

  • A synopsis of up to 500 words

  • A chapter plan for the entire work, with each chapter heading followed by a paragraph detailing what that chapter will include

  • Two sample chapters (one of which should be the introduction/opening chapter)

  • The total word count for a proposal is often around 10,000 words

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COVERING LETTER

  • An opening paragraph about your book – introduce it with the title, which genre you think it falls into, and a couple of comparative titles

  • A one-paragraph blurb for your book, such as you might find on the back of a book jacket; these are usually intriguing & compelling.

  • A note on any significant previous publications or writing experience, if valid (don’t worry if not!)

  • A note on any personal experience relating directly to the subject of the book, if you think it relevant

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR SYNOPSIS

  • The synopsis should detail the core narrative of your book, including the themes, setting, characters and plot —from the first to final chapter, ending with the resolution of the story. This is not a book jacket blurb, but a more practical outline of your main narrative thread — agents want to know the beginning, middle and end of your story upfront!


You can email your submission to an agent by clicking on the following links:

Isobel Dixon (currently closed to submissions)
Juliet Pickering: juliet@blakefriedmann.co.uk
Kate Burke: kate@blakefriedmann.co.uk
Sian Ellis-Martin: sian@blakefriedmann.co.uk

Please note that Julian Friedmann and Conrad Williams do not accept novel/book submissions.

Owing to the enormous and increasing volume of submissions that we receive daily, we regret that we cannot guarantee a reply to your submission. We respond to as many submissions as we can but individual responses cannot be guaranteed, and we cannot offer feedback on any submissions that we are unable to pursue further.

If you have received no response 8 weeks after the date of your submission, it can generally be assumed that we are not able to take matters further, although we are happy to receive an enquiry email after 8 weeks have passed. If you have had interest from publishers or agents, or there is exciting news on your submission, please let us know by email.

We can take no responsibility for material submitted to us that may be lost or damaged.

We are not able to give editorial feedback or detailed reasons as to why a project is not suitable for the agency: there are many editorial consultancies you can approach for editorial assistance, if you wish. Your local library or regional arts organisation may offer creative writing courses and support, and there are courses available online.