Q: Am I eligible to submit work in the upcoming submission period if I’ve previously published a book in a different genre? Am I eligible if I previously published with a smaller press?
A: No—we are looking to publish a writer’s true debut, so for these submission periods, you can’t have previously published a book in any genre or with another press (previously published chapbooks are okay though).
Q: Can I submit if my only published work was self-published?
A: Yes—if you have a self-published book but no other published books, then you can submit new work. Please do not submit a manuscript that has already been self-published.
Q: Can I submit if my only published work is technical/academic?
A: Yes—you can submit your work if your previous publications were technical or scholarly.
Q: Does my hybrid work fit into the genre requirements?
A: We’re broadly defining the categories for each submission period, so if you see your project fitting best in a given category, we’re excited to read it!
Q: Are Young Adult, science fiction, fantasy, horror, or romance collections eligible?
A: Tin House doesn’t explicitly publish YA or other genre-specific work; however, if you feel like your novel fits in the context of our publication list, you’re welcome to submit!
Q: Are multiple submissions allowed?
A: No—we’re asking writers to submit only one manuscript per submission period. Thank you!
Q: Do I have to pay a submission fee?
A: It is free to submit!
Q: Does every poem/story in my collection need to be about food and/or place?
A: No, not every poem or story needs to include food or geography references. We would love to read manuscripts that consider either subject in some capacity.
Q: When should I expect to hear back about my submission?
A: The editorial team tries to be as quick as possible, but asks that submitters wait six months before checking in about their submission status. Thank you!
Q: Are international applications eligible?
A: Yes! We’d love to consider international submissions if the project meets the other criteria.