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 your work.
Q: Can I submit if my only published work is technical/academic?
A: Yes—you can submit your work if your other publications are 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: My manuscript isn’t divided into chapters. How many pages can I submit?
A: If you don’t have a first chapter, please submit no more than the first 25 double spaced pages. Thanks!
Q: Are Young Adult, science fiction, fantasy, horror, or romance novels eligible?
A: Tin House doesn’t explicitly publish YA novels 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: Can short story collections be submitted during the January period?
A: No—please wait and submit collections in May during the short story collection submission period. We appreciate you doing so.
Q: Do I have to pay a submission fee?
A: No—it is free to submit!
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.