Everything With Words is an independent publisher based in the UK. They focus on publishing literary fiction for children and adults. Their books have been featured in major UK-based newspapers and online, and have won or been shortlisted for industry prizes. You can get a good feel for what they publish here. Please spend time with their catalog if you are considering submitting to them. If you are serious about submitting, please either try to buy a book, or borrow one through your library. Their distribution in the UK is through Central Books. They also have someone on staff focused on foreign rights, which is a good sign.
The following is what they say they are looking for: “We’re enthusiastic and committed to books that just feel a little different, a fresh way of telling a story, a striking way with words, a beguiling sense of humour and irony, and sometimes when we strike lucky, all those things at once.” They also stress: “we’re not very interested in books with a strong moral or didactic aim — fine books do change people’s view of the world but we find that books where the author’s views are the main driving force tend to be heavy and predictable.”
I found their website easy to use and their covers charming and genre appropriate.
They are currently open to both agented and unagented submissions. They are NOT open to picture book submissions, but they are seeking work aimed at children and young adults, as well as adult fiction. They are NOT open to adult horror or pure fantasy but are open to magical realism. They only consider books that are 40,000 words or more.
They ask that you submit via email and include brief summary, something about yourself and three chapters or the first 50 pages.
You can read their full submission guidelines here. Please follow them carefully.
They say they try to respond to all submissions, but they receive a lot, and cannot always do so.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2024 Guide to Manuscript Publishers. She regularly teaches three acclaimed courses on writing and publishing at The Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish. You can follow her on Facebook here.
