(Please note these guidelines are for stand-alone novels only. If you are submitting to an anthology, please follow the specific guidelines on the anthology call page.)

Digital proposals should be emailed to submissions@cwtchpress.com. Please include a 1,ooo word  synopsis of your work in the body of the email followed by the first chapter of the book.  DO NOT include any attachments in your email. If we like what we see in the email, we will contact you for more. Attachments will be left unopened and your submission will be ignored.

• We consider works between 60,000 and 100,000 words.
• Your synopsis should include a beginning, middle, and end. Don’t worry about ‘spoilers’ because we want to make sure you have the whole story figured out.
• If you do not hear back within six weeks of submitting work, assume your work isn’t a good fit for us, and that you are free to submit elsewhere.
• We only accept queries via the submissions@cwtchpress.com. 
• We do not accept simultaneous submissions.
• We do not accept previously published work.
• Do not submit until your work is completed. If we ask you for more, we’ll want it right away.

Excellence in writing

Above all, you must show us that you treat writing as a craft. Sloppy writing will get your work tossed in the slush pile faster than anything.   E.M. Forster wrote a story ‘can only have one merit: that of making the audience want to know what happens next.  Tell us a story that keeps us turning the pages–either in horror, trepidation, excitement, or wonder.

Originality

Research has shown there are only six basic plots. What that means is you have to deliver on quirky characters, unique plot twists, and settings. What about your work is different from what everyone else is writing?

Dialogue

Should suit your characters and setting. Modern slang in historicals and flowery language in  gritty contemporary romances makes us roll our collective eyes. Nothing takes a reader out of a story quicker than dialogue that doesn’t ring true to the time, place, or speaker. Also, avoid excessive dialogue tags (“he said”/”she proposed”/they queried,” b); these tend to slow the pace, and are often completely unnecessary (she proffered). Here’s a great exercise: Try writing a scene where there are absolutely no dialogue tags at all. Can you differentiate solely by the word choice and syntax of the speaker? If not, work it until you have no doubt.

Plot

While much of what Cwtch Press publishes falls into the romance or erotic categories, we want story. Even in the shortest pieces of work, characters need to change throughout. Make sure you have a plot. Even if it’s a simple one.

Setting

The right setting almost becomes a character itself. Pick one that works to support your plot and other story elements.

Voice

Keep your POVs consistent and separate. No head-hopping, please. If you have snark, use it. Are you hilarious? Great! We want unique voices that carry the story.

We’re including some links for you. If you’re new to submitting work or simply looking for some great bits of advice, check these out.

• Fictionary.co  The Fictionary online editing tool is awesome! You upload your novel in MS Word and then use their scene checklists to verify content, character traits, point of view shifts and other nifty things. Check it ou!
• The Creative Pen podcasts are great if you like to listen to your writing advice.
• Here’s a helpful article on self-editing.
• Write it Sideways has a wealth of information. We particularly love this article on filtering words.   One of the easiest way to clean up your manuscript it to do a search on those filtering words and rewrite to avoid them.