Close WindowHow do I submit my manuscript to Houghton Mifflin?
• General Interest Fiction and Nonfiction Books
• Poetry
• Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship
• Clarion Books
• Children's Books
• Dictionaries
General Interest Fiction and Nonfiction Books:
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscript submissions. If you want to publish a manuscript, a good way to start is by looking for a literary agent in the Literary Marketplace. This is a reference book that can be found in most public libraries. The book lists literary agents around the country, their addresses and phone numbers, and the types of books that they specialize in handling. You might also want to pick up a copy of the Houghton Mifflin Trade Division book How to Be Your Own Literary Agent by Richard Curtis.
This information can also be heard at 617-351-5914.
Poetry:
Houghton Mifflin regrets that we can no longer consider unsolicited poetry. Since our poetry publishing program is quite small, we have decided to reserve it for the authors to whom Houghton Mifflin has already made a commitment. Please seek out resources like Poet's Market if you want to pursue publication.
Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship:
The Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship is designed to reward American authors for a first general interest trade book of literary merit. Only books that have already been accepted for publication by Houghton Mifflin are eligible.
Clarion Books:
Due to staff changes and the overwhelming number of unsolicited manuscripts we receive, Clarion Books have had to change our submissions policy.
Effective immediately, we are no longer responding to your unsolicited submission unless we are interested in publishing it. Please do not include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Submissions will be recycled, and you will not hear from us regarding the status of your submission unless we are interested. We regret that we cannot respond personally to each submission, but we do consider each and every submission we receive.
Clarion Books will read unsolicited manuscripts. Please send them to us by conventional mail only. We do not accept e-mailed or faxed manuscripts. Because confirmation postcards are easily separated from the manuscript or hidden, we encourage you not to include them with your submission.
We prefer a typed (letter-quality), double-spaced manuscript on unfolded plain white paper in a 9 x 12 envelope. We do not accept manuscripts that are handwritten or submitted on computer disk.
You do not have to furnish illustrations, but if you wish, copies of a few comprehensive sketches or duplicate copies of original art will suffice. For fiction we prefer to see the entire manuscript, and for nonfiction a synopsis and sample chapters.
Please keep a copy of the manuscript for your files. Because of the volume of manuscripts we receive each day, submissions are virtually impossible to track.
When submitting your work to any publishing house, it is always a good idea to check your local bookstore or library to get a sense of what kinds of books the company publishes.
Please send your submission(s) to:
Submissions
Clarion Books
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Children's Books:
This information can also be heard at 617-351-5959.
IMPORTANT:
Owing to the overwhelming number of unsolicited manuscripts we receive, we at Houghton Mifflin Children's Books have had to change our submissions policy.
As of January 1, 2004, we are no longer responding to your unsolicited submission unless we are interested in publishing it. Please do not include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Submissions postmarked January 1, 2004, or later will be recycled, and you will not hear from us regarding the status of your submission unless we are interested, in which case you can expect to hear back from us within twelve weeks. We regret that we cannot respond personally to each submission, but we do consider each and every submission we receive.
The Children's Book Division will read unsolicited manuscripts. Please send them to us by conventional mail only. We do not accept e-mailed or faxed manuscripts. Because confirmation postcards are easily separated from the manuscript or hidden, we do not encourage you to include them with your submission.
We prefer a typed (letter-quality), double-spaced manuscript on unfolded plain white paper in a 9 x 12 envelope. We do not accept manuscripts that are handwritten or submitted on computer disk.
You do not have to furnish illustrations, but if you wish, copies of a few comprehensive sketches or duplicate copies of original art will suffice. For fiction we prefer to see the entire manuscript, and for nonfiction a synopsis and sample chapters.
Please keep a copy of the manuscript for your files. Because of the volume of manuscripts we receive each day, submissions are virtually impossible to track, and it may take up to twelve weeks before we reach a decision.
When submitting your work to any publishing house, it is always a good idea to check your local bookstore or library to get a sense of what kinds of books the company publishes.
Please send your submission(s) to:
Submissions
Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116-3764
Children's Books Art:
• Do not send original artwork or slides
• Send color photocopies, tearsheets, or photos
• Send a SASE if you would like your samples returned to you
Please submit only your strongest work. As to subject matter, illustrations that feature children or animals are always welcome, but feel free to submit other subjects as well. It is also a good idea to look at Houghton Mifflin books in your local bookstore or library to get a sense of what kinds of books we publish.
Please send art submissions to
Art Department
Children's Trade Books
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116-3764
Dictionaries:
Please send lexical submissions to our Dictionary Department at:
Dictionary Department
Houghton Mifflin Company
222 Berkeley Street, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02116-3764