Subsidy Publishing

When submitting a proposal to a subsidy publisher, authors/photographers should--in gereral--provide the following:

1. It is rare for unsolicited manuscripts or proposals to be accepted for publication. However, unsolicited book proposals will always be considered if the following procedure is complied with. A concise proposal that includes a synopsis of the book (provide a detailed contents list and a brief summary of each chapter); and motivate why the book should be published. Included in this should be an assessment of the book's market (i.e. who the book is aimed at), and, if applicable, a short list of existing books on the same subject.

2. A brief note about the author/photographer, indicating other books previously published and any other information that is relevant to the proposal.

3. Original material should always be retained by the author and a copy sent to the publisher. If illustration or photographic material is to be submitted you should send colour photocopies. Original artwork should never be submitted with a proposal.

4. it is not always necessary to send a complete manuscript, but, if possible, a writing sample of two or three chapters should be submitted. While many publishers accept proposals by e-mail or facsimile, some insist on receiving hard copy which should be sent by post. Sample material may be printed on both sides of the paper. There is also no need for expensive bindings. If sending a manuscript by post, include a self-addressed envelope so that the publisher can return it to the author if the proposal is not accepted.

5. Photographers must submit a sample of about 20 transparencies to accompany a proposal and these must be mounted (no glass mounts), clearly labelled (photographer's name and contact details), and captioned (including as much detail on transparency as possible). The transparencies must be carefully packaged. Publishers do not accept responsibility for any damage or loss if these procedures are not followed. Samples of photographs may be emailed, but original transparencies must still be submitted.

6. Feedback from some subsidy publishers is swift, but in general, expect to wait about 3 - 4 months for a decision.