We are not currently accepting submissions, but we will be accepting again in February. Please check back.
Dear Writer,
Somewhere on each and every publisher’s website exists a page filled with the most crucial information every writer needs: The Submission Guidelines (cue thematic music here). Pay attention to this page; search for it; read it. Following a publisher’s submission guidelines (in exacting detail) can be the thing that puts a manuscript at the top of the pile.
Know that each publishing house has a specific editorial focus and will not, without exception, accept anything that falls outside it. The submission guidelines tell a writer exactly what a publisher is looking for and, more importantly, what they are NOT looking for.
And now, The RainTown Press Editorial Focus:
We publish middle grade and young adult fiction. Genre doesn’t matter; quality of writing does—blow us away. We’re especially looking for anything that takes a common trope and does it with a new and unique twist. We want to engage avid and reluctant readers alike. (For examples of middle grade and YA books that have blown us away, check out the recommendations on our blog.)
Although we’re open to most genres, there are a few things we are not currently accepting:
Short stories and novellas A full length YA novel usually has a minimum of 60,000 words. Some Middle Grade novels are shorter, but we probably won’t consider anything under 45,000 words.
Poems and poetry chapbooks
Picture books
Memoir
Nonfiction
Incomplete manuscripts
Still with us? Fantastic!
You’re Ready to Submit
Here is a list of what we’ll need to see in your proposal:
1) A Query Letter/Cover Sheet. A good query letter will get us excited about your story. In a page or less, it should provide the following:
a) An introduction. We’ll want to know your name, the title and word count of your manuscript, and why you’ve specifically chosen to submit to RainTown Press.
b) A brief summary of your manuscript. This is your one and only chance to get us hooked. A good summary is succinct and will introduce us to the protagonist, reveal the external and internal conflicts she will face, and hint at the overarching themes of the piece. Tell us about the tone and writing style. It’s also a good idea to let us know if your story stands alone or is part of a series.
c) A description of your intended audience. This paragraph will give us a sense of who you imagine your reader to be. We’re looking for more than an age range here. For example, will your story speak to readers who have struggled with particular social issues? Is its setting such that either rural or urban kids may feel a particular affinity for your characters? Are the themes more relevant for a specific gender? Is your reader in grade school or is he in junior high or high school?
d) A short paragraph about yourself and your publishing history. This is where you can show us what you’re made of (i.e., that you’re prepared to work with an editor when making revisions). Have you been published previously or received any awards or accolades? We’d also like to know a little about you. Do you have any special expertise, an encyclopedic knowledge of crypto-zoology, or a clandestine relationship with a famous Hollywood star?
e) Your contact information. If we can’t find you, we can’t publish you.
2) A Sample of Your Manuscript. We’d like the first fifty pages, rounded up to the nearest chapter. While we’re reading, we’ll be paying special attention to pacing, your ability to get us hooked within the first couple pages, and the appropriateness of themes and narrative voice to your intended audience.
3) A List of Comparative Titles. We’d like you to identify three to five comparable titles. Let us know if you’re riding the trend or making the trend—either way, we’re ultimately looking at the quality of writing and current-market or future-market potential.
4) A Description of Your Online/Media Presence. Do you blog, twitter, maintain a Facebook account or personal webpage? Do you have any contacts who are reviewers, bloggers, or members of an online community?
Done? Send it our way!
You’ve Sent Us Your Proposal
Days go by. Weeks go by. Months go by. You haven’t heard from us. What should you do? Our average response time is between 60 and 90 days. If you don’t hear from us within 90 days of submission, feel free to shoot us an email to request an update.
If we’re hooked by your proposal, we’ll request a full manuscript.
Email vs. Snail Mail
Electronic Submissions.We prefer submissions come in electronic form. It’s faster, cheaper, and generally more convenient; plus it’s better for the environment. You can send your completed proposal as an attachment to submissions@raintownpress.com.
Paper Submissions. If you absolutely, positively cannot submit electronically, go ahead and submit by mail to the address below. Make sure to include a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for our response and keep in mind that we don’t return rejected proposals.
RainTown Press
Attn: Acquisitions
1111 E. Burnside St. #309
Portland, OR 97214
Happy submitting,
The RainTown Press Acquisitions Team