YA Publishers Who Don't Require an Agent

So, you've polished your masterpiece to perfection? You've written a shining query letter that will captivate even the toughest reader? You're ready to take the next step and find a publisher?
Well, practice your patience and prepare for the most nerve-wracking experience ever. Remember that most authors, even the most successful ones, get rejected many times before they are offered a contract. The industry is very subjective, so make sure you've pinpointed your target audience and genre before choosing a publisher. This list is mainly for Young Adult authors.

Quirk: Think Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. This company is owned by Random House, and therefore has fantastic distribution. I was actually very surprised that they didn't require an agent, but this may be because so few books are quirky enough to make the cut. Don't go sending them anything mainstream! If your book thinks outside of the box, then I highly recommend submitting to them. They are very fast with their initial response (I think it took three hours), and will let you know their decision within two months.

Curious Fox: These guys publish fiction for both teens and children. Though they're a small press, their books have won many awards and boast great covers (which is all that matters, right?). If you haven't heard anything after three months, assume it's a 'no', since they won't comment on unsuccessful submissions. Still, a great and reputable choice!

Fledgling: This is a Scottish publisher, and they take special interest in debut authors and those with a Scottish setting or characters. Again, they are trustworthy and have good distribution, and they'll give you a yes or no answer within six weeks.

Strident: One of their most notable books is DarkIsle, which just sold its rights to Delacorte Press. Their books have won many awards, and are geared towards both teens and children. I think they're currently not accepting submissions because of a backlog, but make sure to keep checking back!

Black Bed Sheets: If your genre is horror, then this is the place for you! Don't be daunted by the confusing website, they are a genuine and well-known publisher. They will look at other genres, but focus mainly on horror.

Medallion: For a small press, this house had distribution extraordinaire, awesome covers, and a glowing reputation. What makes them stand out is that they have a category solely devoted to YA fiction written by authors who are under nineteen! So far, they are the only publisher I've found who do this. They'll respond with a yes or no within a couple of months.

Hachette Australia: This is an umbrella company for many well-known imprints, including Little, Brown (the Twilight Saga), and Orbit. This was another one which surprised me by opening submissions to everybody, and I'm not sure if it's only the Australian branch, but don't worry: you don't have to live in Australia to submit. Definitely give this one a shot, since some very big authors have signed with them and you're guaranteed to get excellent service. If they haven't responded in three weeks, then assume it's a no.

Lycaon: A smaller Canadian press with gorgeous covers. They start out with e-books only, and release print copies after one year. They're very pleasant to deal with, and answer any questions within a day or so, plus their response time is fast at only two to four weeks for a final decision.

John Hunt: These are the guys I signed with! They have many many imprints, and the YA one is Lodestone. Their response time is unbelievable, initially at only twenty-four hours, with a contract decision in only two weeks, The ONLY thing to watch for is that there are four levels of contracts, the latter two of which call for a substantial subsidy (you have to pay). I was fortunate enough to be offered a traditional royalty-paying level, but keep in mind there is that possibility.

Also, try Jolly Fish, Piccadilly, and Polis. 

The Query

First of all, congratulations! Most people never get to this stage, where you've finished your novel and are ready to submit to publishers. Remember how awesome you are, no matter what happens.
 I haven't included anything about writing a novel, because I think that is something only you can figure out how to do. There aren't any rules. If you find that it makes sense, is gripping and interesting, and is worthy of being published, then that's all the confirmation you need. I'm just going to remind you of one thing:
                                     
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It sounds harsh, but trust me, nobody writes a masterpiece on their first try. So before you even consider submitting your work, listen to Ernest Hemingway and edit. Try to get multiple opinions too, since it's amazing how many obvious mistakes you'll miss. Then, when you're absolutely certain there's nothing more you can do, make a decision: am I going to try for an agent, or do this myself? There are huge differences. If you want to be the next J K Rowling and net a contract with lots of zeros from Random House, then you will of course need an agent. That being said, you can still be successful without one. You just need to target a different set of publishers (I'll give you a list on my next post). Keep in mind that agents only take on a couple of clients per year, but may get hundreds of queries a week. The entire publishing world is full of terrifying statistics, but remember: If you have an interesting, well-written, and unique book, you will be published. 

Since this is the path I took, let's assume you're going unagented. The query letter is the first thing your prospective publisher will see, and therefore you need to pour nearly as much effort into it as you did your manuscript. It doesn't matter if you've created a work of genius -if the query letter sucks, then your inbox will be full of rejections. Here's a sample:

(Insert Name Here),
Run, run, as fast as you can! This isn't about winning anymore -it's about survival!
In a bizarre twist of fate, a baker found his gingerbread man had taken on a life of its own, and the consequences will draw animals of all backgrounds together in an epic contest of wit and deception.
My name is Jane Smith, and I've written The Gingerbread Man, an 6,000 word children's novel. I've geared it towards the 2-6 age range, since I think they'll find the humor and colorful characters amusing. It's comparable to books like Jack and the Beanstalk, since it has a moral and a simple plot that can be retold throughout generations.
This is my first novel, but with a 5,000-visits-per-day blog and an extensive Twitter following, I'll be more than able to market my book to the public. I've won several national short-story contests.
If you're interested, I'd be delighted to send a full or partial manuscript?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Jane Smith (Insert Contact Info Here)

Ta-da! Obviously, you'll want to add a bit more meat to that when you do it for real, but it shows the basic outline. Start off by grabbing their attention, then give a brief hook of the plot so they get the gist of your story. Make sure you include a little bit about yourself (If you want my advice, especially if you're a teen, don't mention your age until later. That way they're not biased when reading your submission), the word count, genre, target audience, short marketing pitch, credentials, and significant awards. Hint: high school prizes don't count. Remember, they will be comparing this to a huge selection of similar pieces; what will make yours stand out?
Most publishers will be very specific about what they want. Many will ask to see a synopsis, so have a 1-2 page summary ready, and probably a couple of sample chapters too.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave a comment! I hope this helps!

Introduction

It takes a certain kind of person to become an author. Somebody who can not only dream up amazing ideas but express them in words, who can grit their teeth and sit at a keyboard for hours on end, and most of all, somebody who can take criticism and rejection. 

This being said, it is one of the most rewarding experiences ever. There is nothing quite like seeing your work sitting on a bookstore shelf, and that sight alone is enough to justify the pain. 

I was sixteen when I signed my first contract. Well, my only contract. Which makes sense, considering I only signed it a month ago. Although I've only just started on this road, I've found that it's quite the emotional roller coaster! 

I've spoken to many teens who are aspiring writers, but have little clue what to do next. After all, authors are all middle-aged people with university degrees and top agents, right? 

                                             

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That's what my blog is for. If you've written a book, even if you're not a teen, I'll give you all the tips I discovered to help you become a published author. 

WARNING: This blog may contain random outbursts of frustration and/or happiness. We'll see how it goes.