Open Submissions Day!

One day a year we accept unsolicited manuscripts, imaginatively called Open Submissions Day! One month beforehand we announce the date on our social media platforms and via our newsletter. But for those of you who can’t wait that long . . . it’s going to be in a month that contains fireworks and starts with N.

Open Submissions Day FAQ

Why just one day?

We are a small team! We don’t have time to keep up with unsolicited submissions every day. But because we want all writers and illustrators to have the same chance of publication (not just the well-connected ones) we came up with Open Submissions Day to allow unagented authors and illustrators to send us their work. Limiting it to once a year gives us the chance to properly process and fairly review everything we are sent.

How do I submit?

Email your text or text and illustrations, up to a maximum of 3 projects, to rocketbirdbooks@harpercollins.co.uk
Please ensure all attachments are under 10MB.

Will I get a response?

If you send your submission on January 20th 2024 you will get an email to say your submission has arrived safely. We will only contact authors and illustrators individually where we think their project may have potential, so please do not email again to check on your submission.

What should I send?

We look at a maximum of 3 projects per person. Authors should send the complete draft of your text; author-illustrators should send the complete draft of your text, two colour illustrations and the remainder of the book roughed out. Illustrators can also send their portfolio and a link to their social media.

Do you only publish picture books?

Yes – but there’s no “only” about it. A picture book can be fiction or non-fiction, for a toddler or a longer more ambitious story. If you are writing a 32-page picture book, your text should be between 400 and 1000 words, but we will consider other lengths provided the story lends itself to be told through both the text and illustration.

Open Submissions Day!

Open Submissions Day FAQ

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