SUBMISSIONS
Thank you for your interest in submitting to Kate Nash Literary Agency. We’re always on the lookout for great stories to share with the world. We welcome approaches from both debut and published authors, across many genres, from any background.
HOW TO SUBMIT
We are now accepting submissions on QueryTracker. Please check there to see which of our agents are currently open to submissions and what genres they are accepting submissions in to find the best match for your story.
Francesca Riccardi – QueryTracker
Please approach us about full length work only. We cannot consider and do not represent short stories or novellas.
At the moment, our agents are not looking for: Children’s or Erotica. Please do not send us submissions in these genres at the current time, as these submissions will not be considered.
Please note that at Kate Nash Literary Agency we do share queries and submissions in-house. If a query isn’t the right fit for us, but we believe it could be the fit for a colleague of ours, then we will pass the query their way for consideration.
With this in mind, please take some time to look at our wish lists and submit to the agent who you think would be the best fit for you. We are not able to consider submissions that have already been declined by other agents at the Agency.
We receive a large number of submissions every week, which means that we are unable to represent the vast majority of the work we read. Each agent can only represent so many clients and give them the attention they deserve.
Is the Kate Nash Literary Agency right for me?
This is the most crucial question. Every agent represents different kinds of writing. Take some time to familiarise yourself with our client list and recent publications. Do we seem to enjoy the kind of book that you have written? Would you be interested in pursuing a professional relationship with us? You can read more about the agency and our agents in the People section.
Am I ready to submit?
Have you finished your story? Have you edited it? Are you happy with it, with the pacing, the plot development, the characterisation? Have you formatted it neatly and clearly? If you’re writing non-fiction, have you completed the proposal? Have you identified the timescales required for any further research?
TIPS
- In your covering letter, it is often beneficial to include a couple of similar books, where you think it might sit in a bookshop and any genre it might fall into.
- It’s always helpful to mention any previous writing experience or publications. If you don’t have any, please don’t worry!
- If you have any direct, lived experiences that have shaped your work, it can be helpful to mention these in your covering email.
- The synopsis of your book should include the main characters, the main plot twists and, importantly, what happens at the end (the resolution).
- We ask for your telephone number because our agents may want to call you to discuss your submission.
USEFUL RESOURCES
Here is a collection of useful resources you might want to check out:
- The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook: updated yearly, this is a book of industry advice for writers and artists. It contains contact details for publishers and agents, written pieces by published writers various relevant subjects, and much more. There are also online resources.
- The Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook: a companion publication/resource to the Writers’ & Artist’s Yearbook, containing the same sort of information but focusing on writers and illustrators for children.
- The Society of Authors: a trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers.
- The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain: the WGGB is a trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and videogames, as well as emerging and aspiring writers.
- The Crime Writers’ Association: The CWA support, promote and celebrate great crime writing. They publish a monthly magazine called Red Herrings packed with crime-related articles, a digital monthly newsletter, and they also run the prestigious CWA Dagger Awards.
- The Historical Novels ‘ Society: The HNS provide useful guides, features and reviews of historical fiction. They also run the Historical Novels Awards, as well as a yearly conference.
- The Romantic Novelists’ Association: RNA is a professional body primarily for writers of romantic fiction. They exist to raise the prestige of romantic fiction, and to encourage romantic authorship, championing the quality and diversity of romantic fiction.
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators – British Isles: SCWBI is non-profit organisation created specifically for individuals who write and illustrate for children and young adults.
- The Bookseller: a print and online publication reporting industry news within the book sector. It includes reviews, previews, opinion, news coverage so can be a great source for market research.
- House of Illustration: the UK’s only public gallery dedicated solely to illustration and graphic art. A registered charity, House of Illustration supports and promotes new talent, commissions new work and has a pioneering learning programme delivered by professional illustrators. It was founded by Sir Quentin Blake.
- Google: most agents and publishers have helpful websites of their submissions policy and what they are looking for. Do do your research before submitting anything, anywhere.
- Your local library: your local library might well have copies of some of these resources. They will also have books on writing, provide a quiet place for writing, and have computers.
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