Manuscript Submissions Author Guidelines

Journey Institute Press is a non-profit publishing house created by authors for authors. Our mission is to tell the stories that would otherwise not be told by giving authors access to traditional publishing tools and support, utilizing a publishing model that is first and foremost geared towards authors, without the expenses required by other publishing models. See below for information on Query Letters, Manuscripts, and Formatting as well as FAQ’s.

Query Letter

Manuscripts are only accepted by invitation. To send a query letter please see below.

Use the form below or upload a query letter in Microsoft Word (preferably) or PDF format.

Your email / or query letter should include at a minimum:

A short synopsis of your book.
Genre, word count, and target audience.
Your name and contact details (email, phone number, website, social media).
Any relevant information about the author.

Send Query Letter

Manuscripts

Journey Institute Press primarily accepts submissions of non-fiction and fiction literary work.

The average word length of submissions varies but is typically between 50,000 – 90,000 words.

A literary agent is not required for submission.

We WILL consider manuscripts that are currently on submission to another publisher.

It is not necessary for you to register or copyright your work before publication—it is protected by law as-long-as it has not been published. If we accept your manuscript, we will copyright the book in the author’s name and register that copyright with the Library of Congress.

As an environmentally conscious publisher, we accept digital submissions only. We do not accept printed manuscripts via postal mail.

Guidelines

Your manuscript should follow the following format:

12pt Times New Roman font.
Use Black Font color.
Use 8.5×11 inches page size.
Set Margins to 1 inch on all sides.
Set Alignment to Left Side. (Not Justified)
Use Double Spaced Line Spacing.
Number all pages from the point at which the story begins. (Do Not number the title page)
Header should contain the book title and authors last name on every page along with the page number. (If the title is too long, simply use a keyword or two from the title.)
Center a hash tag ( # ) one double-spaced line down at the end of your manuscript and/or write THE END.

Additional Formatting:

Use a Single Space after periods.
Indent all paragraphs by .5 inches. (Do Not hit tab or space to indent. in Word, then set indentation using Format > Paragraph. Under “Indentation” and by “Left,” type .5. under “Special,” then choose “First line” from the drop-down menu.)
No extra line spacing between paragraphs. (If you choose to add a line between paragraphs to indicate change of location or passage of time, center a typographical dingbat (like ***) or a hashtag ( # ) on the line.)
Use Page Breaks for new Chapters.
Begin chapters on new pages with the chapter title centered (even if it’s only “Chapter 1”), about one-third of the way down the page from the top.
Never underline. Use italics for word emphasis.
Use bold sparingly to highlight important information.
Use single quotes (‘ ’) in the body of a paragraph. Double quotation marks (“ ”) should be used within single ones for quotes within quotes.

Title Page:

Your name, email address, physical address, and phone number should be in the top left of the page.
Your word count (to the nearest hundred) should be in the top right of the page.
Your title should be roughly one-third of the page from the top and centered.
Use the same font as the rest of the manuscript. Do not make anything on your title page bold, italics, or larger font.

FAQ

What type of file is required for submission?
Do I need an agent?

No. We happily accept submissions from un-agented authors.

The role of an agent is to help you find a publisher, garner the best contract terms from the publisher, and fight on your behalf for the best advances, marketing deals, book tours etc., all for a portion of the authors profits.

As a small independent non-profit publisher we do not provide advances and other items Agents typically represent authors for. Additionally, our contracts have been called the most author friendly contracts (as seen by a copyright lawyer) precisely because our number one goal is the authors’ success. As such, we primarily work directly with authors not agents.
Do you accept submissions from authors outside the United States?
Can I email my manuscript directly to you?
Do you accept works that have been previously published (self-publishing, e-publishing, etc.)?
How long after submission will it take before I know if you accept my manuscript?

Our team reviews manuscript submissions as quickly as possible. The timeline for a response depends on the volume of submissions and the order in which they are received. We strive to respond to submissions within 30 days but cannot guarantee a specific timeline.
If selected, will I receive a book contract?

If your manuscript seems to be a good fit for Journey Institute Press, we will be in contact with you to discuss preliminary goals and objectives. If we determine that both we as the publisher and you as the author are a good fit for each other, we will offer a contract.
What are the terms of a Journey Institute Press contract?
Does Journey Institute Press offer advances to authors?
Where will my book be distributed?

Journey Institute Press’s distribution network includes making your book available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble as well as to Independent bookstores, retailers, libraries, schools, E-commerce companies, Walmart.com, Target.com, and Chapters as well as opportunities for international publishing across eleven countries.
Will my book be in paperback or hardcover?
Do you still accept printed (mailed) submissions?

The back cover copy you write for your book is among the most important marketing messages you’ll craft. It’s the essence of your book’s most exciting features, distilled into a few hundred words. It typically serves as the foundation for your online book descriptions, as well as any press releases or pitches you make to the media. It will get re-used and re-fashioned for dozens of purposes. Whatever labor you expend on perfecting it will reward you in the long run.

Here are the key principles that publishers and authors alike use to create what should become a masterpiece of your book marketing and an essential piece of your book metadata.

Back Cover Copy for Nonfiction (Non-Narratives)

The most important question you must answer in your back cover copy is: Why and how will the reader benefit from this book? If you know your audience well, then you know the problems they face; your back cover copy should tell how your book addresses these problems head on and helps readers overcome a challenge or succeed.

Two of the most common mistakes that nonfiction authors make in crafting their back cover is:

Focusing too much on a description of the book’s content, rather than how the content will help, inform, or entertain the reader
Focusing too much on the author’s background, rather than how the author’s credentials or experience helps them expertly address the subject matter

Rather than crafting copy that’s a long, solid block of text, you can help ensure the copy is read by including (in this order):

A headline at the top of the cover that succinctly sums up the key benefit or selling point of the book—or consider a convincing quote (blurb) from a recognizable authority who recommends the book
About a 100-200 word summary that expands upon the headline and demonstrates the value of the book
A bullet list of features and benefits the book provides to readers
A final sentence or two to close the message, with a mention of the author’s credentials if not earlier described
(optional) Praise (blurbs) for the book from recognizable authorities
(optional) A brief author bio and author photo at the bottom of the cover

A professional designer can work wonders in arranging this information in a way that helps it get read, especially if you have a range of elements you’re trying to assemble (description, blurbs, bio, photo, awards, and so on).

Back Cover Copy for Fiction (and Nonfiction Narratives)

It’s not uncommon for traditional publishers to put nothing but blurbs or book reviews on a novel’s back cover, especially if it’s by an author who is already well-known. But that’s rarely the best strategy for authors who don’t already have an established audience. Potential readers will want to know what the story is about before committing, and the hook you provide may determine whether they start reading the first page or chapter. (The same is true of memoir and other true-to-life stories.)

The hook for the back cover isn’t so different from the hook you’d put in a query letter to a literary agent. The hook needs to convey:

Who is the main character(s)?
What do they most deeply desire?
What stands in the way?
What is the setting or context for the story?

If you can’t identify what the main character deeply desires, then ask: What challenge do they face? What sets their story in motion?

Ultimately, what you’re trying to get across is an intriguing story premise. For example, My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult tells the story of 13-year-old Anna, who was born as a “savior sister” specifically so she can save her older sister’s life. When Anna turns 13, she is told that she will have to donate one of her kidneys, and she sues her parents for medical emancipation.

That length of description is all you need to sell the story to potential readers. To improve your own story description, read the book marketing copy for dozens (even hundreds) of books in your genre, and pay attention to length, point of view or voice, as well as how much of the story is described. For example, it’s very popular for contemporary romance novel descriptions to be written from the point-of-view of the heroine. Here’s how the book marketing copy for Baller by Vi Keeland starts:

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.

In those 60 words, we know who the main character is, a good idea of what she desires (or will desire!), and what her challenge will be. We also know the setting or context.

No matter what category or genre your book falls into, you have to pack a lot of punch into a couple hundred words, sometimes less. Don’t just write one version and consider it done. Write multiple versions, test and gather feedback, and improve it until you feel it’s the best possible sales piece for your book.