Getting Published
Getting your work published is probably the biggest challenge facing a beginner writer. Here are some suggestions for making the process more straightforward, and ultimately we hope, more rewarding.
Getting Published
Publishers
The first thing to remember is that there are
only a small number of publishers in Ireland and lots of writers trying to get published.
A journal might, for example, only publish 2 or 3 per cent of material received. A book publisher might produce less. Don’t let the odds put you off. It’s up to you to make your writing is so good that the publisher can’t turn it down.
To develop your writing and learn what works and what doesn’t, consider entering competitions and submitting to journals. Try reading your work out loud to hear how it sounds. Join local or online writing groups or work with mentors to get used to accepting constructive criticism and editing your work as a result.
Getting Published
How to Make a Submission to a Publisher or Journal
The following is a list of guidelines for submitting original writing for publication:
- Begin by researching what each publisher produces, e.g. fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, sci-fi, historical fiction, short stories. Get a copy of their magazines or books and read them. It is much easier to put together a submission when you have some idea of the editor’s taste and if this is a fitting home for your work.
- Read the submission guidelines for each publisher carefully. For example, some publishers will only want to see the first three chapters (but they will want you to have finished the book at the time of sending those chapters), or six poems, or a few stories. Maybe they ask for an introductory email first, before sending any material.
- Always try to find out the name of the publisher /editor so you can address the email it to a specific person and include a brief greeting.
- Most publishers have specific requirements regarding font, font size, layout, etc.
- Give the editor time to reply. Editors receive a lot of material: you can reasonably expect to hear in 6 months at the latest.
- It is typical to receive a copy of the journal or magazine in which your work appears unless it’s an online journal. Some magazines pay contributors but this amount can vary widely.
Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair
Have you wrote your first novel, but you are not sure how to pitch it to publishers and/or agents? You might be interested in submitting to the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair. This is an annual literary competition that facilitates first encounters between unpublished (and unsigned) novelists and members of the publishing industry. Some winners have even gone on to sign contracts with literary agents and publishers.
Find out more
Getting Published
List of Publishers in Ireland
An Gúm
Publisher of schoolbooks & teaching for primary & secondary sector; literature for children & young adults; novels & reference works for the general public.
www.forasnagaeilge.ieCork University Press/Attic Press
Publisher of books on Irish Cultural Studies, including music, art history, literary criticism & poetry alongside Irish cultural history, archaeology & landscape studies
www.corkuniversitypress.comDedalus Press
One of Ireland’s longest running literary imprints, specialising in contemporary Irish poetry & poetry from around the world in translation
www.dedaluspress.comDoire Press
Publisher of poetry and literary fiction based in the West of Ireland.
www.doirepress.comDominican Publications
Publisher of journals and books with a religious focus
www.dominicanpublications.comGuildhall Press
Independent publisher, producing a diverse range of quality publications, based in Derry
www.ghpress.comHachette Press
A division of the publishing group Hachette UK, part of Lagardère
www.hachettebooksireland.ieNew Island
Independent publisher of literary fiction and Irish-interest non-fiction
www.newisland.ieO’Brien Press
Publisher of adult and children’s books including biography, humour, photography, history, art, fiction, politics, cookery, sport, music, memoir, true crime & travel
www.obrien.iePenguin Ireland, Sandycove
Sandycove is the Irish-based publishing imprint of Penguin Random House.
www.penguin.co.ukSalmon Poetry
Publishers specialising in the promotion of new poets, particularly women poets.
www.salmonpoetry.comTramp Press
Launched by Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff to find, nurture and publish exceptional literary talent.
tramppress.comGetting Published
Journals
Aneas
Iris nua bhliantúil atá tiomnaithe go hiomlán don gcuid is fearr de litríocht chomhaimseartha na Gaeilge í Aneas
munsterlit.ieBanshee
A print literary journal featuring short stories, flash fiction, poetry & personal essays
bansheepress.orgChannel Magazine
A print literary magazine publishing poetry & prose with an environmentalist perspective.
channelmag.orgCrannóg Magazine
A print journal of poetry and fiction. Crannóg’s mission is to publish the work of Irish writers alongside the best available worldwide and to show how well such writing sits with the best available internationally.
www.crannogmagazine.comCyphers
Cyphers was founded in 1975. It is a print journal publishing poetry and fiction in English and Irish, from Ireland and around the world.
www.cyphers.ieDublin Review of Books (DRB)
An online journal reflecting on literature, history, arts, society, politics and culture, publishing long-form essays & shorter pieces, usually tied to recently published books.
www.drb.iegorse
A print journal published featuring longform narrative essays, original fiction, poetry & interviews.
gorse.ieHowl: New Irish Writing
An annual print publication showcasing Irish poetry and prose from around the world.
www.howlwriting.ieImpossible Archetype
An international online journal of LGBTQ+ poetry
impossiblearchetype.wordpress.comIrish Pages
A biannual print journal, edited in Belfast, publishing poetry, short fiction, essays, creative non-fiction, memoir, essay reviews, nature-writing, translated work, literary journalism, & other autobiographical, historical, religious & scientific writing of literary distinction.
www.irishpages.orgPaper Lanterns
A literary journal promoting the voices of young people in Ireland and across the world.
paperlanternslit.comPaper Visual Art
Publishes journals, books & online texts focusing on visual art, contemporary culture & literature
papervisualart.comPoetry Ireland Review
A print journal of poetry, featuring the work of emerging & established Irish & international poets, essayists, critics & visual artists
www.poetryireland.ieProfiles
A literary & vis-arts journal dedicated to character studies and portraiture, featuring work by writers & artists living in Ireland & abroad.
Puca
A print journal publishing short stories, flash fiction, creative non-fiction & poetry all founded upon selfhood and experience.
pucalit.comSans. PRESS
Sans. PRESS is an indie press based in Limerick, with a focus on themed short story anthologies.
www.sanspress.comSonder
A print journal publishing short stories, flash fiction, & creative non-fiction, all based around the individual & how we interact with each other.
sonderlit.comStarved
Starved is a new print magazine of Irish literature dedicated to creating a space for work that speaks to womanhood universally and individually. They publish short story, prose, poetry, essay and review.
starved.squarespace.comThe Dublin Review
A print journal of fiction and non-fiction, previously unpublished, in the English language.
thedublinreview.comThe Four Faced Liar
An Irish-flavoured, internationally-facing print journal publishing an eclectic mix of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, work in translation & visual art.
www.the4facedliar.comThe Stinging Fly
A literary magazine, a book publisher, an education provider & an online platform.
stingingfly.orgThe Tangerine
A Belfast-based print magazine of new writing, including features, reportage, commentary, fiction, poetry, illustration & photography.
thetangerinemagazine.comThe Waxed Lemon
A print journal of poetry, prose & visual art in English and Irish.
www.thewaxedlemon.comTolka
A biannual literary journal of non-fiction: publishing essays, reportage, travel writing, auto-fiction, individual stories & the writing that flows in between.
www.tolkajournal.orgTower
A journal of poetry, prose & visual art of all genres, encouraging submissions of horror, sci-fi, fantasy & erotica
readtower.netWinter Papers
An annual anthology for the arts, offering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, visual arts, craft interviews & in-conversation pieces on writing, film, theatre, photography & music.
winterpapers.comTo keep up-to-date on all current open submissions periods for various journals and competitions make sure to check out our Competitions, Submissions and Opportunities page by clicking the link below
Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities PageGetting Published
Literary Agents
Before contacting a literary agent, please make sure you read carefully the submission details on their website
Fletcher and Co
Grainne Fox is at Fletcher and co, recently acquired by United Talent Agency. Founded in 2003, New York-based Fletcher & Company is one of the most highly regarded independent literary agencies. Their roster includes a wide array of bestselling and award-winning writers
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Greene & Heaton
At Greene & Heaton, all our agents are actively seeking submissions from new writers, across a range of fiction and non-fiction. As an agency we are passionate about discovering new voices, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, and we’d love to hear from you. Contact is Laura Williams.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Marianne Gunn O’Connor Literary, Film & TV Agency
At the Marianne Gunn O’Connor Literary, Film & TV Agency, we are always looking for fresh new talent & brilliant writing from anywhere in the world.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Mulcahy Sweeney Literary Agency
A London-based agency comprised of Ivan Mulcahy and Sallyanne Sweeney, both originally from Dublin, representing many well-known British public figures and authors and are equally interested in finding new British and Irish writers.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Rachel Mills Literary Agency
Rachel Mills Literary is a modern London-based literary agency representing a community of prize-winning and internationally bestselling authors.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Sara O Keefe Literary Agency
The Sara O’Keefe Agency is currently looking in particular for upmarket genre, reading group and literary fiction. I am no longer accepting submissions for children’s fiction.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Storyline Lit Agency
Brian Langan spent two decades working as an in-house editor for Irish & international book publishers, before setting up Storyline Editorial Services and Storyline Literary Agency. He is based in Co Meath.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
The Book Bureau Literary Agency
Preferences are commercial women’s fiction, crime/thrillers and literary fiction. Contact agent is Ger Nicol
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
The Bent Agency
Nicola Barr is actively looking to build on the brilliant Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish writers she already has. She has a natural tendency to be drawn to working-class voices and regional stories though loves nothing more than getting stuck in editorially on a story if she sees brilliance there.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
The Lisa Richards Agency
Faith O’Grady, at The Lisa Richards Agency, represents a broad range of fiction and non-fiction, writers of children’s fiction for 8+.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
The Feldstein Agency
The Feldstein Agency combines the talent and experience of Susan (née Dalzell) Feldstein and Paul Feldstein, who together have worked for over 70 years in the book industry in both the U.K. and the U.S. Susan and Paul have complementary skills in publishing – Susan in commissioning, editorial and rights, and Paul in management, sales and marketing, and finance and distribution.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
The Nagle Agency
We’re looking for fresh and exciting proposals from across the publishing spectrum, with the sole exceptions of poetry and writing for academic audiences, and we’re open to working with authors of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Peters Fraser and Dunlop
Peters Fraser + Dunlop is one of the longest-established literary and talent agencies in London. We develop industry-leading work in the fields of literature, film, television, radio, audio, public speaking, digital platforms and journalism. Contact: Tessa David.
For all agents, please read their submission guideline carefully before making contact.
Getting Published
Other Publishing Resources
A Dreaming Skin
A monthly roundup of all poetry and writing opportunities, competitions and bursaries run by Irish poet Angela Carr.
angelatcarr.wordpress.comChildren’s Books Ireland
Children’s Books Ireland aims to inspire and enable children and young people to become readers for life. They support authors and illustrators and inform families, teachers, booksellers, librarians, publishers and other adults who influence children and young people’s reading.
childrensbooksireland.ieChildren’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook
The best advice on writing and publishing for children, published annually by Bloomsbury.
www.bloomsbury.comLiterature Ireland
The national agency in Ireland for the promotion of Irish literature abroad, working to build an international awareness and appreciation of contemporary Irish literature, primarily in translation.
www.literatureireland.comPoetry Ireland
Connecting people and poetry with a commitment to creating performance and publication opportunities for poets at all stages of their careers, helping ensure that the best work is made available to the widest possible audience, securing a future for Irish poetry that is as celebrated as its past.
www.poetryireland.ieThe Irish Writers Handbook 2024
The Irish Writers Handbook offers insight and practical advice for your writing and publishing journey, whether you’re just getting started or are ready to take the next step, including comprehensive and up-to-date contacts and listings. Featuring advice from Una Mannion, Kevin Power, Donal Ryan, Deirdre Nolan, Kit de Waal, Ivan O’Brien, Patrick O’Donoghue, Nuala O’Connor, Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, Brian Langan, Jan Carson, Claire Hennessy, Madeleine Keane, Yan Ge, David Butler and many more.
wordwellbooks.comThe Portable Creative Writing Workshop
Pat Boran’s popular handbook for writers of poetry and prose fiction, published by Dedalus Press.
www.dedaluspress.comWriting.ie
Writing.ie is an online magazine site for writers and readers of all ages, run by Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin who is also the founder of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy
www.writing.ieGetting Published
Self-Publishing
The following is a list of guidelines for self-publishing:
Choice Publishing
Barlow House,
Narrow West Street,
Drogheda, Co Louth,
A92 CPF9
Coppermine Press
Coppermine Press specialises in helping writers of all skills to become published authors by making their work available through online megastores such as Amazon.
copperminepress.comPerpetuity Publications
Perpetuity Publications provide self publishing services to authors in Ireland and abroad.
ISBN Purchasing
To purchase ISBNs in the Republic of Ireland / UK, visit the link below.
nielsenbook.co.uk
