Romantica Submission Guidelines

You've got your pride and joy written, edited and ready to submit! Now all that's left is to print it, pack it in an envelope and mail it off. But wait! Have you formatted your manuscript for the specific publisher you're submitting to? Aside from general rules for prepping your work, each individual publisher has their own unique set of guidelines that they expect you to adhere to.

If you want them to take you seriously, you need to take them seriously. That means, following their rules. And yes, print publishers and e-publishers tend to have entirely different guidelines. Before you send your baby off, make sure you give yourself the best possible chance of success and do your research.

Need help getting started? Here are some of the resources we use. Feel free to peruse. And if during your own research you find something relevant that's not on our list, let us know!

Demystifying publishing is an ongoing journal written by Tor editor Anna Genoese. From here, you can also find the rest of her journal, where she talks about her passion for pistachio muffins and all the cool stuff she's read.

Miss Snark is an aptly named literary agent. She has a wicked tongue, but she tells you how it is from an agent's point of view.

Proper Manuscript Format, written by William Shun, is an excellent introduction to formatting. We like this particular essay, because Shun not explains what to do, but why it is important.

Avon Romance publishes the following subgenres in Romance: Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, General, Historical, Short Stories and Western.

Dorchester Publishing imprints include Love Spell & Smooch. Carries Katie MacAlister, The Crimson City series and Catspell by Colleen Shannon.

Kensington Books imprints includes Brava, Aphrodisia & Zebra. Kate Duffy, Editorial Director, Romance.

St. Martin's Press does not accept unsolicited work. If you have an agent, they can help you with this publisher.

Tor imprints include Tor, Forge, and Tor Paranormal Romance. Carries Cathy Clamp and C.T. Adams's Hunter's Moon.

Changeling Press publishes Sci-Fi, Futuristic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Suspense, Horror, and Humor, BDSM, and Fetish Love Stories.

Cobblestone Press publishes stories that weave tales of romance through strong, unforgettable characters, plots that twist and turn with layers of conflict and emotion, and a style that sets them apart from other writers in the market.

Ellora's Cave is currently the only e-publisher recognized by the Romance Writers of America. It was also one of the first publishers in the market to offer romantica.

Freya's Bower publishes erotica and romantica. New writers as well as cross-genre experimental styles and short story collections are welcome.

Lady Aibell is the division of Chippewa Publishing that handles erotica and romantica stories. They handle Contemporary, Dark Fantasy, Dark Romance, Fantasy, Horror, Mainstream, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Loose Id wants to “unleash” the power of love and sex to transform good stories into great ones. In order to do that, they're bringing down the walls between genres. Erasing the dividing lines between subgenres to give readers what they want.

Phaze publishes books based on the quality of writing, story entertainment value, and sales potential. They are open to first-time authors, as well as authors who have been previously published and want to put their books back into print.

Samhain Publishing encourages you to let your muse have its way and to create tales that don’t always adhere to current trends.

Torquere Press publishes stories that contain gay, lesbian or transgendered characters. While works may not be graphic, they contain homosexual romance and focus on the interaction between characters.