“How (and Where) to Submit Your Manuscript for Publication” with Dennis J. Sweeney
Getting an agent and publishing with a Big 5 house or publishing on your own aren't the only paths to publication. Independent publishers (also known as small presses) are an increasingly essential part of the publishing landscape, providing an established, community-driven partner for the publication process.
The world of small publishers is so expansive and diverse, it can be hard to know where and how to submit your work, but it is essential to success to find the right partner. Dennis James Sweeney, author of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses, describes the landscape of small press publishing, strategies for achieving your publication goals, and how to work toward publication with the best chance for success – in finding a publisher and selling your book.
This presentation will cover:
- Where to submit your manuscript
- Formulating your submission strategy
- How to write a cover letter
- How to stay in touch with your goals as an author
- Next steps for selecting and submitting to small presses
About the Speaker:
Dennis James Sweeney is the author, most recently, of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses, a guide for writers. Their books also include the novella The Rolodex Happenings (Stillhouse Press, 2024), the lyric nonfiction collection You’re the Woods Too (Essay Press, 2023) and In the Antarctic Circle (Autumn House Press, 2021), which won the Autumn House Rising Writer Prize. Their writing has appeared in Ecotone, The New York Times, and The Southern Review, among others. They have an MFA from Oregon State University and a PhD from the University of Denver. Originally from Cincinnati, they live in Amherst, Massachusetts.
