
Submissions
Existing Salt authors
If you are an existing Salt author or contributor, we are happy to receive your submissions either directly or through your agent, please contact your editor.
Unsolicited submissions from non-Salt authors
We only accept submissions from literary agents. We cannot respond to submissions made by authors through our contact page on this website, by phone, through social media channels, or by text. We strongly recommend finding an agent, and these are listed in publications such as Writers’ and Artists’ Year Book.
Additionally, many literature agencies run workshops involving agents – and we recommend attending these where you can.
See also our guides and information down below.
Notes for agents
Fiction
We love literary fiction, crime and mystery, historical fiction, folk horror, and are particularly interested in dark, uncanny and edgy fiction, comic fiction, eerie novels, and Gothic novels. However, if the work you are proposing lies outside of these categories, but you believe your author would fit our list, do feel free to contact us.
Novels should preferably be no longer than 80,000 words. We will happily consider novellas. It will help if your writer lives in the British Isles and is able to participate in publicity and promotion.
Please send a plot summary, at least the first chapter, a biographical note, and two concise and compelling reasons why you believe booksellers might stock the work you are representing, along with the author’s publication history to the email address below.
Non-Fiction
We have a particular interest in narrative non-fiction writing about the natural world. We are also happy to consider life-writing projects and creative writing guides.
Processing your submission
Sadly, we cannot respond to all submissions (though we try), and if you have not heard from us within one month, your submission has been unsuccessful. Feel free to nag us.
We only accept digital submissions. All attachments must be sent as MS Word files or PDFs. Please send your email to: submissions@saltpublishing.com. Please be aware that we can only process submissions sent to this specific email address. (It’s an admin thing.).
Many thanks for considering Salt.
Salt guides for authors
1. For general advice on being published, please read An Author’s Guide to Getting Published.
2. For advice on submitting poetry (not to us), please read An Author’s Guide to Making Poetry Submissions.
3. For further reading, An Author’s Pre-Publication Route Map offers advice on preparing for publication.
General information for authors
For manuscript assessment and editorial advice, you might also consider services like The Literary Consultancy.
If you are trying to develop your own writing, we recommend:
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The Art of the Novel, edited by Nicholas Royle
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Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story, edited by Vanessa Gebbie
Creative Writing Courses
If you want to develop your writing and critical skills further, we also recommend the following MA courses:
Additionally, we recommend the writing courses run by Curtis Brown Creative and Faber Academy.
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Last updated 21st June 2025