SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submission Guidelines For Authors
For Beginners® welcomes unsolicited submissions from published and unpublished writers.
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Before you contact us, we suggest that you review our already published books through your local library, a well-stocked bookstore, or an online bookseller to get a sense of what kind of books we publish and what topics we find appropriate for readers. On this website you will find all of our current titles. Your submission as well as all materials that are submitted to us are kept on file and reviewed as new projects arise however due to the large number of submissions, we are unable to acknowledge their receipt.
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Basic Guidelines and Types of Submission
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Nonfiction Books
Please submit a proposal which must include an Outline of all of the books’ chapters and a sample chapter of approximately 10 to 15 pages. We will request the balance of the manuscript if we are interested.
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General Guidelines
Material must be original, accurate, and in the Chicago style editorially. The manuscript should be informative, summarizing the basic facts and conclusions, and maintaining coherence and unity of thought. Controversial topics should be treated in a factually sound and reasonably unbiased manner. Spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and the mechanical elements of arrangements, spacing, length, and consistency of usage in form and descriptions should be studied before submission. Please note Wikipedia is NOT a valid source. Please do not cite or copy any material from this website.
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Originality
All manuscripts must be original. All references must be cited throughout the work. No manuscript will be considered which has already been published or is being considered by another publisher. Submission of a manuscript represents certification by the author that the book is not being considered nor has been published elsewhere.
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Proposals
Most of our For Beginners® books have between 144 and 176 pages of text, and generally, the following calculations apply:
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30,000 words = 144 pages
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40,000 words = 176 pages
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Every proposal should have an Outline and a Table of Contents so that we may see the book as a whole in a single glance as well as see the logical structure of the proposed book.
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For Beginners® books are built on these principles:
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Great ideas and formidable thinkers are too important to be left to intellectuals.
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We publish simple, interesting, informative, and often humorous books on complex subjects through an easy to understand, graphic format presentation.
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Many subjects lend themselves to better understanding if presented in illustrative form.
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We look to serve a community of readers that desire to educate themselves and others through our books to achieve a greater understanding of major ideas, concepts and historical individuals
We also recommend including a detailed explanation of the books in the marketplace that are similar to the one you propose as well as relevant groups and organizations that would benefit from this book and information.
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Personal Biography or Resume
You must also include a CV with your submission.
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Where to Send Your Submission
Please submit your manuscript with a cover letter of relevant information, including your own experience with writing and publishing.
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All submissions should be sent to:
Attn: Acquisitions Manager, info@forbeginnersbooks.com
Submission Guidelines For Illustrators
For Beginners® is always interested in talented, hard-working illustrators. We use artists with a range of styles and techniques and are happy to consider unsolicited illustration submissions to use as a reference for making possible book assignments to you in the future.
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Before you contact us, we suggest that you review our already published books through your local library, a well-stocked bookstore, or an online bookseller to get a sense of what kind of illustration styles we find appropriate for readers. On this website you will find all of our current titles. In addition, below please download the sample chapter to be illustrated, as that will give you an idea of the required work. Your sample chapter as well as all materials that are submitted to us are kept on file and reviewed as new projects arise. Below are our basic guidelines for submissions.
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For Beginners prefers submission by email (info@forbeginnersbooks.com).
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Resumes & Artwork
Artists should send a current resume as well as their website to show illustration samples in addition to the sample chapter. Our policy is to keep only artwork of interest on file.
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Artwork Format
If submitting sample illustrations, please keep all images to 300 dpi jpg’s or below. Color and B/W copies are both acceptable. Submissions by email must include URLs to the artist's website.
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Suggested Subject Matter
Our books generally require black/white linework in a mostly realistic style, with both whimsical human characters and historical figures. If your work includes the ability to illustrate various types of people, landscapes, objects, or if you work in various or styles, please include a mix of these capabilities. (However, please limit your style submissions to two or three.) Additional technical illustrations would include maps, diagrams, charts, etc. Most importantly, you must be able to develop illustrations that match the meaning and ideas of the given text as well as extend the story with relevant details.
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Where to Send Your Submission
All submissions should be emailed to:
Attn: Acquisitions Manager, info@forbeginnersbooks.com