According to an article in The Guardian, the United Kingdom publishes more books per inhabitant than any other country in the world.[1] When it comes to approaching a publisher with your manuscript, there are plenty of them to choose from. Everyone has most likely heard of the ‘big five.’ Faber and Faber, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House have grown into massive publishing companies which produce thousands of new titles every year.
There are also plenty of new publishers and small press publishers who tend to focus on niches. An example of this is Daunt Books Publishing, who focus on travel books, non-fiction and literary fiction that explores a sense of place, or the Feminist Press who will only publish content written by female authors. Independent publishers differ from massive publishing houses which are more commercially focused and often produce a range of different genres and styles of books. The publisher you decide to approach will depend on the type of book you are writing, how much you are willing to compromise, and the goal you are trying to achieve.
If you are planning to approach a big publisher, you will most likely need to get an agent. Big publishers won’t accept unsolicited manuscripts as it would be impossible to keep up with the sheer number of submissions they would receive. If you don’t want to publish your book through an agent, then small press publishing might be more suited to you. A large number of small press publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts and are often more open to new authors if their work fits what they are looking for.
Small press publishers tend to let the author have more of a say about the publishing process too. If a small press publisher accepts your submission and decides to publish your book, they will work with you to create the finished piece. This isn’t to say that you surrender the right to any input if you choose to go to a big publisher. The author can still turn down cover illustrations, for example. But it is more like selling your piece to the publisher and being told what changes they want to be made, than working as a team to create a final product. Big publishers have a wider audience and therefore will try to edit your book as much as necessary to appeal to a broader market, whereas small press publishers often try to target a specific readership. This means the final piece will be closer to your initial submission and the editing process will be more concentrated on ensuring your book is at its best quality, rather than censoring any of your ideas or removing your favourite character.
However, if you don’t mind compromising and are looking for a way to make a living or write the next bestseller, big publishers have the budget to promote your book. They will also be able to pay you a nice and healthy advance. True, you will have a lot of competition as big publishing companies print thousands of new books a year, whereas a small press publisher may only print around twenty. But small press publishers wouldn’t be able to spend as much money on promotion or give you as large an advance as a money-making giant like Penguin Random House could.
In conclusion, there are many different publishing houses of varying sizes and who desire various types of manuscripts. While a small publisher could be easier for a new writer to approach, you will probably need to continue your day job to receive a manageable income. While a contract with a large publishing company isn’t a guarantee for success, it would be beneficial to your bank balance, as long as you don’t mind adapting your work to fit their preferences.
Personally, I think I will submit my work to small press publishers first to build up my writing profile. Then, if necessary, I could try to pitch my later work to bigger publishers for a healthier income. After all, if you are lucky enough to become an established author, even the bigger publishers might let strange plots and alternative characters pass as long as your writing sells.
[1] Alison Flood, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/22/uk-publishes-more-books-per-capita-million-report
[accessed 19 May 2019]