Submissions FAQ
What word count should my manuscript be?
Your word count will depend on a lot of things, such as genre and target audience. A young adult manuscript is typically 65-80,000 words, whereas adult fiction typically ranges 70-90,000 words.
I can’t upload my manuscript. What am I doing wrong?
Please ensure that all documents you are trying to upload are PDF files, and that you have filled out every entry marked with a red asterisk on the submit form. If you are still having difficulties, please contact Submissions@PanteraPress.com for further assistance.
Do you accept manuscript proposals?
No. We only accept completed manuscripts.
Do you accept novellas or illustrated children’s books?
Not at this time.
Would I need to contribute financially to the production and publication of my book as a Pantera Press author?
No.
As a handpicked Pantera Press author, you will not contribute financially in any way. Rest assured, we will crack the whip, and our fabulous marketing team will work very hard with you to promote your book to fans and media.
Do you respond to every submission, whether it’s successful or not?
Yes. We always respond to every author with an ultimate ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to their submission.
When will I receive a response to my submission?
You can expect to hear from us in three to six months’ time.
As one of the few publishing houses in Australia that not only accepts unsolicited manuscripts, but also welcomes them, we receive a huge number of manuscripts that each must be carefully considered. The time it takes us to read submissions varies depending on a lot of things, like our publishing schedule and the books we are already working on, so sometimes the process can take up to six months.
Rest assured, we are working as fast as we can to give you our response and we will certainly get in touch with you once your manuscript has been reviewed.
Do you give feedback when rejecting submissions?
No.
The volume of submissions we receive means we can’t give personalised explanations of the specific reasons for our decisions. As one of the few publishing houses in Australia that not only accepts unsolicited submissions, but welcomes them, we’re sure you can imagine the vast number of manuscripts that we receive.
Our priority is to get back to each author within a respectful period of time and give their manuscripts the attention they deserve, which is why we have a team of editors reading every manuscript we get. If we were to give detailed feedback on each one, that process would be significantly slowed and our main focus is to be fair to all authors.
Do you accept previously published works?
No. We are looking for the next generation of previously unpublished authors, so for this reason we do not accept manuscripts that have already been published elsewhere.
Can I submit a manuscript if I have published other stories?
Yes. If you have a book that has not been published elsewhere, we’d love to receive it.
Can I submit a manuscript if I’m not an Australian or New Zealander?
No. Our focus is on discovering and nurturing the next generation of storytellers from Australia and New Zealand, wherever they are in the world.
Can I submit a manuscript if I’m an Australian/New Zealander living overseas?
Yes.Our focus is on discovering and nurturing the next generation of storytellers from Australia and New Zealand, wherever they are in the world.
If you are currently living abroad, please mention this in your author biography and tick your original Australian state (or ‘NZ’ if you are from New Zealand) on the Submit page upon uploading your manuscript.
If you reject my manuscript, can I still send you other manuscripts?
Yes! There are many reasons that we might reject a manuscript, some have nothing to do with the story itself, e.g. we may already be publishing a book that is very similar, we may not think we’ll be able to market the book, it may not fit our list in general. So please don’t feel discouraged, we’d like to read other works.
Can I resubmit a manuscript I’ve updated after you rejected it?
We do not recommend resubmitting an old manuscript, unless it has been completely re-written.
Can I submit multiple manuscripts?
Yes, but please be aware that if you submit multiple submissions to us on the same day, you will only receive one confirmation email.
Can I amend or update my submission after it has already been submitted?
Yes. Please contact Submissions@PanteraPress.com and let us know you would like to update your submission. However, please be aware that if you resubmit you may not maintain your position in the queue. So we recommend submit the manuscript that you are 100% happy with!
Can I withdraw my submission?
Yes. If you would like to withdraw your manuscript from our review process, please contact Submissions@PanteraPress.com
Can I submit my manuscript to competitions as well?
Yes, but please let everyone you’ve submitted to know if you win or get shortlisted.
Are you hiring? Can I send in my CV?
We are not currently hiring for any positions, but you can keep an eye on our News section for any future job opportunities. If you are interested in working for us, you can also submit your CV here and we will keep you on file.
Where do you source your book cover illustrations?
We work with many illustrators, photographers and designers in Australia and overseas. Graphic designers, illustrators and photographers are encouraged to submit their portfolios for us to keep on file. Please send your portfolio here.
Do you use in-house editors or freelancers?
We use both in-house and freelance editors with extensive industry experience. Freelance editors are welcome to submit their portfolios for us to keep on file. Please send your portfolio here.