What is a Submission Package Review?
A Submission Package Review is a 1,000-1,500 word report on the three main elements of an author’s submission – pitch, synopsis or proposal, and sample chapters.
Why is a Submission Package Review helpful?
Our Submission Package Reviews are designed in a way to offer authors an in-depth insight into the successfulness of each element of their submission package, including their pitch, their synopsis or proposal, and their sample chapters too – ultimately asking if the submission package is in the best possible shape to snare a literary agent. If not, it aims to address why this might be, pointing the author towards areas that might require further revisions.
How do I get a Submission Package Review?
At focused points in the year we offer the chance for authors from specific under-represented groups (neurodiverse, LGBTQ+, writers of colour, working class, disabled) to qualify for a Submission Package Review. We also offer authors who live in one of the Arts Council’s Levelling Up for Culture Places the opportunity to qualify for a Submission Package Review throughout the year. Please see below for details of each opportunity.
Specific details
Authors who are eligible for multiple months and opportunities to possibly receive a Submission Package Review are more than welcome to submit for all of the months below that directly apply to them.
Submission Package Reviews for Neurodiverse writers
Six Submission Package Reviews will be randomly allocated to neurodiverse writers that have submitted their material to us between 1st-21st April 2023, coinciding with Autism Awareness Month, and choose to take part. These reviews will be assigned on the first working Monday after the 21st through a random allocation that will be announced on our social media channels. Each of the chosen authors will be contacted directly over email. Neurodiverse writers are free to query as normal during this period and choose not to take part in the possibility of receiving a Submission Package Review, should they so choose. Writers from other under-represented groups are also welcome to submit to us during this time, as they normally would, they will just not be eligible for these particular reviews earmarked for neurodiverse writers.
Submission Package Reviews for LGBTQ+ Writers
Six Submission Package Reviews will be randomly allocated to LGBTQ+ writers that have submitted their material to us between 1st-21st June 2023, coinciding with Pride Month, and choose to take part. These reviews will be assigned on the first working Monday after the 21st through a random allocation that will be announced on our social media channels. LGBTQ+ writers are free to query during this period and choose not to take part in the possibility of receiving a Submission Package Review, should they so choose. Writers from other under-represented groups are also welcome to submit to us during this time, as they normally would, they will just not be eligible for these particular reviews earmarked for LGBTQ+ writers.
Submission Package Reviews for Working Class Writers
Six Submission Package Reviews will be randomly allocated to working class writers that have submitted their material to us between 1st-21st September 2023, ahead of The Working Class Writers Festival in October, and choose to take part. These reviews will be assigned on the first working Monday after the 21st through a random allocation that will be announced on our social media channels. Working class writers are free to query during this period and choose not to take part in the possibility of receiving a Submission Package Review, should they so choose. Writers from other under-represented groups are also welcome to submit to us during this time, as they normally would, they will just not be eligible for these particular reviews earmarked for working class writers.
Submission Package Reviews for Writers of Colour
Six Submission Package Reviews will be randomly allocated to writers of colour that have submitted their material to us between 1st-21st October 2023, coinciding with Black History Month, and choose to take part. These reviews will be assigned on the first working Monday after the 21st through a random allocation that will be announced on our social media channels. Writers of colour are free to query during this period and choose not to take part in the possibility of receiving a Submission Package Review, should they so choose. Writers from other under-represented groups are also welcome to submit to us during this time, as they normally would, they will just not be eligible for these particular reviews earmarked for writers of colour.
Submission Package Reviews for Disabled Writers
Six Submission Package Reviews will be randomly allocated to disabled writers that have submitted their material to us between 1st-21st November 2023, overlapping with UK Disability History Month, and choose to take part. These reviews will be assigned on the first working Monday after the 21st through a random allocation that will be announced on our social media channels. Disabled writers are free to query during this period and choose not to take part in the possibility of receiving a Submission Package Review, should they so choose. Writers from other under-represented groups are also welcome to submit to us during this time, as they normally would, they will just not be eligible for these particular reviews earmarked for disabled writers.
Submission Package Reviews for Writers who live in Levelling Up for Culture places
Twelve Submission Package Reviews will be randomly allocated to writers who live in Levelling Up for Culture places. One will be allocated per month throughout the year running from April 2023 to March 2024. You do not need to sign up to be considered for these, any writer who submits and supplies address data that places them in a Levelling Up for Culture area will be eligble. These reviews will be assigned on the first working Monday after the 21st through a random allocation that will be announced on our social media channels. Chosen writers will be contacted and given seven days to accept that they would like to receive a Submission Package Review and if we do not hear from that writer within seven days another will be randomly chosen. Click here for more details on the Arts Council’s Levelling Up for Culture places.