Submission Guidelines

AUTHORS AND AGENTS: READ THIS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL

Row House and all of its imprints accept proposals from agents and unagented authors on a continuous basis. Generous Press is an independently-run imprint; find their submission guidelines here.

Row House, Wheat Penny Press, 100 Block by Row House, and small. accept proposals from agented authors on an exclusive basis only, which means that we do not accept proposals sent to other publishers for consideration. However, authors without representation can submit their proposal on a non-exclusive basis. All submissions will be answered via email within 45 days. Please do not inquire about the status of your proposal before that 45-day period has passed.

Open submissions: Row House and our imprints will never require that an author have agent representation to submit their proposal. Nor will agented authors receive preferential treatment of any kind. The submission process is weighted equally for all authors.

Note on accessibility: We at Row House believe that every person—no matter their background, identity, or disability—should have an equal opportunity to tell their story. Therefore, if any of our submission guidelines do not meet your access needs, please email us here and let us know how we can assist you in submitting your proposal.

Before submitting: Thank you for considering Row House as a potential home for your book! Please read the “ROW HOUSE BOOKS ARE…” section and the guidelines on this page carefully. All elements of your submission must be present to be considered for publication. How your proposal is prepared (overview, bio, marketing plan, etc.) gives our editorial team a good indication of how you will be able to talk about and market your book to potential readers and booksellers. Only complete submissions will be passed on to our acquisition team.

Response time and process: Please allow 45 days for our team to review your submission and respond via email. All submissions are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, and no preference is given to agented authors. Please email proposal questions only to submissions and refrain from requesting an update on your proposal before the 45-day review period. Also note that we do not offer editorial notes or feedback on submissions.

Row house books are as unique as their authors, but they share several distinctive traits. Our books...

  • Speak through a social justice lens, center those pushed into the margins, and challenge the status quo with courage, creativity, and critical thinking. (e.g., The Antiracist Business Book by Trudi Lebrón)

  • Start new conversations, introduce novel concepts, and shed light on culturally significant but overlooked movements. (e.g., Are We Free Yet? by Tina Strawn)

  • Expand discussions by replacing false narratives with truth, especially those regarding identity, culture, and history. (e.g., The Humanity Archive by Jermaine Fowler)

  • Exemplify a “for us, by us” model, but also serve readers outside of the author’s immediate community or who might not share the author’s identity or experiences. (e.g., All the Black Girls Are Activists by EbonyJanice Moore)

  • Align with the core themes and values of the company and its existing catalog, facilitating a cohesive conversation among various works. (e.g., Hood Wellness by Tamela Julia Gordon)

  • Contribute to collective liberation, center joy, and acknowledge the beauty inherent in our diverse intersecting identities. (e.g., Adventurous Adeline by Mary Fashik and Someplace Generous, an inclusive romance anthology)

Row House and our imprints accept English-language open submissions from both literary agents and unagented authors. Download an example of a non-fiction adult trade proposal (You Have 4 Minutes to Change Your Life by Rebekah Borucki) here.

Please refer to the two following steps for more details on which genres we are accepting and how to submit your work.

STEP 1: Match your book’s genre with the correct imprint.

  1. Row House accepts proposals for non-fiction book titles and decks in the following genres: self-help, general wellness, spirituality and spiritual wellness, personal development, social sciences, politics, cooking, lifestyle, and business. We are specifically seeking titles written through the lens of social justice, liberation, and equity.

  2. Wheat Penny Press accepts proposals for board books, picture books, early reader, and middle-grade fiction and non-fiction centering human characters. Note that we are specifically seeking books that focus on health & wellness, diversity, social justice, mythology, food & culture, “non-traditional” families, adventure, and fantasy.

  3. 100 Block by Row House and 100 Block Futures (Row House’s young adult imprint) accepts proposals for non-fiction and fiction book titles, decks, graphic novels and comics, and illustrated books in the following genres: self-help, humor, politics, cooking, lifestyle, and all genres of fiction but especially YA fantasy and historical fiction. We have particular interest in proposals that fit the following descriptions:

    • Young adult horror, but specifically, manuscripts that are Queer-focused and campy at their root. We want the thrills of jump scares meshed with dark humor from characters who are a tad bit nihilistic and warm up as they find their chosen family. 

    • We would love to read more books exploring folklore, mythology, and fairy tales, whether retellings or new creations inspired by these categories.

    • We're interested in exploring clean teen romance, where relationships help characters discover themselves, find acceptance, and rediscover joy in life. Meet-cute moments are wanted!

    • We're eager to read manuscripts that fall in the realm of magical realism and urban fantasy. We love the elements of everyday life with a bit of adventure and magic.

    • There are some manuscripts that we're less interested in at the moment. Those include:

      • Heavy Sci-Fi. However, we are open to those that feel utopian or explore a new relationship with technology that feels empowering.

      • Contemporary manuscripts with plots that focus on traumatic or triggering experiences. 

      • Paranormal manuscripts with beings that are already commonly explored. We are open to books exploring the fae or characters that walk the line between mortal and other worlds.

  4. Generous Press is acquiring for 2024 publication and beyond. Find guidelines for novels, proposals, and short stories here. Contact elaina@generous.press with questions and accessibility requests regarding submissions.

  5. small. is seeking contributor submissions for small business-focused content. All calls for submissions will be posted on our jobs listings page.

STEP 2: Prepare and submit your proposal.

Non-Fiction Trade (Row House, 100 Block by Row House): Please send a one-page cover letter introducing yourself, your book, and who you hope to reach through publication. Also, send a book proposal (30-40 pages) that includes the following:

  1. An overview describing your book, what it will contain, why you are the person to write it, and a description of your audience or community (3-5 pages)

  2. A marketing section to include your bio, platform insights and statistics, marketing plan, and a list of 4-5 comparative titles with links to their Amazon sales pages (3-5 pages)

  3. A chapter summary, offering 1-2 paragraphs on each chapter, explaining what each will contain, including any exercises, activities, or resources (10-15 pages)

  4. One sample chapter that best illustrates your content, writing style, and what you hope your book will achieve (10-15 pages)

Adult, Young Adult, and Children’s Fiction (Wheat Penny Press, 100 Block by Row House, 100 Block Futures): Please send a one-page cover letter introducing yourself, your book, and who you hope to reach through publication. Also send:

  1. An overview describing your book, what it will contain, why you are the person to write it, and a description of your audience or community (3-5 pages)

  2. A marketing section to include your bio, platform insights and statistics, marketing plan, and a list of 4-5 comparative titles with links to their Amazon sales pages (3-5 pages)

  3. The full manuscript for manuscripts with 10,000 words or less; or the first 10,000-words of the book as a writing sample. Keep in mind that we may request additional writing samples.

  4. Sample illustrations (only if you are the project's illustrator or currently working in partnership with an illustrator).

Oracle and Tarot Decks (Row House, 100 Block by Row House): Please send a one-page cover letter introducing yourself, your deck, and who you hope to reach through your book’s publication. Also send:

  1. An overview describing your deck, what it will contain, why you are the person to create it, and a description of your audience or community (3-5 pages)

  2. A marketing section to include your bio, platform insights and statistics, marketing plan, and a list of 4-5 comparative titles with links to their Amazon sales pages (3-5 pages)

  3. Sample illustrations (only if you are the illustrator for the project or if you are currently working in partnership with an illustrator).

Document Formatting: All proposals should be in 12-point Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and sent as a PDF with pages numbered. Please also include your name, phone number, and email address on both the query letter and the proposal.

Email your proposal to Row House Submissions with this subject line: Book Proposal Submission for [imprint ex. Row House, Wheat Penny Press, …] - [author name] - [book title] - [genre]. Submit works to Generous Press here.