Contemporary Press
Novel Submission Guidelines and Agreement

The trend in American Literature right now slants toward the metaphorical and representational, but we're just looking for books that make us chuckle (or wet). Here at Contemporary Press, we’re on a mission. Somebody has to perfect the art of irreverence in literature, and we nominate ourselves.

So give us a tightly written, plot-driven narrative with characters defined by their vices. Give us good jokes and bad girls who sometimes win. We'll eat it up and spit it out wrapped in a sexy book cover.

Contemporary Press is currently taking novel submissions for publication in 2008.

How to Submit Your Work

Here are the basics. After reading these guidelines, if you have any questions, please email Jess Dukes (contact info. below).

Required length: within range of 50,000 words (i.e. 45k to 60k is reasonable)

Email us an attached document with this information:

  • Your contact information: name, address, phone number and email
  • The title of your novel and its word count
  • A quick-pitch summary of your novel, no more than 500 words
  • A bit about yourself. Any previous books? Any opinions on literature? Say anything you like, but please don’t feel pressured to be deep. Really. Please. We could care less about words like “simulacrum.”
  • Finally, send us approximately 5,000 words of your novel. Preferably something with more action and less exposition. You can set up the scene for us anyway you like, but no 30-page chapters, please. On each page of your narrative, please include in a header/footer: The title of your novel, Page numbers, Your name.

Want to make our lives easy? Use only Times New Roman or Arial font, 12pt, double-spaced. And please proofread for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. Generally, the Chicago Manual of Style is the CP Style Guide, but for submission purposes, consistency is key.

And Then What?

If you make it out of the slush pile, we’ll ask you to send us your whole novel, and you can take comfort in knowing that you have one foot in the door over here.

Legal Details

  • Your novel must not have been previously published as a whole or in parts.
  • You must be the author of all works submitted to Contemporary Press.
  • Your submissions to Contemporary Press must not be in violation of any copyright agreements.
  • By submitting your fiction to Contemporary Press, you effectively agree to the terms of this submission agreement.
  • Contemporary Press will send you a standard contract to sign if your novel is selected.

If accepted, you'll get:

  • Published
  • Nationally distributed
  • 10% of the net profits of the book
  • 50% ownership of any subsidiary rights of your novel, if sold
  • Ten free copies of the book, and discounts beyond that
  • Shortlisted for future Contemporary Press publications

Some FAQs

Who is CP? Contemporary Press is an independent publisher based in Brooklyn. Our publishing ideals grew out of a reaction to trends in current literature. Namely, bloated hardcovers with boring artwork. We are distributed by Publishers Group West, our books are available for sale online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, all the big chain book stores, plus a slew of random, independent bookstores in NYC and across the country.

I don’t have an agent. Will you still consider my book? Yes. We could care less whether or not you have an agent. Good writing is good writing.

My novel is 100,000 words of pure genius. Are you sure you don’t want to see it? Yes. We’re sure. Good luck with your book, though!

How long before I can expect some sort of response to my submission? Give us at least six months. We’re a skeleton crew, but we’re doing the best we can.

Contact / Send To:

Jess Dukes
Editor in Chief, CP
jdukes@contemporarypress.com