Welcome to Penguin Books India. PENGUIN is one of the world’s premier English language publishers. It publishes the very best new fiction and non-fiction, literary prize winners and commercial blockbusters on subjects ranging from history and science to essential reference. PENGUIN BOOKS INDIA is the largest English-language trade publisher in the subcontinent. Headquartered in New Delhi and founded in 1985, Penguin India today publishes across a whole range of subjects and almost all the top brands in the trade segment.

Do you wish to be published but are not sure what to do? The following questions will help you understand the process of submission and evaluation of proposals and manuscripts at Penguin India.

• What kind of proposals will be entertained and evaluated?
  
  Penguin India accepts proposals in English-language fiction (novels, novellas and short stories), poetry, general and narrative non-fiction, biographies and memoirs, current affairs, business, travel, cookery, religion, philosophy and self-help, reference and quizzing, photography and illustrated books.
  
  As we are not textbook publishers and neither do we publish technical and scientific research studies/monographs and papers, and medical books, a proposal sent on these areas would automatically not be considered for publication by us.

• What should my proposal contain?
  
  Ideally your proposal should contain a detailed synopsis and chapter outline with two sample chapters in case of novels and other narrative non-fiction. For short stories and poems you should send in five sample stories and/or poems.

• How do I send my proposal? To whom shall I send my proposal?
  
  Do send in your proposal in hard copy through regular post/courier. We unfortunately do not evaluate proposals received via email. Please do not send material in floppies and CDs. It is important you retain a copy of the proposal you send as we do not return any material submitted to us.
  Send your proposal c/o
  Editorial Department
  Penguin Books India
  11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park
  New Delhi 110017

• How can I ensure my proposal will get looked at? Should I come in personally to submit my proposal?
  
  Penguin India receives over 500 proposals and manuscripts every year. We value all submissions and each proposal is given the same diligent attention by our qualified and experienced editorial team. There is thus no need to come in personally to deliver your proposal. In case you should decide nonetheless to come in personally, you are requested to hand over your written proposal at the reception.

• If I come personally, will I get to meet with an editor and discuss my proposal?
  
  Owing to this high load, meeting and discussing individual proposals is unfortunately not possible.

• Should I send in a complete manuscript?
  
  At the initial stage, sending a complete manuscript is not required. The publishing potential of a book is evaluated based on a proposal outlining in detail the structure/literary style, contents, potential readership and market.

• What does the process of evaluation entail and how long will it take?
  
  A preliminary evaluation of the synopsis and sample chapters for an insight into the work and its potential for publication is made. Your proposal may not be found suitable. Alternatively, you may be asked to send in the entire manuscript. This manuscript is then evaluated in detail by a team of editors for its language, literary merits, readability, style, competition, marketability and sales potential. This detailed evaluation takes a minimum of six months and after this due process of evaluation you will be informed of our final decision. Please note that asking for a detailed manuscript does not in any way mean that it has been or will be accepted for publishing.

• Whom shall I contact during the process of evaluation?
  
  The detailed process of evaluation takes six months and during this time we unfortunately will be unable to respond to any queries either by phone, fax, email or in person. The decision is communicated at the end of this period. Penguin Books India is not obligated to assign any reason if your proposal/manuscript does not suit our publishing programme.

• Will my submission be returned?
  
  Please keep a copy of any proposal that you send in and the manuscript (if asked to send it in). Owing to the large number of proposals we do not take any responsibility to return any material sent by you.

• What are the terms and conditions—royalties, territories, number of copies, distribution network—under which my book will be published?
  
  Terms and conditions pertaining to royalties, territories, number of copies, distribution network—these are all decisions which are taken only on final acceptance of a book for publication. Should your manuscript be accepted, these will be automatically discussed at that time. Queries pertaining to these at the time of submitting your proposal or during the evaluation process are premature.

• Can I send a proposal again if I have been rejected once?
  
  Please do not resend a proposal that has been rejected once.

• Can I send my proposal elsewhere while I have submitted it to you? Can my manuscript be evaluated by Penguin and another publishing house simultaneously?
  
  You are free to submit your proposal simultaneously to us and to others. We would however request you to inform us of the same. We would also request you to inform us as soon as your manuscript has been accepted for publication by someone else so that we may stop evaluation of your proposal.
  
  Should we ask for your manuscript after preliminary evaluation is completed, please do not submit it to us if you have already submitted it to another publishing house in the mean time until you have heard from them or informed them that you are withdrawing your submission. Similarly, we would request you not to submit your manuscript for evaluation elsewhere during the process of detailed evaluation by Penguin India. You are free to ask us to stop evaluation of your manuscript at any stage before we have communicated our decision.

• Read the FAQs thoroughly. A perusal of the same will give you all information pertaining to the procedure of submitting manuscripts to us.

• Submit a hard copy of your proposal through post, preferably typed out in A-4 size paper.

• Your proposal should include a synopsis and chapter outline together with any two sample chapters. For short stories and poems send a synopsis of the collection with five sample stories and/or poems.

• Do keep a copy of the material you have sent.

• Do inform us if you have subsequently submitted your manuscript to another publishing house while your proposal is being considered by us.

• Do not send in letters asking for information on how to submit proposals/manuscripts as more often than not such letters go unanswered.

• Do not make any queries via phone, fax, email or in person in the period your proposal and/or manuscript is being assessed.

• Do not send any material through email.

• Do not send material in floppies and CDs.

• Do not send the complete manuscript unless asked for by us.

• Do not send us the manuscript if you have already submitted it for consideration elsewhere.