Publishers That Accept First-Time Authors (2026)

Quick answer: Most large traditional publishers do not read manuscripts from first-time authors who have no agent. Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan all say so on their own websites, and several well-known independent presses have paused or closed unagented submissions too. The realistic paths are to find a literary agent, to approach the few imprints that still take direct proposals, or to self-publish. This guide quotes each publisher's own policy and links to it. Policies change, so check the page before you submit.

Disclosure: Harmony Publishing is a self-publishing company, so we are not a traditional publisher and we have no stake in your choice of an agent. Every statement below links to the publisher's own page. Last checked: October 2026.

What the five largest publishers say

Publisher	Unagented work?	Source
Penguin Random House	Not accepted	FAQ
Hachette Book Group	Not accepted	FAQ
HarperCollins	Not accepted (one imprint exception)	Authors
Simon & Schuster	Not accepted	Selector
Macmillan	Not accepted	Terms

In their own words:

• Penguin Random House "does not accept unsolicited submissions, proposals, manuscripts, illustrations, artwork, or submission queries at this time" (FAQ).
• Hachette Book Group: its publishers "are not able to consider unsolicited manuscript submissions and unsolicited queries", and it recommends first enlisting an established literary agent (FAQ).
• HarperCollins "does not accept unsolicited submissions, with the exception of the imprint listed below" on its page (for authors).
• Simon & Schuster "does not accept unsolicited or unagented submissions" (submission selector).
• Macmillan does not accept unsolicited manuscripts sent through its publisher websites (terms), and its Henry Holt imprint says it is house policy not to read them (Henry Holt FAQ).

Penguin Random House's own guide explains the reason: an agent plays a critical role in serving your interests in the relationship with a publisher. It adds that it is working to expand open submission opportunities through programs like its Berkley Open Submission Program, but that "in most cases an agent is still required and advisable".

Independent presses: also mostly closed

Press	Status	Source
Soho Press	Closed	Submissions
Milkweed Editions	Closed	Submissions
Coffee House Press	Paused	Submissions
Graywolf Press	No unagented prose	Submissions

• Soho Press: "not currently accepting unagented, unsolicited submissions"; it says it will update the page when it reopens for literary fiction.
• Milkweed Editions: "not currently open to unsolicited submissions"; it will announce changes in its newsletter.
• Coffee House Press: not accepting unsolicited submissions; it has paused its open submission periods.
• Graywolf Press: says it is unable to consider unagented prose manuscripts because of the volume it receives.

Where direct proposals are still accepted

A few imprints invite proposals straight from authors, usually for specific nonfiction subjects. Hachette's Workman division says its Workman, Algonquin and Artisan imprints do not accept unsolicited submissions, but Storey Publishing is "always pleased to review new proposals" directly from authors on gardening, home reference, crafts, cooking, nature and similar topics, and Timber Press says it considers new book ideas from authors on gardening and natural history. That page was last updated in 2023, so confirm before sending anything. Expect a proposal (overview, contents, sample chapter, your platform), not a full manuscript.

How first-time authors get a traditional deal

1. Finish the manuscript or proposal. Fiction usually needs a complete manuscript; nonfiction is often sold on a proposal, according to Penguin Random House's guide.
2. Find agents who represent books like yours. The same guide suggests looking at the agents named in the acknowledgments of comparable books and using directories such as QueryTracker and the Poets & Writers database.
3. Query exactly as each agent asks. Some want a query only, others want the first five or ten pages.
4. Be ready to wait. The guide says manuscripts can take multiple rounds of submissions spanning weeks or even years, and some authors sell their second or third manuscript rather than their first.
5. Never pay a reading fee. The Association of American Literary Agents' canon of ethics says members may not charge reading fees for evaluating work for possible representation.

If you do not want to wait for an agent

Many first-time authors publish themselves instead. That keeps the rights and the royalties with you; the trade-off is that you arrange (or pay for) editing, cover design and distribution. Our guide to the best publishing companies for new authors compares the options with sourced fees, and self-publishing versus traditional publishing covers the trade-offs.

FAQ

Do I need an agent to be published by a big publisher?

In practice, yes. The five largest houses quoted above do not accept unagented submissions, apart from limited imprint programs.

Which publishers accept first-time authors without an agent?

Very few, and the list changes. Of the presses checked for this guide, only imprints such as Storey and Timber Press describe direct proposals, in specific nonfiction subjects. Several independent presses that used to take unagented work say they are currently closed.

Are there publishers that take unagented romance manuscripts?

Some imprints run limited open calls. Penguin Random House says it is expanding such programs, for example Berkley's. Check the imprint's own page for dates and genre limits before you submit.

How do I know a publisher is legitimate?

A traditional publisher pays you, not the other way round. Penguin Random House's guide warns to be wary of agent or publisher scams that require money up front. Paid publishing services are a different, legitimate model when the contract is clear on rights, refunds and royalties; see vanity press versus self-publishing.

Should I self-publish first to get noticed by a publisher?

That is a personal strategy decision and the sources above do not address it. What they do say is that a traditional deal runs through agents, so building a platform is only one part of a query.

Sources

• Penguin Random House: FAQ, How Can I Get Published?
• Hachette Book Group FAQ and Workman author submissions
• HarperCollins: for authors
• Simon & Schuster submission selector
• Macmillan terms of use and Henry Holt FAQ
• Independent presses: Soho Press, Milkweed Editions, Coffee House Press, Graywolf Press
• Association of American Literary Agents: Canon of Ethics

Next steps

Deciding between an agent and publishing your own book? Answer four questions to see which Harmony package fits your book, or compare Harmony with other publishers.