WriteOnCon press and agency eligibility guidelines

WriteOnCon is committed to offering high-quality and reliable content. In order to ensure that our participating professionals have the necessary experience and expertise to speak well on their selected topics or offer reliable feedback to attendees, we have established a set of criteria used when considering potential speakers.

Our conference has a primary focus on traditional publishing, which by its nature operates through a system of so-called “gatekeepers”. Because it is not possible for WriteOnCon staff to read the books of every interested applicant, we look to these organizations to help us evaluate whether the individuals associated with them would be suitable for our conference. 

It is easier for us to determine that an organization publishes quality books than it is for us to consider the merit of any given book. We recognize that this is an imperfect system; some organizations excluded by our criteria may include among their lists some excellent books, while other organizations that we have approved may offer a few “duds”. But in looking at the list as a whole, and the overall practices of the organization, we can feel reasonably confident in offering a speaker position to one of their professionals.

We have listed below the criteria that we use in evaluating presses and agencies for eligibility. We have also provided a list of all of the presses we have approved to date.. 

Because we are primarily focused on traditional publishing, vanity presses and self-published authors are by default only eligible for our conference subsection called “Indie HQ”. Authors with outstanding self-publishing sales records may be invited to speak individually on self-publishing as part of the main conference, but are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

Freelance editors may also be considered on an individual basis, using their testimonials, clientele, length of operations, and professional associations and memberships as some of the indicators of their knowledge and experience.

In general, we consider micropresses to be small publishers that may either be legitimate in operations but do not have a catalogue of sufficient size to judge publication quality or press longevity, or have certain features or operational histories that offer some concern as to their legitimacy and/or quality. 

Literary agencies that do not have a number of sales to major or large traditional publishing houses are considered amateur agencies. The agents at these agencies may all be lovely people, but we are unable to satisfactorily judge their industry expertise or editorial knowledge or ability. 

Authors are generally considered on the basis of their publisher, but their literary agency may be taken into consideration in some circumstances. House editors, publicists, and other industry professionals are always considered based on the publisher by whom they are employed, while literary agents and agent assistants are considered by the agency with which they are associated. Occasionally, we may choose during consideration to include or prioritize a speaker’s prior employment history or experience, where applicable and at our discretion. In rare instance, some professions not mentioned here (eg. booksellers, librarians) may be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

 

Criteria for eligibility of traditional publishing houses and presses

It is not necessary for a house or press to meet all of these criteria in order to be considered eligible for WriteOnCon. However, they should meet a majority of them. Some criteria are weighted more heavily than others. WriteOnCon reserves the right to determine what “a majority” is in each instance of evaluation.

1. The press does not charge reading fees, application fees, submission fees, or fees by any other name to have a manuscript considered by the press. Such fees will automatically disqualify the press from eligibility.
2. The press has been in operation for at least 3 years.
3. The press releases at least 6 books per year.
4. Senior editors have substantial relevant industry experience. This may be either prior employment with another press or literary agency, or a long history with their current employer. Education in a creative writing degree or similar is not deemed sufficient experience.
5. Junior editors have relevant industry employment background. 
6. The catalogue includes authors or titles who have been nominated for mainstream awards or have hit bestseller lists.
7. Book covers appear professionally designed.
8. There is evidence of strong reader-oriented marketing efforts by the press. We recognize that with small presses this may be at a smaller level than that of which major publishers are capable.
9. The press’s books have reasonably good Goodreads ratings (eg. most 3.50 or better, with at least a few dozen ratings).
10. The press is a member of (or otherwise qualifies for) the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ PAL program.
11. The press has mainstream distribution through a large book distributor such as Ingram, Publishers Group West, Independent Publishers Group, Midpoint, Macmillan Distribution, Bertram, Baker & Taylor, etc.
12. There are no known issues with behavior, discrimination, harassment, or professionalism.

 

Criteria for eligibility of literary agencies

Any literary agency under consideration for WriteOnCon must meet all of the criteria outlined here in order to be considered eligible.

1. The agency as a whole has multiple demonstrated sales to major and large publishing houses.
2. Senior agents have substantial relevant industry experience (eg. at other agencies or publishing houses) and/or a strong track record of sales to major and large publishing houses.
3. Junior agents have relevant industry experience and/or have worked as an intern or assistant at a reputable agency prior to being promoted to junior agent.
4. Neither the agency nor its agents charge reading fees or other fees to prospective clients.
5. There are no known issues with behavior, discrimination, harassment, or professionalism.

 

Approved publishing houses and presses

These publishers have already been evaluated and approved for participation in WriteOnCon. Any future applicants associated with these houses will generally be accepted, with rare exception for demonstrated history of behavior or other individual issues in violation of our Harassment and Accessibility Policies.

 

Approved literary agencies

These agencies have already been evaluated and approved for participation in WriteOnCon. Any future applicants associated with these agencies will generally be accepted, with rare exception for demonstrated history of behavior or other individual issues in violation of our Harassment and Accessibility Policies.

 

If an organization is not shown on the lists above, it may be that we have deemed it a micropress, amateur agency, or otherwise ineligible, or we may simply not have assessed it yet. You are welcome to email us for further information.