Books Department

Please be advised that we receive over 6,000 unsolicited submissions a year, and take on a very small selection of new clients. While we do consider new work, it can take 8 weeks and sometimes more for us to respond to submissions, especially at busy times like the London and Frankfurt Book Fairs in April and October, and when the office is closed over the Christmas break.

 

We do not handle poetry, straight genre science fiction and fantasy, or children's picture books.

 

If you would like to submit your work to the agency please send in the following:

 

1)An introductory letter - this should be dated and include your postal address, telephone number and email contact details if applicable. Where appropriate you should mention any previous publications or writing experience. If you have experience that relates directly to the subject of the book this should be mentioned succinctly. If you have been referred to Blake Friedmann by a trade or personal contact please make this clear in your letter. If you have had previous correspondence with one of our agents, please include details with your submission.

 

2) A synopsis of the whole work - this must be included or we will not be able to consider the submission. In one to three pages, the synopsis should list the theme, setting, characters, and plot of your book, from the first to final chapter, including the resolution of the story, and should not merely be a cover-style 'teaser' for your story.

 

3) The first three chapters of the work only. Do not include random chapters, or the full manuscript. We will ask to see the rest of the work if the initial material impresses our agents.

 

4) Presentation of your material: As you probably know, material submitted to agencies and publishers should be printed on one side of the page only, with wide margins and at least 1.5 line spacing, with all pages clearly numbered. If you are using a pseudonym, make sure that your real name and your pseudonym are both on the manuscript, as well as on your letter. Put your name and address on the front of the manuscript, as well as on your covering letter.

 

5) An envelope with stamps (or International Coupons if submitting from abroad) sufficient for return of the material in the event that we decide not to offer representation. Alternatively you can enclose a self-addressed envelope for a letter reply only; or simply state in your submission letter that you do not need to have the material returned. Please note that if you do not include return postage and/or permission to dispose of your material, permission for disposal will be assumed.

 

If you want to be sure that your submission has arrived safely please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard which we will return to you when we receive your material.

 

Every writer who submits work must keep a copy of the material themselves. We cannot be responsible for material that may go missing in the mail.

 

You should address your submission package to

 

The Submissions Department
Blake Friedmann Literary Agency
Second Floor
122 Arlington Road
London NW1 7HP

 

Owing to the enormous and increasing volume of submissions that we receive daily and the administration involved, we cannot absolutely guarantee a reply, though we do our best. Please do not call or email simply to chase for a reply until 8 weeks have elapsed from the date of your submission, unless it is to let us know of important information relevant to your project. We no longer insist on single submissions, but do let us know if another agent is interested. We will give your manuscript consideration as soon as is possible, but we are not able to give editorial feedback or detailed reasons as to why a project is not suitable for the agency. There are editorial consultancies you can approach to help you on this front.

 

We welcome new work, but must give first priority to the clients we already represent, so please do not be offended if you receive a standard rejection letter. Due to the number of submissions we receive, we are simply not able to write individual letters. Most publishers and many agencies no longer accept unsolicited submissions - we continue to do so, but do bear with us during this process.

Film and TV Department

At present the Film & Television Department are only able to consider writers who have a track record in film, television, stage or radio. We are interested in writers who may have had previous experience in the film/television industry in a related field, ie producers/script editors. We will only consider established directors. 

We rarely accept scripts relating to science fiction or fantasy unless submitted by writers with substantial credits.

If you would like to be considered for representation, please write to info@blakefriedmann.co.uk. Your submission can be sent by email and should consist of:

a)    a covering letter,
b)    your CV,
c)    a short synopsis or description of the script you wish to submit,
d)    one sample script.

Printed submissions must include an envelope with stamps sufficient for return.

Please note that it may take up to 12 weeks before we are able to review submissions.