Authors, especially new ones, struggle to get the support, creative juice, and finances to launch their literary brainchildren. However, finding the right publisher is undoubtedly one of the toughest challenges you can face as a new writer. It’s not that there aren’t enough options. It’s just that the competition among countless book publishing companies can overwhelm you—and you might have no clue where to start.
● Which publishers will consider manuscripts from new authors?
● Who will support your work and help it find the right audience?
For those stepping into this art form (from a commercial perspective) for the first time, having the right people by your side can make all the difference. You can turn a rough draft into a brilliant bestselling masterpiece that OTT platforms are begging to make movies and TV shows about.
Well, some of the best UK publishing companies actively seek fresh voices and provide customized resources for emerging writers.
Let’s look at the UK's top five book publishing companies for new authors.
1. Collins Book Publishers
Turning a manuscript into a book in print can be daunting for a first-time author. Collins Book Publishers makes it easier, offering a comprehensive range of services for first-time UK writers. They aggressively help new and experienced writers and have the experience to turn aspiring manuscripts into memorable books. Novel, memoir, or even non-fiction—they guide their experts at every step.
Services For First-Time Authors
Collins Book Publishers offers a complete suite of services for book publishers for first-time authors.
including:
Ghostwriting
Skilled writers help turn your ideas into a book while maintaining your unique voice.
Editing and Proofreading
Full editing services for developmental edits and proofreading that polishes every manuscript they touch.
Formatting
Professional layouts in digital and print formats that exponentially enhance reading and visual appeal.
Marketing and Promotion
Cover design, book trailers, SEO, and author websites help your book reach a wider audience.
How Does Collins Create Bestsellers?
Collins Book Publishers uses a streamlined, six-step process to make publishing straightforward and efficient:
2. Penguin Random House UK
Penguin Random House UK is one of the largest and most prominent publishing houses in the UK. Through its diversified imprints, it offers new authors unique access to a wide-reaching audience and many genres. Through the imprints Penguin, Hamish Hamilton, and Viking under Penguin Random House UK, there is an option for almost every genre—from literary fiction to children's books to high-end art and everything in between. The gigantic reach enables most genres to find a niche, and authors can rely on Penguin Random House for the needed reach and reputation.
Exceptionally Strong Marketing and Distribution
Penguin Random House UK has a significant advantage in distribution and marketing.
Their network allows books to reach a vast audience both within the UK and globally, offering new authors the opportunity to establish a strong readership. With a robust marketing team, authors benefit from promotional strategies that help increase visibility in a competitive market.
They Always Support New Voices In The Market
Penguin Random House has embraced emerging authors for a long time and majorly emphasizes diverse voices. They closely work with developing authors who elaborate their manuscripts, providing them with excellent editorial teams that guide and support the manuscript from beginning to end.
3. Hachette Livre (UK)
Hachette Livre (UK) is also among the most popular publishing houses in the UK. It acts as an ideal incubator for established and new authors. Hachette invites first-time writers into its fold and supports them across genres.
Hachette UK has several major imprints, such as Little, Brown, and Orion, each with a different focus and audience. Their platform enables writers to find an imprint closest to their work, whether commercial fiction, literary fiction, or nonfiction.
Prime Focus On New & Promising Writers
Hachette actively seeks out fresh voices, valuing new perspectives and ideas. They dedicate resources to supporting new authors through experienced editorial teams that provide detailed feedback and guidance, helping manuscripts reach their full potential.
Play Around A Diverse Range of Genres & Imprints
Hachette's imprints vary from fiction to nonfiction, including children's books and much more.
The diversity they bring to the table helps authors from various genres find a place for their work, making Hachette an excellent choice for new writers looking to get the spotlight they desire and deserve.
4. HarperCollins UK
HarperCollins UK combines the virtues of a rich publishing history with a forward-thinking approach that embraces new trends and technologies. HarperCollins has several formats and support for new authors, which makes them appealing to those targeting contemporary readers. HarperCollins UK is a major publisher with other notable imprints like 4th Estate and Collins. The genres vary from literary fiction to educational resources. Their diversified list and innovative approach make them flexible to new authors with diverse styles and content.
State Of The Art Publishing Technologies
HarperCollins is synonymous with embracing digital formats, offering options for eBooks and audiobooks that fit today's readers' tastes. This versatility makes it easier for new authors to reach audiences in multiple formats, but it could also limit the number of people reading their work.
Strong Author Support and Resources
HarperCollins has a reputation for a solid approach to supporting its authors.
Their editorial teams edit manuscripts with authors, and the company is proud of marketing materials available to launching writers to make their respective books visible.
5. Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing has been credited for its commitment to quality and literary excellence.
The house is perhaps best known for its classic titles, and Bloomsbury remains an attractive launch pad for new authors who value craftsmanship and storytelling.
Bloomsbury has established itself as a major name in publishing since 1986. It particularly focuses on literary fiction. Under its imprints, Bloomsbury houses a variety of genres for fiction and non-fiction authors, including new voices in literature.
Focus on Author Development
Bloomsbury takes a special interest in author development and refinement, both from a creative and professional point of view. The editorial team at Bloomsbury closely collaborates with new authors to make the manuscripts rich through thoughtful feedback and long-term relationships.
It is essential for first-time writers looking for a publishing experience that is more personal and nurturing.
Genre Diversity and Academic Strength
While literary fiction is beyond Bloomsbury's genre strengths, it is stronger in academic publishing and non-fiction. Their catalog contains works by established authors who have made a name for themselves in all genres. That makes them suitable for authors who want to write knowledgeably in a genre.
Which One Should You Pick?
In Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, and Bloomsbury, you will find some of the best publishing houses in the UK, all with different kinds of support and opportunities for new voices.
Or perhaps you are looking for an all-around, author-centric approach to publishing that will make this process easier for your first experience as an author, and Collins Book Publishers might be the perfect fit. Because Collins addresses first-time authors, it guides you from manuscript to marketplace.
Are you ready to make your manuscript into a published book?
Find out more about how Collins Book Publishers can help turn your story into life and accompany you on your first steps as an auth.