Everything you need to know about submitting to and publishing with Simile Press, in plain language. If your question isn’t answered in this Author FAQ, contact us.
Submissions
Do you charge a reading fee? No. We will never charge a reading fee for any submission to any Simile Press publication.
Do I need a literary agent to submit to Simile Press? No — and in fact we prefer to work directly with authors rather than through agents. Our agreements are written in plain language and explained clearly at every stage. We believe authors are entirely capable of understanding and negotiating their own publishing agreements, and we’d rather build that relationship with you directly. If you do have an agent, please make this clear in your submission — but it will not affect our consideration of your work.
Can I submit to more than one Simile Press call at the same time? Yes, provided you are submitting different works. Please do not submit the same piece to multiple Simile Press calls simultaneously.
Do you accept simultaneous submissions — work submitted to other publishers at the same time? Yes. We understand that writers cannot afford to wait on a single submission at a time. If your work is accepted elsewhere before we respond, please notify us immediately at the relevant submissions address so we can withdraw it from consideration.
My work has been published on my personal blog or social media. Does that count as previously published? For novels and non-fiction, yes — we consider work previously published if it has appeared in any public format, including personal blogs and social media. For short fiction and poetry submitted to the anthology or magazine, brief excerpts or single poems shared on personal platforms are generally acceptable — please mention it in your cover letter and we will confirm on a case by case basis.
Can I resubmit a piece that was previously rejected? For short fiction and poetry, we consider significant revisions to previously rejected work on a case by case basis — please mention in your cover letter that the piece was previously submitted and briefly describe what has changed. For novels and non-fiction proposals, please wait at least six months before resubmitting a revised work.
I haven’t heard back within the stated response window. What should I do? Send a brief, polite status enquiry to the relevant submissions email address. Please do not query before the stated window has passed.
Do you accept work written under a pen name? Yes. Please include both your legal name and your pen name in your submission so that agreements and payments can be processed correctly. Your pen name is what will appear in publication.
The Editorial Process
What happens after I submit? We read and consider every submission. If we are interested in your work, we will contact you to discuss it further — for novels and non-fiction this typically means requesting the full manuscript after reviewing your initial submission. For short fiction, poetry, and magazine pieces, we will make an offer of acceptance directly if we want to publish the work.
What does the editorial process look like once my work is accepted? Acceptance is the beginning, not the end. We work collaboratively with every author and contributor through an editorial process that typically includes a structural or developmental edit, a line edit, and a proofread. We will never make significant changes to your work without your knowledge and agreement. The goal is always to help your work be the best version of itself — not to make it sound like us.
How long does the process from acceptance to publication take? This varies depending on the work and the publication. For novels and non-fiction, allow six to twelve months from acceptance to publication. For anthology and magazine pieces, the timeline depends on the publication schedule of the relevant title — we will give you a clear expected timeline at the point of acceptance.
Will I see the cover design and layout before publication? Yes. We share cover designs and interior layouts with authors before finalising them and welcome your input. The final design decisions rest with Simile Press, but we will not publish a cover you have serious objections to without a genuine conversation first.
The Profit Share Model
Why don’t you pay advances? Because we believe the profit-share model is fairer over the life of a book. An advance is a payment against future royalties — it sounds like security, but in practice it means a writer receives a fixed sum and then earns nothing further until that advance is earned back, which often never happens. Our model has no ceiling. If your book finds its audience, your earnings grow with it.
When do I start earning? Once your title’s direct production costs have been recovered from sales revenue, profit-sharing begins. The lower the production costs, the sooner this happens — and we keep costs lean by design.
What counts as a production cost? Direct, documented costs only — editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, print-on-demand setup fees, and distribution fees. We do not charge authors for general overheads, staff time, or administrative costs. Every cost counted against your title will be clearly itemised in your first financial report.
How and when are payments made? Payments are made quarterly — every four months — accompanied by a full, transparent sales and cost report. You will see exactly what your title earned, what was deducted, and what your share amounts to. Payments are made via electronic bank transfer.
What if my book never recoups its production costs? Then no profit-share payment is triggered, because there is no profit to share. This is the risk both parties carry in the absence of an advance — it is why we keep production costs as low as possible and why we only publish work we genuinely believe in.
Can I see the sales figures for my title at any time? You will receive a full report every six months. If you have a specific query between reporting periods, write to us and we will do our best to give you a timely response.
Can I order copies of my own book? Yes. You can order Author copies at cost price — meaning the current production and distribution cost of a print-on-demand copy, plus Simile Press’s standard percentage. You will not be charged retail price for your own work.
That said, we advise authors to order judiciously rather than stocking up in bulk. Print-on-demand means copies are available as needed, so there is no advantage to holding large quantities yourself. For copies needed specifically for marketing purposes or events, speak to us first — Simile Press will share resources where works are needed for promotional activities and we would rather coordinate that together than have you carrying unnecessary stock. If you’re unsure how many copies you need for a specific purpose, ask us and we’ll work it out with you.
Rights
Do I keep the rights to my work? Yes. Your work remains your intellectual property at all times. Simile Press acquires specific publication rights — clearly set out in your agreement — but ownership of the work never transfers to us.
What rights does Simile Press acquire? This varies slightly by publication type, but in all cases we acquire only what we need to publish and distribute your work. For novels and non-fiction, we acquire exclusive publication rights for the duration of our agreement. For anthology, magazine, and collection contributions, we acquire first publication rights and the right to republish within future Simile Press collections under equivalent terms. Full details are set out in your individual agreement.
What happens to my rights if my book goes out of print or distribution? If a title goes out of active distribution, your rights revert to you. We will not hold onto a work we are not actively publishing.
Can I publish my work elsewhere after it appears in a Simile Press anthology or magazine? Yes. Once your piece has appeared in the relevant Simile Press publication, you are free to republish it — in your own collection, on your own platforms, or in future submissions elsewhere. We ask only that you note original publication in the Simile Press title when you do.
What about translation rights, audio rights, and adaptation rights? For translations into English or Afrikaans — the two languages Simile Press publishes in — we retain rights to the translated edition for the duration of our agreement, on the same profit-share terms as the original. If our agreement ends and rights to the original revert to you, the reversion of rights to any translated edition will be negotiated separately at that time. For all other translation rights, as well as audio rights and adaptation rights, these remain entirely with you. We will never pursue or sell those rights without your explicit written consent and a separate agreement.
Practical Matters
What format should I use for my manuscript? Standard manuscript format — double-spaced, 12pt serif font (Times New Roman or similar), one-inch margins, page numbers, and your name and title in the header. Submit as a .docx or .rtf file unless the relevant submission guidelines specify otherwise.
Do you publish work by authors outside South Africa? Our current calls are limited to South African writers — authors for whom South Africa is home, or has been. We may broaden our geographic scope in future and will announce any changes on the website and via our newsletter.
Do you publish in languages other than English and Afrikaans? Not at this stage. We accept submissions in English and Afrikaans and welcome the natural inclusion of vernacular phrases and passages from any southern African language within either. We hope to expand our language range as the press grows.
I’m a bookseller or librarian interested in stocking Simile Press titles. Who should I contact? Please use the contact form. We’d love to hear from you.
A Final Note
We know the publishing process can feel opaque and discouraging. Part of what Simile Press is trying to do is change that — to be the kind of publisher that gives writers straight answers, treats them as intelligent adults, and keeps them informed at every stage. We are a small press, we work directly with our authors, and we read everything ourselves.
If something isn’t covered here, or if an answer raises more questions than it resolves, contact us. We’re a small press and we read everything ourselves.