Beth Miller

Submitting to agents and publishers

Well done! Your book is at last ready to plunge into the exciting but shark-infested waters of agents and publishers.

Before you cast it adrift, you might want an objective eye on your submission. Agents receive hundreds of submissions a week, but there are simple ways to improve the chances of yours being read.

I can advise on your letter, synopsis and opening page.

This useful service costs £100

(up to max.1500 words).

This includes a mark-up of your work in track changes, a cover report, and a half-hour Zoom or phone chat.

Optional extras include:

A longer Zoom chat designed to help you pinpoint
the right agents/publishers to approach
Critique of first chapter or first three chapters
Final ready-to-submit polish to first chapter

"More accessible than Nora Ephron"

"There are two people I regularly return to when I get stuck with my writing: Nora Ephron and Beth. Beth is more accessible, as she’s not quite as famous yet or dead, which is really helpful when you’re looking for something specific.

When it came to finding an agent, she was on hand to review and polish my submission, as well giving me all the benefit of her own experience. I signed with my agents a few months later."

Amy Lavelle, author of Definitely Fine, which will be published by Orion, August 2021.

"Hugely helpful"

"Beth worked with me on honing

my book proposal in preparation

for going out on submission.

She was insightful, perceptive

and hugely helpful, offering a new

perspective on my book and lots

of useful advice.

She has just the right combination

of kindness and honesty, and

working with her was a real

pleasure.

Can't recommend Beth enough

if you need some help with a

writing project."

Lulah Ellender, author of Elisabeth's Lists, published by Granta,

March 2018

Find out more!

Please email me at bethmillerwrites@gmail.com and tell me the following:

Type of book (eg fiction/non-fiction/memoir etc)
If fiction, what genre it is
How many words it is
Why you think you're ready to submit

and I will come back to you quickly letting you know if I think I can help. There's no obligation to go ahead, of course!

"Wealth of experience and knowledge"

"Her wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry helped me to secure an agent and ultimately a publishing contract."

Sophie Anderson, author of The Butterfly Garden, which will be published by Bookouture, June 2021.

"Invaluable"

"Pitching a manuscript is kind of like playing bowls, except you’re blindfolded, and can only infer that you’ve missed when you don’t hear otherwise within six to eight weeks. And even then, you don’t know how much you’ve missed by.

I played this demoralizing game for a while before contacting Beth. Her knowledge of the industry, and the large number of minor things which you have to get right to stay out of the slush pile, was invaluable.

After one coaching session, I was able to send out a significantly improved pitch, with increased confidence – and, this time around, an excellent outcome. My book is being published by Biteback. Thank you, Beth!"

Steve Ramsey, author of Something Has Gone Wrong, published by Biteback, January 2018