Independent publishing company
Scribe Publications
Children's, Fiction, Independent
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Scribe
Scribe is closed now. It reads unagented submissions only from 1 to 21 April and 1 to 21 September, and both 2026 windows have passed. When it opens, you email a synopsis, a short excerpt and a writing CV in the body of the email, free of charge.
Scribe Publications is an independent publisher based in Brunswick, Melbourne. It was founded in 1976. It publishes trade titles for general readers, generally literary fiction and serious nonfiction. Its fiction includes translated fiction, and its nonfiction covers topics such as climate change, politics, health, science and technology. Its titles include Gut, Come as You Are, The Brain That Changes Itself and Billion-Dollar Whale. Children’s picture books go to its kids’ imprint, Scribble.
Scribe reads unsolicited, unagented submissions by email only during two windows each year, 1 to 21 April and 1 to 21 September. Both 2026 windows have closed, so it is not reading now. Submitting is free. You put a 500-word synopsis, an excerpt of up to 1,500 words and a brief writing CV in the email body, with no attachments. You need prior writing for general readers. Scribe replies within four weeks of the closing date only if it wants more.
What Scribe is looking for
- Literary fiction for general readers, including translated fiction
- Serious nonfiction on climate change, politics, health, science and technology
- Writers with prior work for general readers, such as trade books, literary journal stories or journalism
- Submissions sent during the April or September windows
Publishes
- Children's
- Fiction
- Independent
- Literary fiction
- Nonfiction
- Picture book
Specialties
- Literary fiction
How to submit to Scribe
From its own guidelines- Wait for the next window, 1 to 21 April or 1 to 21 September.
- Email submissions@scribepub.com.au with your manuscript title and name as the subject line.
- Paste a 500-word synopsis, an excerpt of up to 1,500 words and a brief writing CV into the email body.
- Watch for the automatic acknowledgment, then allow four weeks after the window closes.
Is Scribe right for your book?
A good fit if
Scribe suits writers of literary fiction or serious nonfiction who already have published work for general readers, such as journalism or stories in literary journals.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere for poetry, plays, young adult fiction or individual short stories, and send picture books to Scribble instead. Scribe will neither read nor answer anything sent outside its windows, as attachments, as hard copy or as multiple submissions.
Books published by Scribe
Well-known titles- Gut
- Come as You Are
- The Brain That Changes Itself
- Billion-Dollar Whale
Scribe imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scribble | Not stated | Kids' book imprint with its own submission window on scribblekidsbooks.com (page could not be fetched) |
Questions about Scribe
Does Scribe accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Yes, but only during two short windows each year, 1 to 21 April and 1 to 21 September. Both 2026 windows have passed, so Scribe is closed now. It accepts unagented work during these windows and charges no fee. Scribe will neither read nor answer anything sent outside the windows, so wait for the next one before you email your synopsis and excerpt.
How do I submit to Scribe?
You email submissions@scribepub.com.au during an open window, with your manuscript title and your name as the subject line. Put a 500-word synopsis, an excerpt of up to 1,500 words and a brief writer's CV in the body of the email. Scribe does not accept attachments, hard copies or multiple submissions. Your CV should show prior writing for general readers, such as journalism or published stories.
How long does Scribe take to reply?
Scribe replies within four weeks of the window's closing date, but only if it wants to see more of your work. You get an automatic acknowledgment when your email arrives. If four weeks pass after the window closes and you have heard nothing, treat that as a no. Scribe does not say whether it accepts work that is also with other publishers.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
