Mitts-on editing
We dig into your book to help make it the best version of itself, and we keep you informed at every stage.
Submit your manuscript
Vibe with us? We want to work with you!
We’re looking for work with a distinctive voice and an unexpected perspective. Genre matters less than whether a book makes us stop, think, wonder, or look twice. We’re especially interested in character-driven and psychological work. That includes mythological retellings that give old stories new eyes.
The plain terms
So you know exactly what you’re walking into.
No fees.
Bipedal Press never charges authors fees.
Royalties.
We pay fair royalties for human work.
Two days.
We acknowledge every submission within two days. Decisions may take longer.
What working with us looks like.
No two books are exactly the same, so we don’t run them down an assembly line. Every step happens in-house, with you involved.
Cover design
Designed in collaboration with you, if you want to be part of it.
Layout
Every interior is laid out in-house, built around the book in front of us.
Audiobooks
Casting and sound editing, handled in-house.
How to submit
What to send
Email a complete, edited, and proofread manuscript to submit@bipedalpress.com along with:
- Your genre and your intended audience
- Your approximate word count
- A brief description (a few sentences) that conveys the tone and feel of the book and tells us how it begins and how it ends
- A full synopsis
- What makes your story unique: how does it invite us to see the world differently?
- A brief note introducing yourself, with your contact information
Good to know
We acknowledge receipt of every submission within two days. Decisions may take longer.
We accept simultaneous submissions, but please let us know if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Previously published work is welcome if the rights have reverted to the author. We’ll ask for proof of reversion.
If you’re not sure whether your work is a fit, that’s okay. We’d rather you ask than count yourself out.
What happens after you submit.
We acknowledge it.
Within two days of your email, you’ll hear from us confirming that we have it.
We read the beginning.
We start with the opening of your manuscript. If it intrigues us, we’ll read the end as well.
We get back to you.
If it isn’t right for Bipedal, we’ll tell you. If we’re still considering it, we’ll let you know we’re reading on. If we’re interested in pursuing it, we’ll schedule a video chat to talk about next steps.
What we’re looking for.
We love character-driven and psychological work across literary fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, horror, mythological retellings, dark academia, historical fiction, and the unclassifiable. See what we mean by each, and the books that capture the tone, on our What we publish page.
Not a fit for us.
It saves us both time. If your book is on this list, it isn’t right for Bipedal.
- Safe literary fiction. We want literary work that takes risks.
- Science fiction with nothing to say. We want speculative work that engages with the world, not just the technology.
- Cozy fiction without grit. Warmth is welcome. We want it to have some bite.
- Traditional romance. We lean toward books that unsettle. We may, however, consider a love story that is strange, dark, or psychologically complex, as long as it doesn’t carry sexist or exploitative overtones.
- Work that condones sexism or objectifies women. Your characters may do exactly that, and many stories need them to. The book itself, though, can’t condone it or carry sexist overtones.
- High fantasy, unless it’s character-driven. Any character-driven fantasy is welcome.
- Manuscripts that haven’t been edited or proofread. Please send us your best, polished draft.
- Poetry and short-story collections, for now. We’re not publishing them at this time, but we may be open to them in the future. Keep checking back, and subscribe to our newsletter to hear first.
Questions, answered.
What makes Bipedal different?
We illuminate. We work with you collaboratively, side by side, to pull your book out of the void and bring it into focus.
Do you charge authors fees?
No. Bipedal Press never charges authors fees.
Do you pay royalties?
Yes. We pay fair royalties, because we celebrate human creativity and ingenuity.
How fast will I hear back?
We acknowledge receipt of every submission within two days. Decisions may take longer.
What happens after I submit?
We acknowledge receipt within two days, then read the beginning of your manuscript. If it intrigues us, we’ll read the end as well. If it isn’t right for us, we’ll tell you. If we’re still considering it, we’ll let you know we’re reading on. If we’re interested in pursuing it, we’ll schedule a video chat to talk about next steps.
What kinds of books are you looking for?
Literary fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, horror, mythological retellings, dark academia, historical fiction, or something that refuses to pick a box. We have a soft spot for dark academia, but genre matters less to us than voice. We’re especially interested in character-driven and psychological work. If your book shows us the world in a way we never considered, send it. See what we mean by each on our What we publish page.
Do you publish dark academia?
Yes, it’s our favorite. We welcome dark academia, dark academia-adjacent, and dark academia with fantasy elements, especially when it’s character-driven and psychological. Think The Secret History, If We Were Villains, Ninth House, Piranesi, Babel, and Katabasis. Your story doesn’t need a campus. If it has the devotion, the beauty, and the rot, send it. More on what we mean.
What aren’t you looking for?
Safe literary fiction, science fiction with nothing to say, cozy fiction without grit, traditional romance (we lean toward books that unsettle, though we may consider a love story that is strange, dark, or psychologically complex, as long as it doesn’t carry sexist or exploitative overtones), work that condones sexism or objectifies women (characters may behave that way, but the book itself can’t condone it or carry sexist overtones), high fantasy that isn’t character-driven, and manuscripts that haven’t been edited or proofread. Character-driven fantasy of any kind is welcome.
Do you publish poetry or short-story collections?
Not at this time, but we may be open to them in the future. Keep checking back, and subscribe to our newsletter to hear first.
What should I send?
A complete, edited, and proofread manuscript, emailed to submit@bipedalpress.com. Include your genre, intended audience, and word count; a brief description of the book’s tone and feel that tells us how it begins and how it ends; a full synopsis; what makes your story unique and how it invites us to see the world differently; and a short note about you. The full list is under How to submit.
Do you read works in progress?
We read complete manuscripts only.
Can I submit to other publishers at the same time?
Yes. Simultaneous submissions are fine. Just tell us if someone else says yes first.
Do you accept previously published work?
Yes, as long as the rights have reverted to you. We’ll ask for proof.
Do you accept AI-generated work?
We welcome authors who use technology as part of their creative process, but the submitted work must ultimately be your own. We do not accept manuscripts that are generated by AI.
What does editing look like?
Mitts-on. We dig into your book to help make it the best version of itself. We use author-friendly processes that prioritize your vision, and we keep you informed at every stage.
Will I have a say in my cover?
Yes, if you want one. We design covers in collaboration with authors.
Who handles layout and production?
We do, in-house. Interior layout, cover design, and sound editing for audiobooks all happen here.
Are you publishing books yet?
Our first titles are on the way. Join the newsletter to hear about them first.
I’m not sure my book fits. Should I still ask?
Please do. We’d rather hear from you than have you count yourself out. We’re all about filling in the margins, after all.