So, you have written the perfect play, ready for publication. Here are several tips for getting your work published.
Play Production, Workshop, and Development
Although your play is finished, it could still use some final touches before it is publication ready. Having your work produced is the best way to make sure that your work is production ready. Most major play publishing companies require at least one full production or at least a staged reading of your work before they will even consider reviewing the manuscript for publication. Some smaller companies do not require a full production, but they still prefer to review manuscripts that have been produced, in some form.
Having a work produced is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen an already good manuscript. Send your work out to local theatre troupes or schools. Many artistic directors or drama educators are happy to support local playwrights. These individuals can also give you valuable insight into strengthening your manuscript and assist you in your playwriting career.
If you can’t get a full production, don’t be discouraged. Join a writers' group and workshop your play. Staged readings where actors perform the manuscript with scripts in hand, sometimes with or without blocking, is also beneficial for a play in development. Many busy theatres, both community and professional, that are unable to provide full productions for new works have new play reading programs established to help develop new plays.
Finding the Right Market and Publisher for a Play
Every play has a different market and personality and so does every publisher. Know who a publisher’s clients are before you send them a manuscript. A publisher that caters to high school productions with large casts will not want to review a small cast children’s play intended for preschool performers, no matter how good the material is. Also, see what type of personality the publisher has. Do they like topical farces? Gritty, realistic dramas? Zany comedies? See if your work is a good fit.
The best way to do this is to review the publisher's catalog. I would suggest looking at their recent acquisitions page and seeing what types of work the publisher has recently published. Luckily, many publishers allow you to review sample pages of their plays on their website for free. Read several of the plays that you think might be similar to your work. For example, if you have a full length drama, see what types of plays were recently published under full length dramas.
Remember, publishing a work that isn’t marketable to the publisher’s regular clients isn’t advantageous to you or the publisher. Do your research!
Publish Your Play: Sending Out Manuscripts
Now that you have thoroughly researched publishers and found what your think is a good match for your work carefully read through the publisher’s guidelines and submission requirements. Every publisher is different! Make sure that your follow the guidelines specifically as stated.
Also make sure that your manuscript is formatted correctly. If you are unsure of how to format your manuscript Baker's Plays provides a useful link about how to properly format your manuscript in Standard Play Format.
Again, every company is very different. Don’t get your work thrown on a rejection stack just because you didn’t format your play properly or didn’t submit your materials exactly (and I mean exactly) as stated by the publisher’s submission policy.
How to Publish Your Play; Waiting
Now that your materials are sent out, catered to the guidelines specified on the publisher’s submission page, you wait. That is all you can do. Do not bombard the publisher with e-mails, calls, or letters. Do not send them multiple submissions, unless the publisher specifies that they have a multiple submissions policy.
Some companies can take up to six months. Some only one. Most companies response time ranges from 3-4 months. Most play publishing companies are more busy during the summer months, as they release that year’s new catalog in August to send out to school and community theatres, so response time may be longer during those months.
Most publishers will tell you on their submission guidelines how long each submission takes for review. If you don’t hear back from them after this time has passed, it is than acceptable to send a brief inquiry to the publisher to make sure your submission arrived.
Remember, these are individuals you want to establish a long term, professional business relationship with. Be professional, courteous, and brief in all your correspondence. Most publishers are busy and prefer brevity and conciseness in communication.
My advice; Forget about that manuscript and keep writing.
Keeping Writing
Don’t be discouraged by rejection. Many wonderful manuscripts are not published for a variety of reasons. Keep honing your craft and networking within the theatre world. Remember, most playwrights get into playwriting for the love of the medium, not the wealth or the glory. Continue to produce work, research your options, and send your materials out.
For more information about play publishers see Play Publishers.
