Thank you for your inquiry concerning our requirements. We hope the following information will answer your questions:

We publish science fiction and fantasy novels. We do not want short stories, short story collections, novellas, or poetry. The average length of the novels we publish varies but is almost never less than 80,000 words. (To estimate the length of your manuscript, you may want to use the technique on page 2 of this letter.)

Please do not submit handwritten material. Manuscripts must be typewritten or letter-quality computer generated. Use a dark ribbon. Clear photocopies are acceptable. The manuscript should be on 8" x 11" good white paper, double-spaced, with at least 1" wide margins all around. Please use only one side of the page, number your pages consecutively, and put the title of your novel at the top of each page.

Very important: Please type your name, address and phone number in the upper right hand corner of the first page of your manuscript. Right under this, please put the length of your manuscript in number of words.

We publish first novels if they are of professional quality. A literary agent is not required for submission. We will not consider manuscripts that are currently on submission to another publisher.

Be sure to include a postage paid envelope for the return of the manuscript, if it is not found acceptable. You are entitled to Fourth Class rates for literary manuscripts -- ask at your local post office. If you prefer to send your work by First Class Mail and wish it returned the same way, be sure to include sufficient postage, or a check or money order to cover the postage costs. Canadian return postage can only be sent via Canadian Postal Money Order in US$. If you are mailing your manuscript from outside the U.S.A. or Canada, postage payment may only be made via American Express Money Order in US$, or by a check in US$ payable from a New York City bank. (Please do not enclose International Postal Coupons, except as postage for a single letter. IPCs cost approximately $3.50 each, but are only valid for 55 cents postage). Never send cash through the mail.

It may require up to three months or more for our editors to review a submission and come to a decision. If you want to be sure we have received your manuscript, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard which we will return when your manuscript is logged-in.

It is not necessary for you to register or copyright your work before publication -- it is protected by law as long as it has not been published. When published, we will copyright the book in the author's name and register that copyright with the Library of Congress.

1. Count the words in 10 lines and divide the total number of words by 10.

2. Count the lines on an average page.

3. Multiply the total number of lines for the sample full page by the approximate word count for one line. This gives you the word count for one page.

4. Then multiply this total count for the words on one page by the total number of pages in your manuscript. This is the total length of your manuscript in words. Please put this number on page one of your manuscript, right under your name address.

5. To check the accuracy of your count, please repeat this process twice.

6. Please send manuscripts to Peter Stampfel, Submission Editor.

7. Free DAW Books catalog available upon request.