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Publisher draws criticism from Publishing Ireland for charging submission fees

In Ireland, a publisher’s decision to charge writers €100 (A$147) per manuscript submission, except those received from a recognised literary agent, has drawn criticism from industry association Publishing Ireland, reports the Irish Times. Liberties Press publisher Seán O’Keeffe said the fee was justified by the writer receiving a critical assessment of the manuscript in return, adding that if the proposal meant an end to writers send unsolicited manuscripts to multiple editors ‘it would not be a bad thing’. Publishing Ireland chairperson Ruth Hegarty said Liberties Press’ fee proposal ‘was against the spirit of the code of conduct signed by all its members and which governs the relationship between author and publisher’, and suggested writers find other independent publishers that don’t charge for submissions. The Irish Writers’ Union has also advised potential writers not to pay publishers to consider their manuscripts.

 

Category: International news