Manuscript Submissions
IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you read this carefully before submitting work to us.

Authors and artists sending in their work must keep in mind that we receive hundreds of submissions every year and can publish only a very small fraction of these. Before you send in your work, please make sure that you have looked through our web site very carefully so that you get a sense of what we publish and what we do not. Better still would be to actually read at least one of our books. Please keep our existing books in mind when you present your project. Below is a general guideline on submission requirements. Each of our publishing areas also has it’s own specific focus.

What You Need To Send
• a brief synopsis of the plot / concept
• a one page CV
• The first 5 to 10 pages of the book, or if you are sending visuals,
a few samples of your artwork (preferably colour photocopies
or prints – not originals)
• Full return postage (please note that without this we will not be
able to return your work)

Working With Us
Should we find work that is of interest to us, we work very closely with the author and are very demanding of him/her. This will mean that you should be prepared to edit, re-write, and be open to constructive criticism and suggestions regarding your work. We prefer to have an open and robust working environment, and we have found that this benefits the work in the long run.

Please Note
Because of the number of submissions we receive we simply cannot meet with you in the first instance. We therefore ask that you submit your project by post in as completed a form as possible. Should a meeting be necessary, we will get in touch with you to arrange one. Also, we consider all submissions very carefully before responding, so please note that it sometimes takes us weeks, or even a month or two to be able to get back to you once we receive your manuscript.

Click on the links below to see the specific guidelines for each of our lists

Children’s Books | Fiction | Visual Arts | Translations

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CHILDREN’S BOOKS

At Tara we strongly feel that the idea of the children’s book can—and should—constantly change. We see Tara as a space where exceptional writers and artists can explore and develop new directions for children’s books and we would like to welcome (with guidelines) authors from diverse contexts to this space. The work we publish is unified by the company’s spirit, but is in itself very varied. We would try and find a space to publish work we like, and as a result are very open to new ideas.

We receive a staggering number of manuscripts for children’s books simply because a lot of people assume that anyone can write for children. This is far from true—it is not simple to write a children’s book. It is also worth keeping in mind that a story you tell your own child does not necessarily translate into a good children’s book. All this is not to discourage you, but to make sure that you have taken a critical look at your own work before sending it to us.

What we are looking for (and what we are not looking for)
We are looking for work that is conceptually strong, and child centred without being sentimental or ‘cute’. We avoid being moralistic and didactic in our books, so this is something you should keep in mind. As far as artwork is concerned, we prefer unusual, original work to the usual colourful cartoon characters. We are happy to look at work that is experimental, and we welcome humour.

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FICTION

We see Tara as a space for exceptional writers to push the borders of the familiar, both in terms of language and imagination. We would like to welcome (with guidelines) authors from diverse contexts. The work we publish is unified by the company’s spirit, but is in itself very varied. We always try and find a space to publish something that we like, and as a result are very open to new ideas.

What we are looking for (and what we are not looking for)
We seek manuscripts that are fresh, powerful and unique. We publish a very small and select list, and to us the quality of the writing is absolutely critical. Tara is committed to pacifism, social justice and a gender-just feminist politics. We will therefore not publish material that is uncritical of (or endorses) caste, violence and sexual chauvinism. This certainly does not mean that we want work that is politically correct. Ambiguity and complexity are welcome, as are experimentation and humour.

NOTE: We do not at present consider poetry (unless it is illustrated verse for children), drama or short stories so please do not send these.

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VISUAL ARTS

We see Tara as a space for exceptional artists, photographers and designers to push the borders of the book. We would like to welcome (with guidelines) artists, designers and photographers from diverse contexts to this space. We also do welcome good, non-academic writing on popular culture and the visual arts. The work we publish is unified by the company’s spirit, but is in itself very varied. We always try and find a space to publish something that we like, and as a result are very open to new ideas.

However, authors sending in their work must keep in mind that we receive hundreds of submissions every year and can publish only a very small fraction of these. Before you send in your work, please make sure that you have looked through our web site very carefully so that you get a sense of what we publish and what we do not. Better still would be to actually read at least one of our books.

What we are looking for (and what we are not looking for)
We are looking for work that is fresh, powerful and unusual. We publish a very small and select list, and to us the quality of the work is absolutely critical. Since we publish visual arts books for an international audience, you should keep in mind that the project you propose should have international appeal, even if it is context-specific. The work we put out is generally India-based – in one way or another – though we would consider work from other countries if it fits into our programme.

We do not publish coffee table books, or fine art, but are interested in contemporary work with a strong conceptual background. Tara is committed to pacifism, social justice and a gender-just feminist politics. We will therefore not publish material that is uncritical of caste, violence and sexual chauvinism. This certainly does not mean that we want work that is politically correct. Ambiguity and complexity are welcome, as are experimentation and humour. We are particularly interested in breaking visual stereotypes and clichés.

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TRANSLATIONS

Tara is very keen on making available good literature from Indian languages in English, both for children as well as adults. We are always looking for good translators therefore, and welcome applications from interested people. We have so far translated fiction from Bengali and Tamil, but we are very open to looking at good literature from other Indian languages.

What we are looking for
The literary quality of the work is absolutely critical, and we would like to publish writing that is strong, fresh and unique. Please remember that we will be publishing the work for a wider Indian (and often international) audience, so the novel you are translating should communicate its relevance across cultures (though this is of course not to say that it must not be specific or grounded). We are looking for translators who can convey the richness of local language and culture into the distinctive rhythms of English. It is therefore important that you have a grasp of both linguistic worlds, both in imagination and literary expression.

We normally expect translators to suggest good pieces of literature that they would like to translate. After considering your application, we will get back to you on whether the book you have proposed fits into our publishing agenda.

What you should send
• a brief synopsis of the novel you intend to translate
• a one page CV
• The first 20 to 30 pages of the book (both the original
as well as your English translation)
• Full return postage (please note that without this we
will not be able to return your work)

[At present we cannot consider poetry (unless it is verse for children), drama or short stories so please do not send these.]

Please remember that we expect the translator to follow up and clear copyright issues if there are any. We will of course assist you in this in any way possible, but the responsibility lies with the translator.