CIE-MT Manuscript Guidelines


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Guidelines for Prospective Authors

Guidelines for Fiction Writers

Most of our books are sold to elementary schools . We have some books for high school level, but very few. We are now receiving more than 200 manuscripts per year, from which we publish about six, usually five fiction, one non-fiction, and possibly one poetry anthology. We are only interested in high quality material which accurately interprets Native American life, culture, and ideals. We publish nothing else.

WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL CAN WE USE?
These are our preferences, by order.

Fiction - High interest stories. (SEE Guidelines for Fiction Writers ) This fiction may be:

	Contemporary Native American life - Exciting stories that could happen to Native American children now. (Be sure the children act like present-day Native Americans, not like some other culture.)
	Stories of the old days - Authentically portrayed. Be specific about who, where, and when.
	How-to - Native American arts, crafts, and activities. We currently have only two of these books, one on canoeing and one on tracking. We need others.
	Biography - Native American past and present.
	Folk stories and legends - High interest, expressing Native American traditions and values. Name the specific tribe.
	Beginning Reading - Our beginning reader series gives beginning readers of any age reading material that will interest them, and make them want to read, while also teaching basic sight vocabulary and building reading skills.
	Poetry - possibly - if it is positive, upbeat, and expresses real Native American ideals.
	Instructional - materials and methods for teachers teaching Native American children.

FOR WHOM ARE YOU WRITING? Our books are for children - mostly elementary level. Half of our readers, or more, are Native American, largely on reservations. Our books give these Native American children reading materials which are relevant to their backgrounds and authentic in their interpretation of Native American ways, and give them pride in their culture. They should also help the other half of our readers gain a better understanding of their Native American neighbors.

WHAT SHOULD YOU SEND? For manuscripts up to 25 pages, submit it in its entirety. For longer manuscripts, send only the first and the last chapters with a synopsis of the remainder. Send photocopies only, book rate; and include a self-addressed, stamped, return envelope. Never let the original out of your hands. Include photocopies of sample photographs or other illustrations if you have them. We use only black and white illustrations, but can sometimes get black and white prints from color photos. We assume you are sending your material to other publishers also. WE DO NOT READ ANY MANUSCRIPTS BETWEEN JUNE 1st AND OCTOBER 1st.

HOW LONG DO YOU WAIT? All manuscripts must be read by our Intertribal Editorial Board, who make the final selection. This usually takes four to nine months, because our editors and board members are all volunteers with many other responsibilities. None are paid. This Board makes sure the material is true to the Native American way of life and is the kind of material they want their children to read. We try to meet three times per year to make final decisions. Publication is usually one to two years after acceptance.

WHAT IS THE RATE OF PAY? For books, a royalty of 10% (ten percent) of wholesale price as the books are sold -- no advances. Short stories to be included with others -- $0.02 per word. Poetry -- copies of the published book in payment.

ARTISTS: We need illustrations for only one to two books per year. We use only black and white. If you want to be considered, state in your letter that you will illustrate a book for our standard price of $5.00 per illustration.

BEFORE YOU SEND FICTION, consider carefully the qualities described in the Guidelines for Fiction Writers . If your story does not meet these guidelines, please do not submit it.

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