Swoon Reads just re-opened to book manuscript submissions. They are a publishing platform created by the publishing giant McMillam. The idea, inspired by the success of companies such as WattPad, is to have an open publishing platform that can eventually lead to a major book contract and a $10,000 advance.

Writers can submit novels to be published on Swoon Reads. Once accepted, novelists will get direct feedback and ratings from everyday readers. Anyone can read novels published on the site. If your novel gets great feedback, McMillan is likely to offer a publishing contract.

According to their website:

Swoon Reads novels ideally feature protagonists between the ages of 14 and 23. They can be set anytime, anywhere, and can be anything you want—realistic, supernatural, historical, and more.

For the right novelist, this could be a great opportunity, but there are some drawbacks. First, if you publish your novel on Swoon Reads, it will count as “published” even though you are not guaranteed a contract. Second, they require exclusivity for 6 months, which means you can’t send your manuscript to potential publishers or post it on other websites or platforms.

However, for the beginning novelist looking for direct feedback as well as the chance to get a publishing contract, this could be the right opportunity.

If your novel advances to full publication beyond Swoon Reads, you’ll get a $10,000 advance and a traditional publishing contract.

To learn more, visit Swoon Reads here.