Author Guidelines

How Submission Works

From application to publication in five clear steps. Each step has a defined owner and SLA.

1

Register as an Author

Create your account and submit a short bio plus your qualification. Our Admin team reviews applications.

2

Submit your Manuscript

Once approved, upload your manuscript, cover, and a sample PDF from your Author Dashboard.

3

Reviewer Assessment

An assigned reviewer evaluates your manuscript within 3 working days.

4

Editorial Polish

If corrections are needed, an editor refines the manuscript and returns it to the reviewer.

5

Final Approval

After reviewer approval, Admin publishes your book on our store. Royalties begin accruing on every sale.

Manuscript Format

Please follow these formatting rules. Submissions that don't conform may be returned for revision.

Document Setup

A4 page size, portrait orientation
Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
Font: Times New Roman or Calibri, size 11–12 pt
Line spacing: 1.5
Alignment: Justified
Page numbers at the bottom-center

Structure

Title page (title, subtitle, author name)
Table of contents
Chapters clearly numbered
Heading hierarchy: H1 for chapters, H2 for sections
Consistent chapter start on a new page
Acknowledgements (optional)
About the Author (150 words)

References & Citation

Use APA 7th edition unless your field specifies otherwise
Every in-text citation must appear in the reference list
Do not use footnotes for citations
Include DOIs where available
Attach permissions for reproduced figures/tables

Images & Tables

Minimum 300 DPI for images
Numbered (Figure 1, Table 1) with captions
Referenced in the text before they appear
Provided as separate files, not embedded only
Use CMYK if colour accuracy matters for print

Language & Style

British or American English — be consistent
No plagiarism; we run similarity checks
Avoid AI-generated text without disclosure
Spell out acronyms on first use
Use gender-neutral language

Length Guidance

Monograph: 40,000 – 120,000 words
Edited volume: 60,000 – 150,000 words
Textbook: 30,000 – 100,000 words
Self-help: 25,000 – 60,000 words
Poetry / essays: 15,000 – 40,000 words

What to Upload

Prepare these files in advance so you can submit everything in one go.

Manuscript

Required. DOCX or PDF format
Complete text with all chapters
File name: Title_Author.docx
Max size: 100 MB

Cover Design

Optional. We can design one for you
Front cover, 300 DPI, JPG/PNG
Recommended: 1600 × 2400 px (2:3 ratio)
File name: Cover_Title.jpg

Sample PDF

Optional but recommended.
First 2 chapters or 10% of the book
Used as the public "Look Inside" preview
File name: Sample_Title.pdf

Author Photo & Bio

High-resolution headshot (500 × 500 px minimum)
Bio: 100–200 words, third-person
Links to your website / social (optional)

Do's & Don'ts

Quick checklist before you hit Submit.

Please Do

Proofread thoroughly before submitting
Use clear, descriptive chapter titles
Cite every external source
Disclose any AI-assisted writing
Submit a sample PDF for better discoverability
Keep a backup of your manuscript

Please Don't

Submit plagiarised or AI-only text
Use copyrighted images without permission
Submit the same manuscript to other publishers simultaneously
Include defamatory or hateful content
Exceed the size limits
Change the manuscript after reviewer approval

Reviewer SLA, Royalties & Rights

The important numbers and terms, stated up front.

3 days

Reviewer SLA

Every manuscript gets a reviewer decision within 3 working days of being assigned.

15%

Royalty Rate

You earn 15% of the net sales value of every copy sold. Paid monthly.

You

Own Your Copyright

You retain full copyright of your work. We only hold a non-exclusive right to publish, distribute, and sell.

12 mo

Distribution Term

Standard distribution agreement runs for 12 months, auto-renewable unless either party opts out.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Download our one-page checklist to verify everything is ready before uploading your manuscript.

Download Checklist Register as Author

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions we get from first-time authors.

No. VEP does not charge authors any submission, processing, or publication fee. We earn through book sales, and your royalties are paid on top of that.

You may not submit the same manuscript to multiple publishers simultaneously once we've begun the review. If we reject it, you're free to submit elsewhere.

After Admin assigns a reviewer, you'll receive a decision within 3 working days. Every status change triggers an email and in-app notification.

The manuscript is returned to an editor along with the reviewer's note. The editor addresses the issues and sends it back to the reviewer for a final decision. You can track every step from your Author Dashboard.

AI tools may be used for research assistance, grammar, or ideation — but the writing must be your own. Disclose any significant AI use in your submission. Fully AI-generated manuscripts will be rejected.

Royalty statements are generated on the 1st of every month and paid out by the 10th. Payments are made via NEFT / UPI once your balance crosses ₹1,000.

Still have questions?

Our editorial team is happy to help. Reach out at info@vivekanandapublications.com or call +919046531054 .

Contact Us