GUIDELINES
Editorial Standards

What we publish.
Why it matters.

A clear account of our editorial principles, what we accept, what we decline, and how to submit your work.

Submit your book →
Section 01

What we publish.

Curious Paper Books is a curated editorial platform for serious nonfiction and literary fiction. We do not publish everything. That is not a limitation, it is the defining characteristic of what we do.

Our catalogue covers narrative nonfiction, history, cultural criticism, memoir, military history, satire, and literary fiction with substance. We are looking for books that have something real to say and say it with craft, precision, and a distinct voice.

We read submissions from independent authors, both previously self-published titles and unpublished works ready for their debut.

What we accept
  • Narrative nonfiction with a clear voice and argument
  • History, popular, military, cultural, social
  • Memoir and personal essay with universal resonance
  • Cultural criticism and intellectual nonfiction
  • Satire, literary, political, social
  • Literary fiction with substance and intention
  • Bilingual works or works available in both EN and IT
What we decline
  • Mass-produced content
  • Adult / explicit content
  • Pure low-content: journals, notebooks, planners, lined pads, list-only books
Everything else, including children's, self-help, YA, and genre fiction, is judged on writing quality and authorial intent.
Section 02

Our editorial standard.

The standard we apply is intentional but not exclusive. We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for intention.

A book that belongs on this platform is one written with a genuine reason to exist. Not because a market gap was identified. Not because a keyword tool suggested it. Because the author had something to say and took the time to say it well.

"We do not ask: is this book popular? We ask: does this book deserve to exist?"
Curious Paper Books, editorial principle

We evaluate submissions on four criteria: voice (does the author have a distinct, developed way of writing?), content (does the book deliver something of real value to the reader?), craft (is the writing clear, purposeful, and well-structured?), and fit (does this title belong in the same space as the rest of our catalogue?).

A book can score high on three of these and still be right for us. We apply judgment, not a checklist.

Section 03

How to submit.

01
Read these guidelines
Make sure your work fits what we publish. An honest assessment before submission saves everyone's time.
5 minutes
02
Fill in the submission form
Title, genre, language, a short description, and a brief explanation of why this book belongs on Curious Paper Books. That's all we need to start.
10 minutes
03
Wait for our response
We read every submission personally. If your book is a fit, we will respond within a few days. If it is not, we will tell you that too, briefly and directly.
A few days
04
Go live
If accepted, we set up your author profile and book page together. You approve everything before it goes public. Your rights remain yours, as always.
Your rights. Always.
Section 04

What authors receive.

Being part of Curious Paper Books is free. No publishing fees, no commission on sales, no rights acquisition.

In practical terms, you receive a dedicated book page designed and maintained on curiouspaperbooks.com, with SEO-optimised content in both English and Italian, links to your purchase channels, and a space for verified reader reviews.

You also receive an author profile page, inclusion in our newsletter announcements, and visibility within a catalogue that readers trust because it is editorially selective.

What you do not receive is a guarantee of sales. We provide visibility and curation. Reaching readers is a shared effort.

Section 05

Author instructions.

If your submission is accepted, here is what the onboarding process looks like and what we will ask you to provide.

✓
Cover image
High-resolution JPG or PNG, minimum 1000px on the shorter side. We display it at 2:3 ratio. Professional cover recommended.
✓
Author photo
Optional but strongly recommended. Square or portrait format, minimum 600px wide.
✓
Bio
Short author bio in English (required) and Italian (if available). 80-150 words. Written in third person.
✓
Book description
Short description (80-120 words) and full description (200-400 words) in English. Italian version optional but recommended for bilingual reach.
✓
Purchase link
Amazon ASIN or direct store URL. We build the buy button from this. You keep 100% of revenue.
✓
Genres
Up to 3 genres from our catalogue list. We confirm the final classification.
✓
Publication date
For already-published titles: original publication date. For new releases: expected date.
Section 06

Frequently asked questions.

Is this really free?
Yes. There is no cost at any stage: submission, publication, or ongoing presence on the platform. We generate no revenue from author fees.
Do you acquire rights?
No. Your rights remain entirely yours. We do not ask for exclusive or non-exclusive rights of any kind. You can sell on any channel and leave the platform at any time.
Can I submit a book already published on Amazon?
Yes. Most of the books on our platform are already published and available for purchase. We provide visibility, not distribution. The two are entirely compatible.
How long does the review take?
We aim to respond within a few days. In practice, it is often faster. We do not maintain a queue or a waitlist, we read submissions as they arrive.
What if my book is in Italian only?
We accept Italian-language titles. We will present them accordingly on the platform, with any available translated description. Bilingual availability (EN + IT) increases reach significantly, but it is not a requirement.
Can I remove my book later?
Yes, at any time, for any reason. Send us an email at info@curiouspaperbooks.com and we will remove your listing within 48 hours.
Do you offer editing or proofreading?
Not at this time. We are an editorial platform, not a production service. We evaluate finished books, not manuscripts in progress.
Ready to submit?
Read the guidelines, then fill in the submission form. We respond personally to every submission.
Submit your book →