AI & the Slush Pile: Transforming Manuscript Evaluation and Onboarding

Following the tremendous success of our 2024 AI webinar series, we’re back with even more in-depth content, high-level insights, and game-changing strategies to help you navigate the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and book publishing.

The book publishing industry is undergoing a major transformation with the rise of artificial intelligence. In this first installment of our 2025 AI and the Book Publishing Industry series, we’ll dive into one of the most pressing topics for publishers today: how AI is revolutionizing the manuscript evaluation and submission process.

For Publishers & Literary Agents:
Discover how AI can help you efficiently screen submissions, allowing you to focus on the manuscripts with the greatest potential while reducing time spent on those that don’t meet your needs. Learn about the tools available today and best practices for seamlessly integrating them into your existing processes—all without sacrificing editorial quality.

For Authors:
Want your manuscript to stand out in a crowded slush pile? We’ll guide you on how to optimize your submissions to avoid being unfairly flagged by AI systems and ensure that your work receives the attention it deserves.

Who Should Attend?

• Acquisition editors in publishing houses
• Literary agents looking to streamline their submission process
• Authors and editors eager to understand AI’s impact on manuscript submissions
• Publishing operations managers exploring AI’s role in their workflow

What You’ll Learn:

• Current AI Tools in Manuscript Evaluation: Get up to speed on the latest AI technologies used by publishers to screen submissions.
• Maintaining Editorial Quality with AI: Learn how to integrate AI screening while ensuring the human touch isn’t lost.
• Training AI for Genre-Specific Content: Understand the best practices for fine-tuning AI systems to recognize the nuances of different genres.
• AI Metrics for Manuscript Evaluation: Gain insights into the key metrics AI uses to assess potential and how to leverage them for better decision-making.
• Submission Optimization Strategies for Authors: Tips on crafting submissions that AI systems will flag positively.
• Ethical and Transparent AI Review: Explore the ethical implications of AI-assisted reviews and how to maintain transparency in the process.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: A closer look at the financial impact of AI implementation in the evaluation process.
• Integration with Existing Systems: How to seamlessly integrate AI into your current manuscript submission infrastructure.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and understand how AI is reshaping the way manuscripts are evaluated and submitted.

Register now to secure your spot!

AI and the Book Publishing Industry brings together publishing professionals and industry leaders to explore the transformative impact AI is having on everything from editorial workflows to marketing strategies. Whether you're a publisher looking to integrate AI tools into your processes, an author curious about how technology can enhance your writing journey, or a thought leader striving to stay ahead of industry trends, this is an unmissable webinar series.

The series is led by Thad McIlroy, principal of The Future of Publishing, and a renowned publishing technology analyst, expert in publication metadata and online book marketing, and author of The AI Revolution in Book Publishing. Thad’s deep industry knowledge and firsthand experience will guide attendees through every session, ensuring that the content is not only relevant but also immediately applicable to real-world challenges. As a respected speaker, presenter, and thought leader, Thad brings an invaluable perspective on the role of AI in the publishing world.