Slush pile

In publishing, the slush pile is the set of unsolicited query letters or manuscripts sent either directly to the publisher or literary agent by authors, or to the publisher by an agent not known to the publisher.

Sifting through the slush pile is a job given to young assistants-to-the-editors (sometimes called "publisher's readers" or "first readers"). If the assistants find something interesting there and can persuade a more senior editor to consider it, they may get some credit for themselves, especially if the piece is subsequently published and sells respectably.

Most agents at the major publishing houses do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. However, smaller presses may accept queries.

Recently HarperCollins introduced an innovative, and arguably controversial, website, authonomy, to manage and exploit the slush pile from a web-based perspective.