Why Your Manuscript Needs More Risk: Writing That Refuses to Be Comfortable
If your goal is to publish work that merely fits in—work that politely checks all the conventional boxes—you’ve come to the wrong place.
As an independent publisher dedicated to delivering bold works that challenge the status quo, DELANEY isn’t looking for manuscripts that are safe. We are looking for work that intentionally and intelligently carries risk.
The truth is, if your manuscript feels comfortable, it’s probably not done yet. American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” We couldn’t agree more: Comfort is the enemy of innovation, and in literature, comfortable writing rarely becomes essential reading.
What does "Risk" look like in a manuscript?
Risk is not the same as shock value. Literary risk is a calculated, intentional choice that prioritizes artistic integrity and intellectual honesty over market trends or guaranteed acceptance. It manifests in three core ways:
Risk 1: Form and structure
Does your story rely on the same three-act structure and predictable climax everyone else uses? Challenge it.
The unconventional frame: Risk could mean shifting perspective constantly, abandoning chronological order, or using mixed media (like integrating reports, transcripts, texts, or poetry) to tell a complex narrative.
The unresolved ending: Does your ending leave the reader with questions that linger, instead of tying everything into a neat bow? Allowing ambiguity can be a profound risk that grants the reader agency.
Here’s a bold approach: Instead of asking, "How do I structure this so it's easy to read?" ask, "How must this story be told, regardless of convention?"
Risk 2: Character and morality
Blake Synder, author of screenwriting classic Save the Cat!, insists that a movie’s main character needs to be "likeable" for early audience investment and empathy. He coined the term "Save the cat!" to describe a scene where the protagonist performs a small, good deed or an act of kindness early in the story, such as quite literally saving a cat from a tree. But, that doesn’t mean your work’s central character needs to be perfect.
The most compelling characters often defy easy categorization. They are messy, contradictory, and occasionally unforgivable.
The unlikable protagonist: Are you afraid your reader won't "root for" your main character? Good. Truly compelling literature often centers on figures who force us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature. Risk the reader's adoration to gain their fascination.
Moral ambiguity: Life is rarely black and white. If your manuscript presents characters and conflicts where the ethical ground is constantly shifting, you are taking a necessary risk that reflects the world's complexity.
Try this bold approach: Instead of striving for a relatable hero, strive for a real human—flawed, contradictory, and utterly unforgettable.
Risk 3: Subject and topic
What is the established narrative in your genre or around your chosen topic? Your risk is to defy it, subvert it, or explode it entirely.
Tackling the taboo: Are you writing about a subject that makes your beta readers squirm, or one that is widely ignored or misunderstood? That tension is often the precise location of necessary, important literature.
Ignoring the trend: If a certain type of book is dominating the market, avoid the temptation to replicate it. Risk ignoring the current best-seller list to pursue a vision that is authentically yours.
A final bold approach for consideration: Don't write what the market demands. Write what the silence demands.
THE COMFORT ZONE IS WHERE MANUSCRIPTS GO TO DIE
When we receive submissions, we look for the moments where the author dared to choose the more difficult, riskier path. Those are the moments that distinguish a competent piece of writing from an indispensable one.
If you want your work to have impact—to be the kind of literature that changes the conversation in Minnesota and beyond—you must be willing to make yourself and your reader uncomfortable.
Let’s define the next chapter of Minnesota literature—together!
Stay unconventional,
- The DELANEY team
Ready to tackle our status quo challenge? We are actively looking for manuscripts that refuse to be comfortable. If you’re ready to submit, review our submission guidelines on our Queries page.
