Terms of Service

Last updated: September 2026

1. Acceptance

By creating an account, submitting a query, or otherwise using Above the Slush (the "Service"), you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. What the service is — directory and tools only

Above the Slush is a directory and set of tools. We are not a literary agency, publisher, talent agency, or professional intermediary of any kind. We do not represent authors, negotiate contracts, or facilitate legally binding agreements between any parties. Use of the Service does not create any professional, fiduciary, or agency relationship between you and Above the Slush, or between you and any literary agent, publisher, or other party listed in our directory.

The Service provides AI-powered manuscript analysis, agent and publisher discovery, comparable title suggestions, and submission tracking. These are informational tools only. They do not guarantee publication, literary representation, or any particular outcome from querying.

3. Release of liability — accuracy of directory information

Above the Slush expressly disclaims all responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any information about literary agents, publishers, editors, events, or other parties listed in the Service. Our directory aggregates information from publicly available sources. This information may be incomplete, out of date, or incorrect.

By using the Service, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • Above the Slush is not responsible for any errors or omissions in agent or publisher profiles, including open/closed status, submission preferences, contact information, or response times.
  • You will independently verify all submission guidelines on the agent's or publisher's official website before querying or submitting.
  • Any querying decision you make based on information from the Service is your sole responsibility.
  • Above the Slush is not liable for any outcome — positive or negative — resulting from queries or submissions made in reliance on information provided by the Service.

4. Release of liability — author-agent and author-publisher interactions

Above the Slush is not a party to any communication, negotiation, or agreement between an author and a literary agent or publisher. When an author contacts an agent or publisher through or in connection with the Service, that interaction is solely between the author and the agent or publisher.

By using the Service, you agree that Above the Slush:

  • Is not responsible for the conduct, representations, or decisions of any literary agent, publisher, editor, or other third party listed in or contacted through the Service.
  • Does not verify the credentials, reputation, or legitimacy of any agent or publisher listed in the directory.
  • Is not liable for any harm, loss, or dispute arising from any interaction between an author and an agent or publisher, including rejection, non-response, breach of confidence, or contract disputes.
  • Does not mediate, arbitrate, or otherwise intervene in disputes between authors and agents or publishers.

Authors are encouraged to research agents and publishers independently using resources such as Preditors & Editors and the Writer's Digest before querying.

5. AI-generated content

AI-generated content is provided for informational purposes only and may contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies. This includes manuscript analyses, query letter drafts, comparable title suggestions, sales estimates, and agent match scores. None of this constitutes professional literary, legal, financial, or publishing advice. Sales estimates for comparable titles are approximations and may not reflect actual figures. You should not rely solely on AI-generated content when making querying or publishing decisions.

6. Your content

You own your manuscript and any content you upload. By uploading content, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to process it solely for the purpose of providing the Service to you. We do not claim ownership of your work and do not use your manuscript to train AI models.

7. Acceptable use

You may not use the Service to: upload content you do not own or have rights to; scrape, copy, or redistribute our agent or publisher database; impersonate any person or entity; or harass, abuse, or harm other users. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

Team accounts: The team-seat feature is intended for genuine team members (assistants, interns, readers, associates) working under the account holder's direction on the account holder's submissions. Inviting independent agents, editors, or unrelated professionals as "associates" in order to share a subscription or bypass individual per-account pricing is prohibited and may result in account termination without refund.

8. Third-party services

The Service may link to or integrate with third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of any third party and do not endorse them.

9. Payments and refunds

Subscriptions are billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time. We do not offer refunds for partial months. Cancelling stops future charges; you retain access until the end of your billing period.

10. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Above the Slush and its owners, employees, and affiliates are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages — including damages resulting from querying decisions, agent or publisher interactions, lost opportunities, or reliance on information provided by the Service — whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory.

Our total aggregate liability for any claims arising from the Service is limited to the greater of (a) the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) $10 USD.

11. Disclaimer of warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components.

12. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

13. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

14. Contact

Questions? Email support@abovetheslush.com.