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Originally Posted by neilmarr
Perhaps, Maggie. But I would suggest SUBMIT WELL.
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Well, yes. I was assuming that. Probably not a good idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Over
Many publishers require that submitted works shouldn't be in consideration by other publishers. I understand why, but they can't possibly expect an author should idle YEARS while his book is considered one publisher at a time, specially when the response can take months.
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If you're sending in unsolicited work, that shouldn't be a problem. Once they begin talking to you about publishing it, then you can say that you submitted elsewhere, and whether they have contacted you. I wouldn't say, "Hey, I'm waiting to hear from Random House," when St. Martin's comes calling, though. If it's sitting on the slushpile, it's not really under consideration.
With agents, it's a slightly different approach; usually you are sending in a query or a partial, until they ask for more.
At that point, if another agent/publisher has expressed interest, let the agent know. If you have queried a dozen agents and one expresses interest, she doesn't need to know about the other 11 unless one of THEM has expressed interest as well.
I would suggest attempting to get an agent rather than sending your work to a publisher where it will end up on the slushpile.
I suggest that those interested read the archives of the late, lamented
Miss Snark, whose blog is full of good advice about this sort of thing. She's actually still around, just in her Clark Kentish everyday agent persona; at least, if she is who I think she is, and I think she is.
But there are lots of other agent blogs out there; read them, and take the advice given to heart. They are not making you jump through hoops because it amuses them. They do it because they are busy people who really do want to see the most work that they can, and find that elusive jewel, and they have found a system that works for them. Most are fairly similar so it's not that difficult.
I think a lot of aspiring authors get a romantic idea of the writer's life; that they can just send in a manuscript and be swept off on a wonderful ride of speaking tours and readings and signings. But you have to realize that while to you, your manuscript is all-important, to the publisher or agent it's one of thousands that they receive each week or month.
While there is a persistent idea that you have to "know somebody" to get published, if you query first, and are invited to submit--then guess what?
You know somebody--the person who asked to read your ms. And it does happen. But you have to be persistent, and be willing to take constructive criticism, and to look critically at your own product and figure out why nobody seems to want it.
It is true that for a very, very, very small, infinitesimal percentage, publishing won't know what to do with a certain book, and in that case the author might be in a position to self-publish and have success. (And I do think that in future, with ebooks, a lot more people will have success in self-publishing; but we're still a year or two or five away. It's getting closer all the time, though.)
Neil, I've enjoyed reading your posts from the publisher's point of view! And I'm sympathetic about the netbook. I love the portability of my netbook, but it definitely took some getting used to.