• What to avoid when submitting

    by
    Renee Rocco
    Published: June 4th, 2010 02:20 PM  Views: 413  
    14 Comments Comments
    So, there I was, checking our submissions inbox and there I found some pretty huge no-nos when submitting. Because of this, I decided to scarp my intended post (all about contracts) and address these issues since we're seeing them over and over again..

    (No worries, I'll get to talking about contracts soon. Promise!)

    Okay, here is a tremendous no-no. If your query reads something like this, Attach you wil find my manuscript, thank you From: Author, it will likely get deleted without consideration. And yes, this is an actual query I found in our inbox. Typos and all. And yes, it was signed "Author" rather than with a name. I wonder if this is a joke. I HOPE it is. If it's not...oh boy! This poor author has no idea how they are shooting themselves in their own foot even if their story is amazing. No publisher or agent will even open a submission if this is the query they see first.

    Another red flag in a submission is, Dear [Insert Publishing House Here]. Not so bad, right? Except the query was addressed to the wrong house. Uh oh. No good. I actually wrote the author to alert them they might have sent Lyrical the submission in error and we were forced to delete the manuscript from our system to avoid reviewing a submission not intended for our house. Please pay attention to who you are sending your submission to and always address it to the right person.

    Here is another one. Dear Lyrical Press, Attached, you will find my 148,000 word fantasy novel... Um, 148,000? Really? It clearly states on our website that we do not consider works over 100,000. Obviously, this author failed to not only follow our guidelines, but they most likely failed to read them as well. Oh, and did I mention the submission was addressed to an editor who hasn't been with our house for nearly a year? Again, not good. I had to write them to alert them the manuscript far exceeds our word count and has been deleted from our system without consideration. I hate having to do that. *sigh*

    Please remember, when you are submitting, you must always put your best foot forward. This means impressing an agent or publisher with your professionalism and showing that that you've paid attention to their guidelines by following them - even if you think they're silly or useless. It shows you've researched the company, and if nothing else, that you are striving to present yourself and your writing in the best light possible.

    And that's about it for today. See you all next month, when I'll get to discussing the business of contracts.

    -- Renee Rocco
    Categories:
    1. Craft
    Comments 14 Comments
    1. Ruth Hartman's Avatar
      Thank you. Such good advice!
      Reply
    1. C.J. Ellisson's Avatar
      Sorry, but anyone that dumb is not worthy of your time.

      You were very kind to send them emails informing them politely of their various errors. Not sure I would have!
      Reply
    1. kerrianne Coombes's Avatar
      Eye roll for all of those mistakes..... but I bet we have all done something equally as stupid in our excitement to get our submissions in.
      Reply
    1. J.D. Brown's Avatar
      Haha. I agree with Kerrianne. Even after checking and double checking and triple checking ... I too have made a few honest mistakes in the past ....
      Reply
    1. Renee Rocco's Avatar
      Absolutely! We've all made some really silly mistakes. I'll share one of my all-time classics!

      I was told to contact a very well-known editor-in-chief (who is no longer with the house) of a very respected small press. Well, I thought I was contacting one of the authors because at the time, the house was so new and I'd never heard of the editor. so I wrote this really casual email, even signed it...Thanks! (yes just like that). I'd attached my manuscript for the "author" to review and tell me if my writing was up to the house's standard. Turned out that when the "author" replied I found out it was actually the EIC and that yes, my writing was up their standard. So much so, a contract followed soon after.

      Thank goodness the EIC understood I'd thought I was writing a casual inquiry to a fellow author. Boy, was I dying of shame for weeks. What a way to get published for the first time. lol

      The moral of that story is, because of my own flub I never expect perfection. What I do ask is for politenessn. That goes much further with me than perfection!
      Reply
    1. ~*~Lani Rhea~*~'s Avatar
      I agree with Kerrianne. We all make mistakes. Even when we think we have perfected what we worked on, may rub wrong with someone else, or not up to the standards of the house. I would say people are careless sometimes, but are excited to put forth the work they labored on for so long out in the hands of people who may make their dreams come true!

      And Renee, you always rock!
      Reply
    1. J.D. Brown's Avatar
      *Nods* Yes, we all make mistakes, but Renee's blog has a point. Always follow the directions, make sure you understand what is asked of you, and for the love of God, have a friend edit everything you write before you send it out.
      Reply
    1. kerrianne Coombes's Avatar
      'fist bite' cringe... sending the submission to the EIC thinking he was an author..... Oh well at least it all worked out in the end. Maybe the casual 'I dont really care' attitude caught his attention?
      Not one I will try however....
      Reply
    1. Renee Rocco's Avatar
      lol I was mortified, Kerrianne. Truly and utterly mortified. And it wasn't so much an "I don't really care", just written as if I were writing to a friend rather than an EIC. It was...awful. Thankfully she didn't hold it against me. (smile)

      Thanks, Amanda!

      And jdbrown, it IS all about just following guidelines and doing your best to present yourself, and your writing, in the best light possible. You do that and you'll find publishers, editors and agents will be more forgiving of those silly little nervous mistakes.

      -- Renee
      Reply
    1. kerrianne Coombes's Avatar
      Im glad it worked out well for you xx Maybe the EIC liked your casual, friendly approach!
      Reply
    1. mizggd2334's Avatar
      I'm kind of afraid to send this but since I'm new at blog reading I'll jump in . . .
      Is it just me or has anyone noticed the typos in blogs? Are they written and proffed by the actual authors or does a "flunky" take dictation?
      Please don't stone me!
      G
      Reply
    1. Liz Pelletier's Avatar
      I think that just proves the value of a good editor, mizggd... and that everyone needs one. Plus, as I'm sure you know, an author can proof their own writing a gazillion times and still not catch all the typos, as is proven by the typo in your own comment. ; )
      Reply
    1. mizggd2334's Avatar
      Thanks! I feel like one of the gang now
      Reply
    1. ~*~Lani Rhea~*~'s Avatar
      Renee...You're welcome. I'm working extra extra hard on my current wip. The process will take a while, because I have tons of details that I need to add! Killing off characters is a dirty business. lol

      I agree with Liz, everyone needs a good editor. It doesn't matter how many times a person slaves over their wip for mistakes, there are hidden little buggers throughout the work waiting to spring out at you each time edits are performed. lol

      mizggd... I'm glad you feel like one of the gang. I'm sure I have errors in my comments too, I'm learning.
      Reply
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