Submitting Your Manuscript: Getting Started
I am often asked "Do you know of a publisher who would be
interested in my book?" There's no easy way to answer this
question. You see, according to the PMA Newsletter, there are
over 86,000 publishers in existence (http://parapub.com/statistics<
/A>). It would be impossible to know what each one is looking
for at any given time. However you do know that you're not going
to submit your manuscript or book proposal to 86,000 publishers.
It would be a waste of your time and money. To improve your
chances in the submission process, you have to do your homework.
Here are a few tips so your research will be most effective:
Publishing Houses: Get the Facts
Can you submit your manuscript to more than one place at a time?
Depends on where you're sending it. Unfortunately, each
publishing house has its own set of rules for reviewing a
manuscript that will have multiple submissions. You have to find
out what those rules are. You can check out the 2006 Writer's
Market, published by Writer's Digest. It's an excellent source
for publisher's guidelines. So is the website, Literary
Marketplace.
While reviewing these resources you should also note what kind
of material the company publishes and what kinds of manuscripts
and proposals they would like to see. Another way to get more
specific information on this topic is to go to your local
bookstore and look at books similar to yours. Note the publisher
as well as the agent and editor who handled the book (they're
usually mentioned in the acknowledgments). Granted, a publisher
might turn your manuscript down if they feel they've "been
there, done that", but on the other hand if the company has had
success with the subject matter they may be scouring the
landscape to find more of the same!
Looking for an Agent
Your research may tell you that the publishers who seem right
for you don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. That means you'll
need an agent so you'll have to start your submission process
with literary agencies. If that's the case, the 2006 Guide to
Literary Agents is a great place to begin your search. Writer's
Digest publishes this hefty tome listing more than 600 non-fee
charging agents.
All of the agents listed in the guide adhere to the ethical
guides established by the Association of Author's
Representatives (AAR). Members of AAR are forbidden from
charging fees. So in one book you get the security of knowing
the agent you're dealing with is on the level, plus you get a
full understanding of what material the agent represents. That
means you won't be sending your manuscript out on a
fruitless--and costly mission.
Manuscript Mechanics
Don't get too caught up in the specifics of what your manuscript
should look like. Your research will tell you if the agent or
publisher wants your manuscript a certain way, but for the most
part as long as it's double-spaced and printed with a clear,
easy-to-read 12-point font such as Courier or Arial you should
be fine. Put your name, book title and page numbers on each page
and--this is key--don't staple anything. Leaving the pages loose
make it easy for the recipient to make copies. This is necessary
because usually more than one person will be reading your work.
One note: These days more and more agencies and publishing
houses are accepting electronic submissions. Find out if this is
the case for your targets. You can save yourself some money and
a trip to the post office!
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
Banish all fear. I know that's easier said than done, but look
at it this way. If writing is something you really want to do,
then manuscript submissions will become a regular part of your
life. You don't want to go through your days and nights in a
constant state of submission angst! It makes me feel tired just
to think of what that would be like!
Instead put yourself in the mindset of being a writer and a
businessperson. Your writing is your product. You will put out
the best product possible. Know that the bulk of your rejections
will have nothing to do with the quality of your product so
don't take it personally. You move on to the next prospect with
the same positive attitude that the next one may be the right
one. Know that writing is part of your work. Being afraid isn't.