Sending off your work to editors and publishers….
Rob Goodman writes on how to submit your work to editors, agents and publishers :
“ALWAYS KEEP POSITIVE!!
Most writers.. no, all writers get rejected; some many, many times before they find a publisher.
The secret is, NEVER GIVE UP. Keep sending your work out to as many different places as possible until you get a positive reaction.
But, it will help if you do your research.
For example, it would be silly, and a waste of time to send your horror novel, full of blood and gore, and adult themes, to a publisher of childrens’ non-fiction. This seems obvious doesn’t it? But it’s surprising how many totally unsuitable manuscripts publishers receive on a daily basis.
So, investigate your target market. ‘The Writers and Artists’ Year Book’ is an excellent source of information for this.
Once you have a list of, say, 50 possible markets, then you need to write a short synopsis of your work.
One side of A4 paper is a good length.
A synopsis is a short summary, the basic running order of what happens. If your work is non-fiction, then a basic outline of your idea. (A synopsis is different from a proposal, which you will also need)
As a general rule, never send out unsolicited, full manuscripts. Editors will not thank you for this and your manuscript will probably go unread. They receive hundreds of letters every week.
So in the first instance, just send them a synopsis. Now try and get on with other things in your life.
If an editor likes your idea they WILL get back to you.
Don’t worry, they are very unlikely to steal your idea. They don’t have the time. But, if they like your synopsis then they will write to you and ask you to send them a proposal, along with a sample of your writing.
SEND IT!
A proposal is a longer synopsis. Usually around 10-15 pages. It consists of an outline, and a breakdown of the work. Each chapter or story broken down to a small synopsis in it’s own right. You also need to state how many words the finished book will have, and your targeted readership. e.g. Teenagers, Family etc.
A good proposal at this stage can sell your work to the editor.
Should they like your proposal, then you’re in luck. They will ask for the full manuscript.
At this stage, you may even get an advance of money !
The rest is down to you, working with your editor. DO WHAT THEY ASK. Now is not the time to argue about the content..
REMEMBER! Do not get discouraged by rejection. It can be a long and lonely road.
Think of it as a numbers game. The more times you send your work out, the more chances of it being accepted. It’s the law of averages. If you sent your writing to 1000 publishers worldwide, then, chances are, that at least 10 of them would reply to you in the positive. Your writing may well have a market out there : the trick is finding it. If you do your research, then you can increase your chances of finding it in a shorter time.
