Blogger: Wendy Lawton
One of the most difficult things for a writer is to close the file on a book or a proposal and declare it ready. Almost as hard as prying it out of their clenched fingers at a conference.
How do you know if your submission is ready?
- Make sure it is in the correct format. This is part of the nuts and bolts. Be sure to check agents’ and publishing house websites to see the information they need in the proposal. But don’t feel you have to reformat for each submission. If you have all the information I can’t imagine anyone would ding you for not having it in their preferred order. We certainly wouldn’t.
- Check it over for grammar and typos. If you don’t have the copyediting eye, have someone else do this for you. Nobody will hold a typo or a grammatical error against you unless the number of mistakes shows an inherent sloppiness. But don’t forget, a typo will pull the reader out of the manuscript. Especially in fiction, do you want the agent or editor to leave your story world if he’s loving the book?
- Have it read by others who have a critical eye. After you’ve worked on the manuscript for a long time, you’ve lost all perspective. There’s no way for you to judge. Most successful authors have a small cadre of beta readers who will give them tough and honest feedback. You need this!
- Have it professionally edited? I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of having a manuscript professionally edited before I see it. I can’t tell how much is the editor and how much is the author I’m deciding to represent. However, there are a number of agents who do want to see edited manuscripts. On a panel last month I was surprised that a majority on the panel had no problem with this
And how can you increase your chances of getting a fair read?
- Choose your target well. I’m preaching to the choir here since you are all very active in the publishing community, but you need to do due diligence on each agent or editor you submit to. Don’t shotgun. (Especially if you list them all in the email address block. Automatic pass. No one wants to be one of a cast of thousands.)
- Send it in the manner they request. Very important! Each agency and those publishing houses who will take unagented work have a protocol. If you don’t send it in the way they request, your submission will be lost. For instance, I’ve had people query me in a Facebook private message. What in the world can I do with that? How do I file it? So the question is, how do you find out what each target prefers? Simple! You’ll find it on their websites.
- Push the send button. “Be brave, little Piglet.” We all know you could fiddle around with this submission forever. At some point you just need to stop and send.
What’s the worst that can happen?
- No one likes it so you put it in a drawer and start your next book. Once you are a best-selling author, believe me, they’ll be fighting for that first book.
- They’ve seen your name attached to a manuscript they declined. Don’t assume that’s a negative. Editors and agents have to pass on superb manuscripts every day for any number of reasons. It will be a big plus if they remember your name. We find that it takes a number of positive contacts before we begin to really take notice of a writer. Each “touch” builds on that. Submitting is a great introduction.
So how about you? Is it hard to let your baby go? What are the dangers of waiting too long? Can you over-finesse a submission? Have you heard the term “workshopped to death”? What do you think that means? Tell us your experiences with submission angst.
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Do agents really remember names? When I read that, it brought me some comfort, however my name is difficult to pronounce. I even put a pronunciation on my about page. But I digress…
I recently received a rejection of my short story and with it came feedback saying it “felt workshopped.” I didn’t quite understand that statement and still don’t really. What does this mean? Does it mean over finessed? One other editor at a different journal said my writing was lush and I took that as a compliment because he asked to read more work. So I wonder now if editors are perceiving lush language as synonymous with work that is overwritten or over-finessed… Thoughts? I don’t believe they are the same.
Erindera, I’m sure Wendy will address this, but I will say that different agents have different tastes. One agent may pass on a work, and another agent may totally love it and ask for more. It’s hard as the one submitting to know what that perfect balance is. Maybe that’s where having beta readers who will be gut-level honest with you comes in . . .
Workshopped means overworked. Instead of having the piece flow naturally– every word has been worked over, replaced with ever more powerful versions, until the whole thing wears the reader out. Read E.B. White’s classic Elements of Style. (You probably read it in college. We called it “Strunk and White’s.”)
And lush is a compliment, workshopped is not. So one editor loved your work and the other did not. Very common. And the one who invited you to send more– I hope you complied. Those offers are not given lightly. She or he may be waiting to see if you follow through.
And about your name– distinctive is good. Don’t worry about pronunciation. At this point it’s all visual.
I can see how easy it would be to hold onto the submission for too long and over-think every nuance of the story. On the flip-side (and where I’m at right now), it’s good to make sure we’ve made the necessary fixes rather than, in eagerness and impatience, send the submission before it’s truly ready.
There’s got to be a balance between reading through your submission and making the right fixes and reading over and over (and over) and revising, editing and polishing your voice right out of the story. I’m not sure where that line lies right now, but I’m hoping I don’t cross over it in the process of preparing my submission. 🙂
and over … 🙂
There is a balance and boy, is it hard to hit that balance. With me, I just have to close my eyes and hit the send button at some point. I could spend forever on an email for goodness sake. Or a blog post. I just tell myself to allow for a typo or two because there just isn’t time to keep going over them.
For me, perfectionism (which I battle) takes too much time and ultimately cheats my clients when time is at such a premium.
Great essay; I’m sure it will be of help to many.
* Seems to me that the ‘when is it ready’ question is very individual, and has roots in how we write, and why.
* I write to communicate; I write a lot, and while I perform savagely cruel edits to my own work, there’s a time to stop.
* There’s a point at which further editing becomes an ego trip, a journey in search of a perfection that I can’t attain because I’m the one defining it.
* It becomes the writing analogue to a circular argument, or, in a metaphor more picturesque than tasteful, I’ll become the famed Antipodean Concentric Bird, which flies in tighter and tighter circles until it disappears up its own…
* And NOW, press Submit.
Exactly.
Clever. 🙂
The “famed AC Bird,” that’s rich, Andrew. More than once, that’s been me.
Yes! It is very hard to let go…the bottom line for me is fear of rejection.
I think the danger of waiting too long is missing an opportunity. Who knew Amish Fiction would be so popular?! Imagine how many people had such a manuscript just waiting to take the masses by storm…but never hit the send button.
I don’t want that to be me! So, I’m doing my best to prepare for ACFW. Thank you for the reminder, Wendy.
I like to think of rejection like a game. That yes is out there but I just have to collect so many nays until I get to that yea. Each rejection is just, “Whew! Got that one out of the way. I’m closer than ever to finding my yes.”
And don’t forget, we agents get more rejections than any writer out there. We are submitting clients’ work constantly to multiple publishing houses. Those declines can come back in droves until we finally get to the yes.
It is really hard to send out that query or proposal because there is always something you can do to a piece. But I just got a “Yes” on a magazine article I wrote over 3 years ago. I presumed it wasn’t good enough, that this was why I never heard back. Nope, the right person simply hadn’t seen it. So it wasn’t that my writing was “so 3 years ago”, the story was good, it just needed to find the right set of eyes.
Congratulations, Kristen. You are getting one “yes” after another, and I’m so proud of you. 🙂
You are so encouraging, Shelli. I can imagine that this bleeds through to your writing. You have a gift.
I hope so, Kristen. Thank you. 🙂
Yay, Kristen! And I love your positive perspective, too. The right set of eyes makes all the difference!
I’m glad you shared that, Kristen. That is so often the case. This business is filled with waiting.
These are the types of outcomes I like hearing. They are so encouraging. Good!
I once read that most agents’ clients are established by personal meetings, not on-line submissions. So that always makes me a bit nervous sending it by email. And yes, you just feel that your work is never ready. You’ll think it’s ready and have others read it … and later–“I’m just going to review it one more time”–you’ll find a mistake that no one caught. 🙂 And then you kick yourself and say to yourself, “You’re not ready. You’re not ready.” 🙂
*”Each ‘touch’ builds on that” … very encouraging, Wendy.
Next week in my blog post I’m going to share a deep, dark secret, Shelli– how to get around the query system. Stay tuned.
Oh, I can’t wait, Wendy. 🙂 And I’m 100% sure I read that from one of your blog posts. 🙂
Such a helpful post, Wendy. Appreciate your attention to the details of a good process, and then to “be brave” and send it on its way. 🙂
Thanks, Micky.
The Edge once said, “U2 doesn’t finish albums; it just releases them.”
Wise words.
Once my beta readers have supplied their feedback and I’ve addressed whatever issues they bring up, I’ll be querying. I’ve been working on my query and synopsis all along, and they’ve been vetted already.
It sounds like you have the discipline to trust the process, Elissa.
I know my 2 completed manuscripts are DONE.
Like, stickez vous une fork in them.
And me.
(We’re back from 2 1/2 weeks away. 2 days of driving, each way. Low wifi is such a pain…but I survived…barely…)
Back to the question…I’ve worked on the 2 books in question with betas, editors, my agent, and the most incredibly tough critic alive…my mother.
All you peeps who have moms or dads who gush? Yeah, enjoy that. My mom is a SHREDDER.
But when she (FINALLY) read them non-stop, and pronounced that they were very good?
I just about fainted.
I also have a couple of readers who…let’s say they know of which they speak…and they were extremely impressed. “Loved it!”
So, I do believe my writing is ready to pitch to editors?
Am *I*???
Somebody pass me a paper bag.
I have a hyperventilating scene in my MS … I’ve done all the research. I’ll help you! 🙂
Jennifer, what a great confidence builder for you–to have people who have read it (especially the tough critics) and said they love it. 🙂 All you need to do when you pitch is show them the true you. Your passion, fun and personable-ness will be a great first impression. You’ll rock this, my friend.
And as I said in my last paragraph, what’s the worst that can happen? I try to picture the worst and how I will deal with that and then pray for the best.
(I love you mama, the shredder.)
Wendy, it made my day to see you’re “not a fan of having a manuscript professionally edited before ‘you’ see it.” I’ve noticed even the writing contests all seem to have professionally edited entries. I’m not sure I’d feel peace sending a query for something I had an immense amount of help with. How would I know if it was the editor the agent liked or my writing? Everyone needs editing—how much input a manuscript has had could hide how inept a writer truly is. I want to be chosen by an editor or agent who isn’t blindfolded. But, having said that, I’m willing to succumb to that trend if that’s what it’s going to take. Input by the right editor can transform an MS.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Such a good point, Wendy. I’m with you. When I send my work (for better or for worse), I want the agents and editors who see it to see the authentic me. Even if it still needs more work. And for what it’s worth, I’ve never had a piece professionally edited before submitting to a contest. 🙂 Although, I did have a few friends do a read-through to make sure it sounded okay. That doesn’t count . . . does it? 🙂
Jeanne, I envy you for having writing friends to do a read through. That’s my goal for sure. I’m going to jump back into an online critique group this fall. And no, that doesn’t count as professional editing. You won because you have done the work and continue to grow as a writer. That’s my goal too. By the way, I’m cheering you on for the contest finals you’re in. You inspire me. Go Jeanne, go. 🙂
And unless you have one of the top professional editors– say a Jamie Chavez, Erin Healy, our own Rachelle Gardner, Karen Ball or others– I find that too many of the editors are just semi-successful writers who hang out an editing shingle. I’ve seen these kinds of editors ruin a manuscript, stripping the author’s voice.
I once saw a manuscript that gagged me with purple prose. The insecure author told me he had it edited because he wanted to make sure it appeal to women. I asked to see his original manuscript. It was excellent before the “editing.”
Thank you, Wendy. I needed to hear this. Unless I can afford the best—I’d best leave as is and wait for wise input from a professional who believes in me (while simultaneously devouring recommended writing craft books, novels, and chocolate). 🙂
Amen to that, Wendy. I had a friend here in Texas ask me to read her work that was about to be published. She just wanted my opinion on the flow, etc. She had had it edited by two people. There were so many mistakes … it broke my heart. I asked her if I could edit it for her … she said sure … because her ministry is so important … I couldn’t stand the thought of her putting out a book like that. I think I was the wrong person to ask about the content, flow … and even though my editing skills are lacking, I had to help her. 🙂 And after I gave it back to her, the book was out in a week … I hope she made the changes. Words missing, etc. That’s going to happen, but it was in excess … if you know what I mean … for a book to be published like that. 🙁
This is sooooo enlightening.
Wendy, I’m glad you mentioned ‘My Book Therapy’ as I’ve been reading Susan’s posts, and listening to some of her writing craft videos. Your seal of approval on MBT is a sign I’m onto a great resource.
I’m on board with y’all … I don’t want my work professionally edited until I’m told to do so. I want anyone who reads it to see MY writing … the good, the bad, the ugly. 🙂
If someone feels their book needs professional eyes I’d much rather see them use a book coach-type of approach, like My Book Therapy. I’ve observed that they mentor the writer along, helping them learn to self-edit, helping to brainstorm troubled areas, etc.
“Be brave, little Piglet.” Love that, Wendy, and thank you! Of course, I’ve submitted and been rejected and lived to tell about it. Not a pleasant experience but definitely a learning one, and with each, I hope and pray I’m developing more skill, more perseverance, and more business sense to offer an agent, an editor, and readers. Looking forward to next week’s post and your deep, dark secret.
You’ve submitted and been rejected and lived to tell about it, but you’ve also made it to that ultimate yes, right? It takes perseverance. (And eventually pushing the send button.)
The “yes” of an editor…yes. May I drop my staid, professional demeanor for a moment and holler yippee?! 🙂 No “yes” yet from an agent, though. And pushing send for that brings as much trepidation as the send for the editor.
Until there are a few successes under my belt, submitting anything, query , proposal, or manuscript causes me a certain amount of angst. It is easy to feel insecure whenever a submission is sent even though I’ve gone over and over it trying to make it sing. I’m assuming that this changes once there is practice, growth, and understanding like stepping stones that lead a wannabe author to gain confidence in their ability to craft a professional quality of submission and thir actual ability to do so. I picture sort of a rhythm to the whole process. At this stage in my writing journey, I’m sort of starting to get it. Reading blogs like this one help in a definitive way. Glad for the information. Thanks.
Sometimes I delay at the “push the send button” stage. After all, an unsent proposal can never be rejected. Then I remind myself that an unsent proposal can never be accepted either. And then I press “send.”
“Be brave, little Piglet.” Best advice today. 🙂
I do not even have a finished proposal yet and I already know my hesitation is related to the fear of my story being rejected. I am in the non-fiction sphere and feel like my book proposal, story, speaking, and self are so entwined that an email submission is not sufficient. How do you brace yourself for possible rejection when your book is about you and your personal story?