A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Do you really want an answer to your query?

 

It is Tuesday AND SOLSTICE. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

Today's topic came to mind as I threw away an author's submission--threw it away without a word, with no intention of responding, not even of letting the author know I had seen it. Why? Because he did not give me a no-cost way to respond to him. Publishers will not pay out of pocket to tell an author that a work is not suitable, and in that case, money put into preparing and mailing samples is money out the window, definitely not money in anyone's pocket. This particular sent only mailing address information and an envelope which would require me to purchase a stamp. Oh, there was a telephone number, but it was out of country, which is quite costly, at least by my phone plan. No email address. So, into the trash. The book was almost ready for publication. I was going through the guidance I would give him in my head when I discovered that I had no way to give it to him.

If you want a response to your submission, you must follow minimum professional expectation and courtesy.

• Self-addressed stamped envelope. This is known in the business as an SASE. No stamp, no correspondence. What kind of postage should you include?
• Send a paid method of return for your manuscript if you want the manuscript back. This can be a stamped manilla envelope, a priority mail envelope, or a FedEx or UPS mailer.
• If you do not care to get your manuscript back but want the publisher's response, then a #10 stamped envelope will do.
• Telephone number. 
• It is always a good idea to include it, but it generally will not be used as a means of communicating with, especially initially. 
• If the publisher does want to publish your book, the preference will be to have everything in writing to avoid confusion and legal issues later on.
• Email address. This is the simplest and easiest for all concerned. 
• Include your email address in your letterhead. 
• Better yet, submit your proposal by email; it is faster and easier for everyone and shows that you will be able to work with the publisher efficiently; publishers are not going to be wanting to send postal mail back and forth if they do decide to publish your book; show them upfront that you can work with them digitally.

The bottom line is that a publisher cannot help you or inform you that your manuscript will not be accepted. You will never know the outcome of your proposal if you do not provide a cost-free way for the publisher (who is already investing the cost of his/her time) to contact you. 

Want to read more about the etiquette of submitting proposals? Click HERE for typical and complete guidance from one publisher, then check other publishers. You will find these requirements repeated over and over from publisher to publisher.

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Don't do half a job in submitting your proposal -- make sure the publisher has a way to finish the job. Keep in mind that publishers are not in the business of spending money on writers who will not become their authors. Most, however, will be courteous enough to take advantage of your cost-free way of letting you know that your proposal does not fit their needs -- and some of the more compassionate publishers will tell you why.

Read more posts about publishing HERE.

(Book available from MSI Press LLC; discount of 25% with coupon code FF25; currently on sale for $5, but that offer will not last long).

The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.