Summary

The article provides guidance on submitting a manuscript for publishing, emphasizing the importance of genre-specific queries, a well-crafted query letter, and persistence in the face of a potentially slow and challenging process.

Abstract

The author of the article, who has previously published books with Macmillan/St. Martin’s Press and Palmetto Publishing Group, shares insights on the manuscript submission process. The author stresses that writers should only approach agents and publishers who represent their book's genre and ensure their manuscript is completed and edited for fiction or have a solid nonfiction book proposal. The process is described as a numbers game, requiring potentially hundreds of queries, and the author advises using resources like Publishers Marketplace, First Writer, Query Tracker, Duotrope, and Writer's Digest to find suitable agents and publishers. Patience is key, as responses can take months, and not all queries will receive a reply. A superior query letter tailored to each recipient is crucial, and the article provides a template for personalizing queries to increase the chances of getting noticed.

Opinions

The author believes in the necessity of researching and targeting the right agents and publishers to avoid wasting time.
There is a clear preference for having a completed and edited manuscript for fiction and a nonfiction book proposal when querying.
The author expresses that self-belief in one's book is essential for success, as it will be reflected in the query process.
The article conveys that persistence is vital, as the submission process is quantitative and can be disheartening due to the volume of queries agents and publishers receive.
Personalization of query letters is emphasized as a way to stand out and show genuine interest in the agent or publisher's work.
The author suggests that using specific online tools can significantly aid in the search for representation and publication.
The importance of a compelling query letter is highlighted, as it serves as the gateway to further consideration by an agent or publisher.

How to Submit a Manuscript for Publishing

This is how I do it

I’ve completed my third book, which is still in manuscript form, and I’m looking for an agent or publisher.

I’m a bit spoiled as I landed a fabulous literary agent for my first book, creative nonfiction, and she sold it to Macmillan/St. Martin’s Press. Whohoo. She only reps nonfiction, so she is no help now.

My second book went directly to the Palmetto Publishing Group.

However, this new book, Regina of Warsaw, is historical fiction and much more challenging to publish, which I’m learning. Wow, what a wild ride this is, but I’ve been through this rodeo before, so I know what it takes to get the book into publication without self-publishing.

Here is my advice:

Know the genre of your book and only send it to those who represent it. Otherwise, you are wasting a lot of time.

If your manuscript is fiction, it must be completed and edited. If you are writing nonfiction, your book does not necessarily need to be completed, but it is a good idea. Also, if you are writing nonfiction, you will need a nonfiction book proposal.

Here is my advice:

1. Know that this is a numbers game. You must send out probably hundreds of queries. Yes, I said hundreds. If you stop and get discouraged, it will never be published unless you do it yourself. This post is not about self-publishing.

2. Believe in your book. If you don’t, no one else will

3. Join Publishers Market Place. You can find deals that agents and publishers have done in your genre by searching.

4. Join First Writer.com. Again, you can slice and dice to find just the agent and publishers that work with your genre.

5. Query Tracker and Duotrope also help you get representation or publishers.

6. Writers Digest

Understand that this is not a quick process. These agents and publishers get hundreds of queries every week. It takes time to go through them all. And, if you are lucky and they ask for your manuscript, imagine how long it takes to go through each one. It can take months before they respond. It is well known in the writing community that not all agents and publishers will respond to you at all.

When you do a query, be sure to follow their rules to the letter. It won’t take much to knock you out of the ring for not doing exactly what they ask.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a superior query letter. It’s the door to getting to the next step with a potential publication.

Your query should:

Say something personal or specific about the agent or publisher you are writing to. If it’s too general and formulaic, they will discern you have not researched them specifically, which will work against you.

Dear Ann:

(Mention here if you are lucky enough to have been referred)

I see on your website that you publish historical fiction. In researching your titles, (Name title here), I see that my book, Regina of Warsaw, falls nicely into your agency/publisher list.

My book takes place ………

A brief paragraph about the book or synopsis if they ask for it.

Finish with your writing credentials: I have published …….

Each agent and publisher will ask for different things. In some cases, they may use a process called Submittable. Agents and publishers can customize the submission process to suit their needs.

Keep in mind you don’t want the recipient to say, “Who Cares!” You want them to care. Write your query in a way they want to know the rest of the story or your nonfiction book.

If you have questions, reach out to me. I’m happy to answer if I can.