tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post689279877174236864..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Why simultaneous submissions are crucial?Rachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-46768658912630535252013-02-26T15:55:22.758-08:002013-02-26T15:55:22.758-08:00If I ever query a novel, I would definitely send s...If I ever query a novel, I would definitely send simultaneous submissions.<br /><br />Interesting to note, a lot of anthologies/magazines frown upon simultaneous submissions for short stories, but I really think they're crucial when submitting.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-46764223917879278612013-02-26T14:36:02.309-08:002013-02-26T14:36:02.309-08:00Definitely a valuable thing to do! I sent to about...Definitely a valuable thing to do! I sent to about 5-10 agents at a time when I queried, which seemed to be a good number.Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-88008170830930200682013-02-26T08:13:48.228-08:002013-02-26T08:13:48.228-08:00Yes, it's very important to send many at once....Yes, it's very important to send many at once. And repeat as necessary. Good luck!Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-32425142895153741682013-02-26T02:11:09.690-08:002013-02-26T02:11:09.690-08:00With the exception of my first attempts at queryin...With the exception of my first attempts at querying, I always did so in batches. It made the most sense. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-64985509223739270002013-02-26T00:07:46.804-08:002013-02-26T00:07:46.804-08:00Nope, I've done simultaneous submissions from ...Nope, I've done simultaneous submissions from the start. In fact, this is my first ever novel that I've queried, and I'm querying over 60 agents at the same time. :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-7937311539304173672013-02-23T12:13:49.428-08:002013-02-23T12:13:49.428-08:00I've always done simulataneous submissions. Fo...I've always done simulataneous submissions. For some things, like short story or poetry journals, the turnaround time is so slow it would take too long to get anything done! I always simultaneously subbed to agents, too.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-65688303334529647562013-02-23T09:38:51.776-08:002013-02-23T09:38:51.776-08:00Great post, Rachna. I don't have experience wi...Great post, Rachna. I don't have experience with agents yet but I have a lot of experience with the editors of literary magazines. I try to choose the ones that allow simultaneous submissions. In the past, I made the same mistake of submitting to those who who didn't. It was not a smart idea. I wish you the best of luck with your manuscript!Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-57803408837659381762013-02-23T03:26:02.808-08:002013-02-23T03:26:02.808-08:00Interesting post. The advantages are clear - but d...Interesting post. The advantages are clear - but do not some publishers ban them?Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-16528934164091091622013-02-22T19:40:36.726-08:002013-02-22T19:40:36.726-08:00Oh, man. Could you imagine what it would be like i...Oh, man. Could you imagine what it would be like if simultaneous submissions weren't allowed?<br /><br />With my first novel, I only queried 2 agents at a time. That was fine in the beginning, since most agents got back to me quickly. It was only the last group that took 6 months to reject my query. By then, I had moved onto another novel. Now I query 5 agents a week (until I get bored a few weeks later and forget to query. lol)Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-41161150380557793272013-02-22T19:18:57.696-08:002013-02-22T19:18:57.696-08:00Hi Friends, thanks for chiming in with your though...Hi Friends, thanks for chiming in with your thoughts.<br /><br />Thanks Rahul.<br /><br />Natalie, like you I feel that querying batches of 5 agents at one time is a great idea. <br /><br />Richard, I can understand how you must be feeling. I feel the least publishers can do is if not acknowledge our submissions, atleast do us the courtesy of a formal rejection and not keep us hanging uncertainly wondering what is happening.<br /><br />Robyn,I agree with you, if there is no response from those 5 agents tweak the query letter and send to 5 more agents.<br /><br />Mark, I too would go crazy if I didn't submit simultaneously.<br /><br />Alex, in sync with you.Give our ms as many chances as we can.<br /><br />Donna, though I am a late convert to simultaneous submissions, I am now hooked to it.<br /><br />Gwen. Thanks.<br /><br />Karen, I try to keep a record of where I submitted, but at times I still manage to goof up.<br /><br />Kenda, 5 submissions out is a great goal.<br />Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-60642070379079310392013-02-22T15:04:45.703-08:002013-02-22T15:04:45.703-08:00In theory I like to have at least 5 submissions ou...In theory I like to have at least 5 submissions out at any one time, but I'm way behind on that goal right now :-)Kenda Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972218446945404475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-48091444798084979102013-02-22T11:52:37.722-08:002013-02-22T11:52:37.722-08:00I learned about simultaneous submissions when taki...I learned about simultaneous submissions when taking a course from The Institute of Children's Literature. It's pretty much the same procedure when submitting articles, and some publishers accept them, others do not. They usually indicate so in their guidelines. It's important to keep good records of what was submitted where, otherwise you forget (like I did once). I like the occasion when more than one place is clamoring over your work. Doesn't happen often, but does make you feel good. :) Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-37832240919769471862013-02-22T11:03:22.606-08:002013-02-22T11:03:22.606-08:00The truth is, I never queried. I entered one query...The truth is, I never queried. I entered one query contest, got runner up and a 5 chapter request, but she didn't request a full. So I self-published and never looked back. Didn't want to go through the agony, lol. But who knows, I might try querying sometime.<br /><br />Keep at it Rachna - sounds like you're on the right track :)Gwen Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13132836346305559246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-4915416681574514312013-02-22T10:23:49.338-08:002013-02-22T10:23:49.338-08:00I do the slow query thing with my novel - sending ...I do the slow query thing with my novel - sending to just one at a time. I'm not in a rush cuz it takes me several months of research (following the blog and reading articles and some published works) before I query an agent. They usually get back with a rejection within a couple weeks.<br /><br />I do see the value of simultaneous submissions. A lot of authors have been picked up that way. Its hard to wait out several months while your query sits in a slush pile, or an agent never replies. The query process can be frustrating, no matter how often you submit.<br /><br />......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-81880275586921979282013-02-22T10:09:07.920-08:002013-02-22T10:09:07.920-08:00I think it would only be smart to give your manusc...I think it would only be smart to give your manuscript as many opportunities as possible.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-26150238461155353862013-02-22T09:12:07.536-08:002013-02-22T09:12:07.536-08:00Yeah, that simultaneous submission thing is a must...Yeah, that simultaneous submission thing is a must...I'd go crazy if I didn't have an iron in the fire somewhere:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-65398212888378271772013-02-22T07:09:18.974-08:002013-02-22T07:09:18.974-08:00Very true, Rachna! The thing about this process is...Very true, Rachna! The thing about this process is this: Query 5-7 agents a week. (This is a way to see if your query is working.) If you get NO response then tweak that query before the next 5-7 agents are queried. And make sure to tell each one that you are querying simultaneously. Great advice! *waving*<br />Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-67404987462683304292013-02-22T06:43:07.670-08:002013-02-22T06:43:07.670-08:00Years ago, I sent a copy of one of my novels to a ...Years ago, I sent a copy of one of my novels to a publisher who had requested seeing it. I never heard back from the publisher. Wouldn't answer my emails or my certified mail. They could have at least said, "Sorry, we're not interested."writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-23744157377902807652013-02-22T04:21:14.742-08:002013-02-22T04:21:14.742-08:00So true, Rachna. It's important to query many ...So true, Rachna. It's important to query many agents at the same time. Otherwise you wait forever. I've heard batches of 5 are good.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-7674014619383547992013-02-22T01:15:15.933-08:002013-02-22T01:15:15.933-08:00I see a lot of wisdom being shared here , Rachna:)...I see a lot of wisdom being shared here , Rachna:)Rahul Bhatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690287853990880735noreply@blogger.com