submissions

[nephele]

arcaedia has posted a great rundown of her submissions process. Much of this is similar to my own system (though in my case queries generally come through our submissions coordinator, the wonderful Elaine, and we deal in e-mails, not paper submissions, for those early stages, so no SASE required). I highly recommend taking a look. One thing in particular you might want to note is the numbers and percentages: Jennifer gets 70 to 100 queries per week, and generally asks for more on one or two of those, if any. I can guarantee that not every one of those other 68 to 98 or so queries is unpublishable. There are bound to be some interesting, well written ideas in the pile. But there are, as Jennifer noted, many, many reasons why we don't request to see something, and quality is only one of them. Something in the concept has to really spark our attention, and as I frequently remind authors, this business if very much a subjective thing. Just as you won't enjoy every book you pick up at your favorite store or library, we aren't going to love every pitch that comes our way. So please keep plugging along, and realize that, as in dating, not every night on the town will yield the prince or princess of your dreams.

I'm off to Chicago for a conference this weekend, so I'll most likely be quiet for the duration. Happy writing and reading to all!