Don't Rush...

As Greyhaus Literary Agency opens again to submissions on January 10, 2022, it is time to remind authors to slow down. It doesn't matter if you are planning on submitting to me here at Greyhaus, or to any other agency or editor. SLOW DOWN!!!!!

I can guarantee that when I check my email on the 10th, I will get a ton of submissions by authors who clearly did not take the time to read. They just saw someone was open and they started firing off submissions. 

...and they will get rejections.

What too many authors are missing is taking the time to READ the submission guidelines. Before you hit that SEND button, do you know the answers to the following questions?

• Is the agency even open to submissions?
• Does that publisher even accept unsolicited submissions?
• What exactly does that editor or agent represent?
• What are the specifics of those genres that the agency or publisher represents?
• How do they want the submissions sent?
• Are their things they like or dislike in a manuscript?
• Have you looked at the things that editor or agency has produced in the past?

I know that some of you are thinking, "But I don't have the time to do all of this! Someone else will get that slot that I want!" Part of that is true. First of all, you DO have the time to do this. You should have been doing this prior to writing your novel, not after you finished it. Secondly, yes, there is a chance that someone else might get that slot. BUT...there is also a chance that you might at least be on the radar for another follow up book. 

And more importantly, you won't get a rejection that says, "Sorry but your novel is not what we are looking for." You might want to think that they are saying that the writing is not quite right. The reality is that they are saying, as politely as possible, "Did you even read that I don't acquire that writing?"

So, get out there and read, especially if you are sending something to me!