How I Read and Respond To Submissions

One of the things I always stress for writers is that they take the time to understand the business of publishing. In other words, how do we do things on this side of the table. You know what you do when you write the story, but what happens after "THE END" and you hit "SEND" on your computer? Please do understand, all of us read and respond to submissions differently, but maybe this perspective will help. 

Like most editors and agents, we do not read submission every day. For me, I try to get to submissions once a week but that does change depending on what other projects I have to get done with my current clients. So, let's dive in on those days I do start reading.

I keep track of all submissions that come in. I record the following items for every project:

1. Author name
2. Title of project
3. Genre the author claimed it was
4. The type of submission - this could be (Email, Query Manager, Conference, Etc.)
5. Date it arrived in my inbox
6. Date I replied
7. My response such as MORE or REJECT
8. My comments.

I have my email open AND the database at the same time. So, I start reading the query that came in. As I read, I type in the data base all of the information. When I make my decision of MORE or REJECT, I go straight to the email and send the response.

If you sent it on Query Manager, I do the same thing. The difference is that if I ask for more information, authors will send the project directly to me and from that point on, we are off of Query Manager. 

Now, let's say I asked for more information. This might be asking for the first three and synopsis, the full and a synopsis, or a synopsis only.

When you send that new project, the process starts over again, and yes, I do type all of your information in again. This is how I know when you have already sent a project to me.

When that additional material arrives, I send it over to my Kindle for reading. In this case I read the synopsis AND the additional material. I make notes on my Kindle and when it is time to respond, I include my thoughts on the project. Was it an issue with the conflict, was it the plotting, was it the fact that the story you pitched really wasn't what you had written? It doesn't matter, I record my thoughts.

This step helps me out when I have an author who sends additional projects later. If I see a trend, I can note that to the author.

OK, let's got toward the really good part. Let's say I have read your FULL (I will only acquire if I have read the full), I will reach out again. This may be an email asking about additional projects, or a call. This is where I can talk to you and get to know who you are. Since this is a business not just about one project, but about a career, I want to make sure we are all on the same page. 

I know this might seem like a lot, but this is a big commitment, not just for you but for me. Remember, as an agent, we make no money until we sell your book. For editors, they are committing money to you on a gamble that your story will sell. 

Hope that helps!