submission guidelines changed!

DJP · Aug 5, 2005

Now what do I do? I submitted a ms by email along with all the requested info, and a week later I noticed the submission guidelines changed on the website. Email submissions are no longer accepted! I briefly emailed the editor, and asked if I need to resubmit by regular mail. But, their website says that questions about unsolicited mss cannot be answered. Do I wait and see if they reply? Do I resubmit by regular mail? Do I think they didn't like it because they haven't replied at all, and their guidlines state you will only be contacted if they want to work with your piece? Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Thanks for any help.

Cathy C · Aug 5, 2005

I would resubmit by mail. Add a sentence at the beginning of your cover letter indicating that you noticed that the guidelines changed after you submitted. The worst that will happen is that they'll have two copies. I can't imagine that they would penalize you for trying to play by the rules they've set. Good luck!

Lauri B · Aug 5, 2005

Cathy C said:
I would resubmit by mail. Add a sentence at the beginning of your cover letter indicating that you noticed that the guidelines changed after you submitted. The worst that will happen is that they'll have two copies. I can't imagine that they would penalize you for trying to play by the rules they've set. Good luck!

I agree with Cathy. That way you cover the possibility that your email sub was deleted before they got to it, and if they like it, they certainly won't care if they received two copies. If they don't like it, they are going to reject it anyway--they'll just have to reject two copies.

good luck!

DJP · Aug 5, 2005

Thanks, guys. I'll resub first thing Monday morning.

Torgo · Aug 9, 2005

Sometimes this happens. We finally sorted out a website for ourselves recently, with submission guidelines, and our volume of unsoliciteds tripled overnight. So, a month or so later, we had to change our guidelines.

I have never, in years of managing the slushpile, thrown away, deleted or otherwise ignored a submission, even if we were explicitly not accepting submissions. They come anyway, even if you tell people not to send them in, and if you see the slush as any kind of resource it's worth giving everything a chance. So, I imagine your email sub will have been read, but it's certainly worth resubmitting as discussed.

Lauri B · Aug 9, 2005

Torgo said:
Sometimes this happens. We finally sorted out a website for ourselves recently, with submission guidelines, and our volume of unsoliciteds tripled overnight. So, a month or so later, we had to change our guidelines.

I have never, in years of managing the slushpile, thrown away, deleted or otherwise ignored a submission, even if we were explicitly not accepting submissions. They come anyway, even if you tell people not to send them in, and if you see the slush as any kind of resource it's worth giving everything a chance. So, I imagine your email sub will have been read, but it's certainly worth resubmitting as discussed.

Don't you all wish Torgo was reading YOUR unsolicited manuscript? He's so nice about everything!

GPatten · Aug 12, 2005

Torgo is from the UK where everyone writes so purdeee. :ROFL:

I come from a small drinking village with a fishing problem. I can fish, but I can’t write worth a can of worms. :Shrug:

submission guidelines changed!

DJP

pounding away at the piano..

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Lauri B

I Heart Mac

DJP

pounding away at the piano..

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Lauri B

I Heart Mac

GPatten

Dang...