Manuscript Submissions

owlion · Mar 1, 2010

Sorry, I'm not quite sure where this should go ^^" Feel free to move it.

I was just wondering if it was okay to send a different manuscript to an agent that had rejected a previous one after only a couple of months? I'm not sure how that kind of thing is viewed ^^"

Thanks in advance for replies!

Susie · Mar 1, 2010

Sure, send another one, laurie. I do that and it's been ok. Make sure it's the best it can be and much good luck.

PoppysInARow · Mar 1, 2010

That's fine. It's a completely new story.

Send away.

owlion · Mar 1, 2010

Oh awesome! Thanks

RJK · Mar 1, 2010

Has this agent stated that he/she accepts unsolicited manuscripts? Most require a query letter, then they will request chapters or a full MS if they're interested.

Danthia · Mar 1, 2010

Many agents say wait three months between new projects. Helps keep the two projects separate in the minds of those working on the submissions.

JayG · Mar 1, 2010

Something to think about: If the previous submission was a generic rejection, have you been able to identify why it was rejected? If there’s a writing problem the same seed of disaster will be in the new one, and the result is preordained. Remember, it’s not a lottery. I think it was Bain who said, in their guidelines, not to look at the odds of acceptance, because if you write well they’re pretty good, and if you don’t they positively suck.

I’m not trying to be negative and get off topic, it’s just that in general, in what agents and editors see, only about three in a hundred submissions are written at a professional level, and that’s required just to get into the race, so it’s something to think about… a lot.

Cyia · Mar 1, 2010

laurie, have you checked into the general lengths for your genre? You've got 41K and 39K on your signature, and both are far short of the usual lengths for YA. That's MG length. Usually 50K is about the bottom rung of length for YA, and that could be why you're getting rejections without any feedback.

Margarita Skies · Mar 2, 2010

It's so hard to find an agent, at least for me, that I am going to wait until I finish all my unfinished manuscripts, at least the English-language ones, before I contact one.

shaldna · Mar 3, 2010

it's perfectally fine unless the agent has said 'we don't handle this genre' and you're trying to sub the same genre. or if the agent has said 'you suck, stop sending us this crap or we'll take out a restraining order' then it might be a bit out of line to send them another book.

scope · Mar 3, 2010

No problem submitting a different manuscript, but as Danthia said I'd wait about 3 months just to let the air clear.

Lydia Sharp · Mar 6, 2010

If the agent has a blog, they have probably answered that question already. Check the archives, and double-check their website again. But if you can't find it stated anywhere... it really depends on the agent, so use your best judgment. Better to be conservative, in my opinion.

Marzipan · Mar 6, 2010

You've got 41K and 39K

What about BREAK at 42k? Or The Giver at 43k I know it's not usual, but still. It's possible. I would agree it's short for YA Fantasy however. All i'm saying is I don't think it's her word count.

shaldna · Mar 7, 2010

The Kidd said:
What about BREAK at 42k? Or The Giver at 43k I know it's not usual, but still. It's possible. I would agree it's short for YA Fantasy however. All i'm saying is I don't think it's her word count.

40k is pretty normal for YA. hell, I remember the times when 20k was YA standard.

Like everything YA is getting longer. But 40k is around 200-220 pages, which is a decent enough length.

There has been a trend lately for incredibly long YA novels.

But remember that quanity does not mean quality

Manuscript Submissions

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

Susie

Thanks, special friend for my avi!

PoppysInARow

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Danthia

JayG

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Margarita Skies

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Lydia Sharp

for the love of love

Marzipan

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.