Seeking Opinions

Laurawrites · Feb 17, 2007

Hello, all!

I posted a topic related to this in December, I believe.

I queried an established romance publisher and thought the response would take some time. I received a full manuscript request in a month.

I've sent my full manuscript and would love some opinions on this. I've not worked with many romance publishers. Should I expect a response on the full work as quickly? I had researched the company pretty extensively online and it seemed most authors had to wait much longer for replies. I don't want to be, "spoiled," (for lack of a better word) into thinking a response will be just as fast if it likely won't.

I know response time always varies, but I didn't know if there were different timetables used in the industry. For example, do some editors really try to promptly communicate with authors? If so, do they use the same efficiency with full manuscripts as with queries?

Just for reference, the publisher requires a full synopsis (10-15 pages) and the first three chapters with the initial query. I guess that's another one of the reasons I assumed it would be a while before I heard anything over my query. It was a little unexpected.

Any information will be most appreciated! Thank you.

CheshireCat · Feb 17, 2007

There aren't any rules, even within a given house. An editor may get more work done on a certain day, less work done on another (because of meetings, or responsibilities that take her out of the office). One editor may take loads of reading home with her, while another only reads at the office, or only reads during the commute.

An editor may have more submissions one month than another, which slows her down, or she may be working faster because an established author missed a deadline or they had to pull a book for another reason, and she's got a hole in the schedule that she absolutely has to fill.

So even when "guidelines" or "timetables" are offered, they're not especially reliable.

Your best bet, hard as it is to hear, is to put that submission out of your mind and work on the next project. If they have offered guidelines, and you haven't heard anything within the time estimated, wait another week and then send a polite note or email asking about the status of the manuscript. If they don't offer even guidelines, wait four to six weeks and then send the polite request for an update on the manuscript's status.

Romance publishers have plenty of slots to fill, but there are also a lot of authors writing romance and submitting to any given line at any given time, so there really aren't any hard and fast rules.

Except be patient. Publishing requires enormous patience.

Laurawrites · Feb 17, 2007

publishing

Hello, Cece!

Thank you. I see romance is much like the other genres of fiction. It's a new genre for me and I'm not certain that really makes a difference in the grand scheme, but it feels like something very new. I like to approach it as researched as possible. I grew up around romance, a "Harlequin" household, but never attempted to professionally write in the genre until recently.

My third book is in the editorial stages so I'm going to be very busy with that for a little while. I tried to manage it where I could get the romance (fourth book) completed and submitted before we started getting into the big details with my third one. I think I was able to do it

Thanks again!

Susan Gable · Feb 17, 2007

Four to six week is a drop in the bucket. I'd wait four to six months before I even thought about sending a polite "checking in" email.

Publishing does not move quickly.

Susan G.

CheshireCat · Feb 17, 2007

Susan Gable said:
Four to six week is a drop in the bucket. I'd wait four to six months before I even thought about sending a polite "checking in" email.

Publishing does not move quickly.

Susan G.

No, but in my experience the romance editors tend to be a bit quicker than those in other genres, with the exception of certain Harlequin editors. So four to six weeks is a pretty reasonable time estimate, unless the pub has differing information published or posted somewhere.

Of course, they may well respond to your polite note with the info that they're behind and you shouldn't expect to hear anything for another three months. You just never know.

Laura, I gather you're unagented?

Susan Gable · Feb 17, 2007

CheshireCat said:
No, but in my experience the romance editors tend to be a bit quicker than those in other genres, with the exception of certain Harlequin editors. So four to six weeks is a pretty reasonable time estimate, unless the pub has differing information published or posted somewhere.

Well, then I don't want to know how long other genre pubs take, because 4 months on a full submission is pretty standard from what I hear. I've known plenty of people who've waited a year. Sometimes longer than that.

And that includes agented folks.

Susan G.

Laurawrites · Feb 17, 2007

pubs

Hello, Susan. Thank you.

No, Cece, I'm not agented. I have personal issues with that at this time

I've been writing for some time and, I know I'll probably be looking for an agent in the future, but it just doesn't appeal to me right now. I spent a decade attempting to get an agent and it was complete and utter frustration. I corresponded with many that simply made you feel like a number or forgot about you all together. It was not a good experience for me. I know a number of authors published through the "big boys," in New York and they all have to work just as hard, if not harder. They have a lot of competition to stay ahead of.

I began corresponding directly with publishers and editors personally and it went much better. Now, that's just for me. I doubt that would interest many. I enjoy the creative benefits of smaller publishers and the ability to really question an editor about weaknesses and problem areas.

As it is, I have my contracts examined and always know what rights I'm retaining. That works for me at this time.

Maprilynne · Feb 17, 2007

Laurawrites said:
Hello, Susan. Thank you.

No, Cece, I'm not agented. I have personal issues with that at this time

I've been writing for some time and, I know I'll probably be looking for an agent in the future, but it just doesn't appeal to me right now. I spent a decade attempting to get an agent and it was complete and utter frustration. I corresponded with many that simply made you feel like a number or forgot about you all together. It was not a good experience for me. I know a number of authors published through the "big boys," in New York and they all have to work just as hard, if not harder. They have a lot of competition to stay ahead of.

I began corresponding directly with publishers and editors personally and it went much better. Now, that's just for me. I doubt that would interest many. I enjoy the creative benefits of smaller publishers and the ability to really question an editor about weaknesses and problem areas.

As it is, I have my contracts examined and always know what rights I'm retaining. That works for me at this time.

If you're happy, that's what counts.

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Maprilynne

CheshireCat · Feb 18, 2007

Laurawrites said:
Hello, Susan. Thank you.

No, Cece, I'm not agented. I have personal issues with that at this time

I've been writing for some time and, I know I'll probably be looking for an agent in the future, but it just doesn't appeal to me right now. I spent a decade attempting to get an agent and it was complete and utter frustration. I corresponded with many that simply made you feel like a number or forgot about you all together. It was not a good experience for me. I know a number of authors published through the "big boys," in New York and they all have to work just as hard, if not harder. They have a lot of competition to stay ahead of.

I began corresponding directly with publishers and editors personally and it went much better. Now, that's just for me. I doubt that would interest many. I enjoy the creative benefits of smaller publishers and the ability to really question an editor about weaknesses and problem areas.

As it is, I have my contracts examined and always know what rights I'm retaining. That works for me at this time.

Sounds like it's working for you. I know a number of unagented romance authors who prefer to deal directly with the publishers. You can always hire a literary attorney for a nominal fee to go over a contract for you if you have any doubts, but as long as you're comfortable and happy with the deals you're getting, and don't mind doing your own negotiating, not having an agent probably isn't a drawback.

And, Susan, I also know plenty of authors -- in romance and other genres as well -- who wait for months on end for responses from editorial, whether or not they have agents. Even some authors under contract to publishers are sometimes forced to wait months, which IMO is inexcusable.

That's one reason I always advise an author to wait a reasonable amount of time before checking on a submission, and if the pub hasn't stated otherwise, 4-6 weeks is a reasonable amount of time. As long as authors accept the status quo -- as we tend to do -- there's no reason for the editors and agents to change the way they do business. I'm a professional and expect others in my profession to treat me as such; editors wouldn't be very happy if they had to wait months on end for their paychecks, after all.

It's an individual thing, of course, because there are so many factors that determine how an author and his or her projects are treated. A really good agent can cut the wait time way down, even with the slower houses and editors, but some agents aren't good at that, or don't bother to forge the ties and relationships in-house that can help keep a project moving along. A writer's history makes a difference; what the project is makes a difference; how full the publisher's list happens to be makes a difference.

:Shrug:

Like everything else in this crazy business, there's so much variation that it's difficult to know where to stand, let alone how to make more complicated choices and decisions.

When in doubt, I say opt for reasonable, be polite and be professional. Any agent or editor who objects to that is probably somebody you are not going to want to do business with if you can avoid it.

Laurawrites · Feb 18, 2007

pubs

Hello, all.

There is a vast spectrum of different ways of being published. I think, sometimes, many authors have really bad experienced because their somewhat "mismatched." For example, they go with a small publisher and expect them to handle all marketing and give large advances, or they go with a large publisher and expect to work directly with the editor and have creative rights to say what can or can't go on the cover.

I can't really make sense out of the NY publishing scene. I know this might be slighly-off topic. But, you go through hundreds of agencies (more often than not) just to get an agent. Doesn't mean you will be published, doesn't guarentee you will have access to the major publishing houses, or you will land five or six digit advances. But, that's precisely what is implied with so many agencies. And so many are so arrogant.

Maybe that's just the people I've dealt with. I know much is changing constantly. Thanks again.

CheshireCat · Feb 18, 2007

Laurawrites said:
I can't really make sense out of the NY publishing scene. I know this might be slighly-off topic. But, you go through hundreds of agencies (more often than not) just to get an agent. Doesn't mean you will be published, doesn't guarentee you will have access to the major publishing houses, or you will land five or six digit advances. But, that's precisely what is implied with so many agencies. And so many are so arrogant.

Maybe that's just the people I've dealt with. I know much is changing constantly. Thanks again.

Honestly, I think any writer who expects any sort of guarantee, from anyone in publishing, is doomed to disappointment. But, yes, it does sound as though you've had some bad experiences with the people you've dealt with.

Seeking Opinions

Laurawrites

Super Morbid

CheshireCat

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Laurawrites

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Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

CheshireCat

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Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Laurawrites

Super Morbid

Maprilynne

Author Waiting in the Wings

CheshireCat

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Laurawrites

Super Morbid

CheshireCat

Mostly purring. Mostly.