Another newbie question for you. In an age of e-mail, is a SASE really necessary? It seems like it is just a tool for the return of form rejections. If they want it, they will call you or email you. Are they worth it?
In an age of e-mail, is a SASE really necessary?
- Thread starter Prawn
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I've had requests for more material arrive in my SASE, so it's not automatic that it will contain a rejection when it returns.
More aggravating to me are those places that simply never respond, even with the SASE. If you don't send one, you can't even bitch about them.
caw
More aggravating to me are those places that simply never respond, even with the SASE. If you don't send one, you can't even bitch about them.
caw
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Ask yourself this: are you more or less likely to annoy an agent (/look like a newbie) if you don't include an SASE?
I wouldn't dream of not including an SAE. Even though I've spent a small fortune on postage in my attempts at acceptance and publication, I've done so while telling myself, "You can write it off when you receive your first royalties cheque!"
Agents and editors have reasons for making the requests they do. They're not doing it to annoy you, but because their process is based on receiving certain items or pieces of information with the submissions. It's easier for everyone involved if you don't try to second-guess a publication's guidelines.
If they ask for an SASE, send an SASE.
This is a lame excuse. They've got this new thing called the Interweb, I think. It's pretty cool and <don't tell anyone> you can actually BUY stuff on it! Go figger!
Sarcasm aside, I've been submitting to foreign markets for more years than I care to count. Before stamps were available on the Internet, I'd have a friend in the target country buy the stamps for me.
As far as the SASE issue, do what the guidelines say, period. If they don't say one way or the other, ask. Pretty simple.
If they didn't say one way or the other, I think I would err on the side of caution and just send the SASE anyway.
Fork over the $0.39. Getting published is hard enough when you follow directions I imagine it's harder when you don't.
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That's, what, 20p in British money? I spend upwards of £3 when I send a proposal - that's return postage on a letter, synopsis and three chapters...and you guys quibble over 20p?!
Yeah, but do you really need to have the synopsis and three chapters returned? Surely it would cost less just to print new fresh copies.
caw
I prefer to have the proposals returned. To save paper. (I'm so green). As long as they're not dog-eared or messed up in any way, I use them again.
The term is used with a fork, John. But I know you knew that, so I'll offer another alternative: Spork over the $0.39.
The term is used with a fork, John. But I know you knew that, so I'll offer another alternative: Spork over the $0.39.
Been corrected, thanks. Want to edit the proofs of my next book?
Picture this:
You're Agent X's assistant in Agent X's high profile agency. You have this week's 100 queries from newbies. Agent X is a busy guy (or gal) dealing with current best-selling authors and depends on, you, the assistant to wittle down the queries to a manageable number. I'm thinking the queries that sent exactly what was asked, ie a SASE, will go through to the next round of safety checks. Those queries written by hand, or with smudges, or in funky fonts, or on different colored paper might have to wait, if they don't get thrown out altogether. Provide what they ask for, however, and you strengthen your odds that they will at least read your query, or at least read it in a timely manner.
Don't assume, just do (as you're asked). This is their world and we're just squirrels trying to get a nut (thank you C&C--bonus points if you recognize this reference).
You're Agent X's assistant in Agent X's high profile agency. You have this week's 100 queries from newbies. Agent X is a busy guy (or gal) dealing with current best-selling authors and depends on, you, the assistant to wittle down the queries to a manageable number. I'm thinking the queries that sent exactly what was asked, ie a SASE, will go through to the next round of safety checks. Those queries written by hand, or with smudges, or in funky fonts, or on different colored paper might have to wait, if they don't get thrown out altogether. Provide what they ask for, however, and you strengthen your odds that they will at least read your query, or at least read it in a timely manner.
Don't assume, just do (as you're asked). This is their world and we're just squirrels trying to get a nut (thank you C&C--bonus points if you recognize this reference).
Well, I don't think that I will be sending only one letter, I imagine I'll be sending 70. And I'll be paying postage to send the letter to them. If all I am getting back is a form rejection, it is not worth it to me. If, like the poster after you, they request stuff in an SASE, it is worth the money.
Anyone ever hear the term "Ponzi scheme" It comes from a scheme in the 20s to make money off of International Reply Coupons, which where basically SASEs that you would send with your letter if you wanted someone in a foreign country not to have to pay the postage for your response. He claimed you could buy IRCs in the US, then change them for stamps in other countries and somehow make money off the deal. He spent some time in prison.
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Huh? Who said I want the other stuff returned? That's how much it costs me to post it. I put a #10 SASE inside for a reply, nothing else.
It's an interesting attitude, kind of like, "if they are going to reject it anyhow I don't need to pay to know this."
On some levels that works because you're right most of them are going to be rejections. The trick lies in that one or two agents who may simply reject you outright for "not following directions". You'll be losing out on an opportunity and a potential sale worth between ($5000 -- $100,000) because you t want to save $27.30 on postage.
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