Publisher Submission Question

rejectME · Feb 21, 2005

Hi there folks,

I have had a situation which I think may be out of the norm, but am not sure.
I submitted my mss. to a traditional publisher last spring. I had sent a query, then a sample, and then the full mss. upon request. Several months later, I got a response with readers comments. As it turned out, I was rejected, in that I was informaed that my mss. couldn't go further in the process... However, the aquisitions editor advised that if I wanted to put in the work, they would allow me to resubmit, based on the critiques from the readers.
Is this normal?
I pretty much thought that when a reputable publisher didn't think the mss. was good enough, they'd just reject it and that would be it. Next!
How off base am I?

Thanks,

Jerry

LRFarley · Feb 22, 2005

Not out of the question

Jerry, take heart in that you didn't get a form rejection, and instead got comments that might lead to your acceptance.

I have heard or read or maybe I dreamed it that even if a publisher or editor gives you comments, it's still not a good idea to resubmit to that same place, UNLESS they ask you to.

I've had magazines reject me and go on to say they look forward to other submissions by me. Came to find out that one of those was a form letter, though. How nice of them.

Just my thoughts.

Bob/lrf

Betty W01 · Feb 22, 2005

Jerry, I'm going to move this over to Novels, since they'd probably be more aware of what is normal.

katdad · Feb 22, 2005

You're okay here

If an editor takes the time to critique a submission and opens the door for a second try, by all means accept this as a positive move.

It's quite uncommon for a traditional publisher to take this time, and this reflects very well on your writing.

The fact that the publisher took the time to do this indicates that the editorial staff was teetering on the "yes", but had some issues. But they cared enough to send a critique.

If the changes suggested were constructive, and if they are things that you have no problem with making, then by all means go thru the rewrite and try again.

That being said, don't make the changes slavishly. If you disagree strongly with their comments, give the rewrite some serious consideration, and realize that they may still reject the work.

But I'd say you've been given a very generous assist.

mistri · Feb 22, 2005

If they actually go so far to state that it's okay to resubmit the same story then you're fine. In my experience, most of the time editors don't mention it, say you can submit something else, or specifically tell you not to resubmit the same story.

Daughter of Faulkner · Feb 22, 2005

This is very very good

and if it were me, I'd be editing day and night until I got it right!

Be encouraged and write on.

maestrowork · Feb 22, 2005

Rework it and resubmit.

Editors usually don't invite resubmission if they don't mean it.

Now, if you don't agree with the crits and suggestions, then don't. Try another publisher. If you do agree with them, then rework it.

Susan Gable · Feb 22, 2005

Jerry, this is GREAT news! You should definately rework the piece and resubmit. This does happen at some publishers - I know for a fact that newly bought author with Superromance got in this way - her ms was rejected, but with comments, and she was invited to make the changes and resubmit. And she just sold that ms to them. :Jump:

So, read over those comments, and then get busy with the rewriting!

Best of luck to you!

Susan G.

Susan Gable · Feb 22, 2005

PS - I should also say that I've known writers who've gotten invitations to rework a ms and resubmit, and they just don't do it. :Smack: I don't understand that. If your goal is to get published, and an editor takes the time to offer this opportunity, then I don't know why writers don't take advantage of it.

Susan G.

veinglory · Feb 22, 2005

I would suggest that you resubmit. I ignored a similar suggestion for some time only to have the publisher get back in contact. When they said resubmit, they meant it. They just wanted some fairly major changes an to put the onus for maiking them onto me--fair enough. I imagine that acceptance makes the writer a little too complacent to really make the required edits

Jamesaritchie · Feb 22, 2005

Resubmit

rejectME said:
Hi there folks,

I have had a situation which I think may be out of the norm, but am not sure.
I submitted my mss. to a traditional publisher last spring. I had sent a query, then a sample, and then the full mss. upon request. Several months later, I got a response with readers comments. As it turned out, I was rejected, in that I was informaed that my mss. couldn't go further in the process... However, the aquisitions editor advised that if I wanted to put in the work, they would allow me to resubmit, based on the critiques from the readers.
Is this normal?
I pretty much thought that when a reputable publisher didn't think the mss. was good enough, they'd just reject it and that would be it. Next!
How off base am I?

Thanks,

Jerry

As long as it is a legitimate publisher, it's perfectly normal, and next to an outright acceptance, it's the news writers hope for. You just got a second chance. Jump all over it.

Writing Again · Feb 22, 2005

Editors want best selling authors -- They also want authors who are easy to work with, they have enough prima donnas, they don't need another one.

As pointed out, don't be slavish in doing exactly what is suggested, but do believe each comment is given in the hope of improving your novel. Assume each criticism points to a problem and use the suggested fix as a starting point in your own solution.

Do revise and do resubmit and do so before there are staff and editorial changes.

rejectME · Feb 25, 2005

Thanks folks!

I appreciate the feedback.
When I heard back from the editor, he provided me with the feedback from both readers. Both sets were very helpful and both also had very different opinions on the novel itself. Regardless, there were some things about the work I had been questioning or wasn't sure about and this feedback answered all queries I had.
After I contacted the editor and advised that I was going to put in the effort and focus on another re-write, he did come back and say that just because the readers voiced opinion on something, didn't mean I had to take the feedback, and to do what I thought was write for the piece.
I do think I was able to ascertain the most important aspects of the critiques and was told to take my time with the revision.
I am enjoying the process and whether or not this curretn revision is successful, I know that the piece will be improved.

Cheers,

Jerry

SheliaRudesill · Feb 25, 2005

My first book was handled that same way. I did the rewrite and won an honorable mention in their annual writer's contest but they still didn't offer me a contract. Later they contacted me and asked me to change certain things, delete a few characters and re-submit. About 8 months later they offered me a contract and my book was published in Dec. 2003!

So, write on! And good luck!

Publisher Submission Question

rejectME

LRFarley

Betty W01

Empress of Cyberworld

katdad

Registered curmudgeon

mistri

Sneezy Member

Daughter of Faulkner

Always a writer

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Jamesaritchie

Writing Again

Living Life In The Sandbox

rejectME

SheliaRudesill