- Joined
- Jun 15, 2005
- Messages
- 424
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- 46
Okay, I’m new, and I only found this site yesterday, so please bear with me for a moment.
After writing the book I’d always wanted to write, and researching who might be interested in what, I sent off two dozen queries for my new novel. Twelve were e-mail. I’m looking for an agent.
I got a terse little note back from one guy saying he doesn’t accept “simultaneous submissions.” Huh? I didn’t submit anything. I sent a query letter. From what I understood, the initial contact with a prospective agent is generally a simple one-page query. And that's all it is, an initial contact. It's not a submission of anything. Then, if somebody likes your idea, they’ll ask you to submit a synopsis or outline a few chapters, or even the entire manuscript. That’s what Writersmarket.com, the 2005 Guide to Literary Agents, and other mainstream texts all said. So this guy writes back, “We do not accept simultaneous submissions.” Okaaaay.
Hmmm. It was my understanding a “submission” was a different animal from an initial query, and "simultaneous submissions" referred to multiple submissions (of actual material) to the same agent at the same time. I got these ideas from the books mentioned above, and if these sources can’t provide correct information on protocols, where is one to look?
So… what’s the deal? Is a query letter a “submission”? If so, I’m in trouble already. LOL I queried at least one other person who’s website clearly states “No simultaneous submissions.” Well, it’s too late now. *helpless shrug*
And what on earth is the problem with simultaneous “submissions” anyway? I thought the whole point of a brief initial query was to find out if someone’s interested in the concept of the book before I waste time, energy, and money – and their time and desk space – sending more detailed information. Since not every agent is going to take a shine or every book idea, sending multiple queries would seem the logical course of action, and then it’s first-come-first-served.
Thoughts? Comments? Definition of terms?
Thanks in advance for your time.
After writing the book I’d always wanted to write, and researching who might be interested in what, I sent off two dozen queries for my new novel. Twelve were e-mail. I’m looking for an agent.
I got a terse little note back from one guy saying he doesn’t accept “simultaneous submissions.” Huh? I didn’t submit anything. I sent a query letter. From what I understood, the initial contact with a prospective agent is generally a simple one-page query. And that's all it is, an initial contact. It's not a submission of anything. Then, if somebody likes your idea, they’ll ask you to submit a synopsis or outline a few chapters, or even the entire manuscript. That’s what Writersmarket.com, the 2005 Guide to Literary Agents, and other mainstream texts all said. So this guy writes back, “We do not accept simultaneous submissions.” Okaaaay.
Hmmm. It was my understanding a “submission” was a different animal from an initial query, and "simultaneous submissions" referred to multiple submissions (of actual material) to the same agent at the same time. I got these ideas from the books mentioned above, and if these sources can’t provide correct information on protocols, where is one to look?
So… what’s the deal? Is a query letter a “submission”? If so, I’m in trouble already. LOL I queried at least one other person who’s website clearly states “No simultaneous submissions.” Well, it’s too late now. *helpless shrug*
And what on earth is the problem with simultaneous “submissions” anyway? I thought the whole point of a brief initial query was to find out if someone’s interested in the concept of the book before I waste time, energy, and money – and their time and desk space – sending more detailed information. Since not every agent is going to take a shine or every book idea, sending multiple queries would seem the logical course of action, and then it’s first-come-first-served.
Thoughts? Comments? Definition of terms?
Thanks in advance for your time.