Today I am submitting my second novel to the small press publisher I want to be published by. I've been focused on this press because I like it...it's the one I want. I came so close to being accepted by them this past year...and yet so far away. I got the chop in September and I've been putting off getting the next manuscript to them out of...I don't know what? I guess I feel the promise of being championed is scary. The promise is better, I suppose, than another rejection. But today...I think I've worked up the courage to click send and get this second manuscript into their hands. Below...I have pasted the publisher's last correspondence with me.
Hi Kevin,
I'm sorry to leave you waiting so long. I drafted an email to you, trying to decide exactly what to say and I guess hanging on a little longer to see if there was any change of heart. As you know, we only publish a couple titles a year so a lot of consideration goes into which will be next. Sebastian's Poet was my first choice to publish, so I'm sad to say the review team has decided to go in a different direction. I wish you all the success with this amazing story, even if it isn't with insert Publisher's name here. Also, I would love to see what else you have done as I think you are a very talented writer. I would suggest you submit to multiple publishers to increase your overall chance of being published; I would hate to see you miss any opportunity. But if your other work is anything like Sebastian's Poet, I'll be pushing for it here.
I think I should have sent them my next manuscript right away...but I think the offer will still stand. I hope it will. I'm off to send it in now. Yes...this is an accomplishment for me. I really thought I was going to let this one go and just live with the safety of having the promise.
Here goes...
Hi Kevin,
I'm sorry to leave you waiting so long. I drafted an email to you, trying to decide exactly what to say and I guess hanging on a little longer to see if there was any change of heart. As you know, we only publish a couple titles a year so a lot of consideration goes into which will be next. Sebastian's Poet was my first choice to publish, so I'm sad to say the review team has decided to go in a different direction. I wish you all the success with this amazing story, even if it isn't with insert Publisher's name here. Also, I would love to see what else you have done as I think you are a very talented writer. I would suggest you submit to multiple publishers to increase your overall chance of being published; I would hate to see you miss any opportunity. But if your other work is anything like Sebastian's Poet, I'll be pushing for it here.
I think I should have sent them my next manuscript right away...but I think the offer will still stand. I hope it will. I'm off to send it in now. Yes...this is an accomplishment for me. I really thought I was going to let this one go and just live with the safety of having the promise.
Here goes...
