Why won't you submit?

sheadakota · Feb 5, 2010

I have been a member of several writng forums over the years other than AW- some have been review sites and I have seen many of the people I have had the pleasure of critting go on to get their book (s) published. It has been wonderful to witness.

However I have also seen writers who had fantastic work- truly talented people who are not published.

Why?

its not because they can't find an agent/publisher- it is because they have either not finished their book- they are constantly tinkering- always in edit mode and going back to that first chapter/paragraph/ sentence and cannot move on!

OR they have finished but are so paralyzed by fear of rejection/notoriety that they never send out that fantastic query letter.
These people are, imo, wayyyy better writers than me and again IMO- deserved t be published, but they aren't- I just want to shake them or hit send for them! but I can't- anyone know anyone like this? or are you someone like this? Just curious as to your reason why you won't submit- not being judgemental just curious. Discuss.

StoryG27 · Feb 5, 2010

I know someone who fits your description. I think it is because they don't see their work as others do; they see the flaws, have little confidence, and don't think it is worthy of publication. Sort of like those people with body image disorders, they just can't see it for the beauty it is.

sheadakota · Feb 5, 2010

storygirl said:
I know someone who fits your description. I think it is because they don't see their work as others do; they see the flaws, have little confidence, and don't think it is worthy of publication. Sort of like those people with body image disorders, they just can't see it for the beauty it is.

I agree and its not false modesty, they honestly see flaws that are not there- is it insecurity? I don't know the asnwer to that.

seun · Feb 5, 2010

The only reason I wouldn't submit to is to agents who aren't open to email subs. The process is slow enough as it is without having to deal with Royal sodding Mail.

Saying that, I'm getting nowhere with email subs so I may have to rethink my plan.

Polenth · Feb 5, 2010

I didn't write to submit for ages, because I knew I was terrible at writing as a child. Partly I think I brought into the idea that you had to have a natural way with language to be a writer. Partly I didn't realise I'd improved.

Friends telling me they liked my writing didn't work, because friends will say it's great regardless. I wasn't posting anything that strangers would comment on (mainly roleplaying stories, so they only interested those in the roleplay).

It was taking part in NaNoWriMo that changed my mind, as I was directly comparing my writing to other writers. I also got feedback on my extract from people who didn't know me. I didn't join AW or take part in the writing community until that point, so to people here, I've always been submitting stuff. It's not how I started out though.

Alpha Echo · Feb 5, 2010

I don't know. I have submitted. But I go through periods of time when I don't. Right now, for example, I should be resubmitting what I finished a year ago. I've submitted it once to at least 20 different agents, and out of the 20 I only got one request for a partial. It's depressing.

DeleyanLee · Feb 5, 2010

I haven't finished a book in nigh unto 10 years now, which is why I haven't submitted much. I have had a novella or two that I've submitted a few places then pulled.

When I do have something to submit again, I'm not positive that I'll do it for several reasons.

1. Do I think I did a good enough job getting the story into words to submit it?

2. If this sells and sells well, is this a vein of writing I want to continue with in the future or was this something I was just playing with?

3. Do I feel comfortable enough in my process to shift gears into a career mode?

If the answers to all questions are yes, then I'll submit. If not, then I'll shelve the project. I pulled the novellas because they weren't a genre I wanted to continue writing if they sold.

CaroGirl · Feb 5, 2010

My current excuse is time. I'd rather spend my limited time writing than spend it researching markets, writing and personalizing query letters, putting together submission packages, and so on. It takes sooo much time and energy. A lot of that energy ends up emotional when I send it and then keep checking the mail and my in box. And the emotion ends up negative when it's a rejection, especially a rejection on a full or partial. Not sure it outweighs the elation of a request for material, especially when that hasn't translated into an offer.

Anyway, that's me.

icerose · Feb 5, 2010

I know someone like this, they are completely paranoid that someone will steal their work so they won't send it anywhere but get completely pissed off and jealous if anyone accomplishes anything because she's the one who deserves it.

I yelled at her and told her if she wasn't ever going to put her work out there, then no, she doesn't deserve it and she's a lousy person for putting people down for their accomplishments and hard work. I haven't heard from her since and it's just as well, I wanted to strangle her because she was always the victim.

Parametric · Feb 5, 2010

Nothing worth submitting.

Calla Lily · Feb 5, 2010

*readies Spatula o' Doom for Para*

Parametric · Feb 5, 2010

callalily61 said:
*readies Spatula o' Doom for Para*

Seriously, though. A good first draft is not worth submitting. A tolerable second draft is not worth submitting.

Topaz044 · Feb 5, 2010

Before I got published, it took me a while to realize that you could submit queries to more than one place.

Phaeal · Feb 5, 2010

My rule is to resub a rejection the same day. That way I keep everything subbable in submission at all times, and I keep my rejection-toughened skin from softening up again.

Oh, and an acceptance sneaks in once and a while, too. It's the old lottery truism: Can't win if you don't play.

HighDesertBrat · Feb 5, 2010

I know a few people who don't submit for more complicated reasons than not thinking their work is good enough. Even if they think their work isn't good enough, they don't want the confirmation it isn't. Or they think it is good enough, and they don't want an agent/publisher to burst that bubble.

Something along the lines of, "If I keep my writing to myself, I can be a good, unpublished writer. If I send it out and no one wants it, I'll be a bad, rejected writer."

Jamesaritchie · Feb 5, 2010

seun said:
The only reason I wouldn't submit to is to agents who aren't open to email subs. The process is slow enough as it is without having to deal with Royal sodding Mail.

Saying that, I'm getting nowhere with email subs so I may have to rethink my plan.

You're slowing yourself waaayyyy down by limiting submissions to agents who only want e-mail. Two days each way really bothers you when you may have to wait six months to hear back from an e-mail agent?

kuwisdelu · Feb 5, 2010

Well. I do submit.

It's just that I should submit more.

But I'm lazy and researching markets makes my brain hurt.

gothicangel · Feb 5, 2010

The novel isn't ready yet. So maybe that makes me paranoid that it isn't good enough?

I'm working on a query for an article, does that count?

blacbird · Feb 5, 2010

I stopped submitting two years ago because, for many many years, nothing ever got accepted anywhere. Most of the time, I didn't even get my SASEs back.

caw

ishtar'sgate · Feb 5, 2010

sheadakota said:
anyone know anyone like this? or are you someone like this? Just curious as to your reason why you won't submit- not being judgemental just curious. Discuss.

Yes, I've run across a few, both in creative writing classes and on forums. I think some simply don't believe they have what it takes - which is nuts - and the others can't finish what they start. It's too bad. We're missing out on some really talented people.

Ken · Feb 5, 2010

... my own tactic has always been to place quality over quantity. So there are often fairly long stretches of time where I submit nothing. During those periods of hibernation, though, I am working on improving my writing. That way when I go back to sub'ing, again, I am in a better position to get published. So, to me, as long as one is working on improving there's nothing wrong with them not sub'ing, so long as they do ultimately plan to.

Then, again, there's also a lot to be said for sub'ing regularly, without any lapses, as evidenced by some members here who have sent out 150 queries that were rejected only to have their 151st one accepted.

Always numerous ways to achieve an objective. Find one that works best for you.

C.bronco · Feb 5, 2010

I'm too busy trying to get my life in order; I'll get back to it.

dgrintalis · Feb 5, 2010

I know someone (not on this forum) who sent out one query, got a rejection, and stopped subbing.

kurzon · Feb 6, 2010

I occasionally submit, and then go for years without submitting*. The submission process distracts me from writing, and tends to be emotionally absorbing. I'm generally happier writing than trying to get published, but occasionally I build up some impetus and make an effort for a month or two.

*Complicated by an ongoing submission which worked its way up through a publisher's slush pile, and has been in the editor's "to read" pile for, literally, years.

Devil Ledbetter · Feb 6, 2010

CaroGirl said:
My current excuse is time. I'd rather spend my limited time writing than spend it researching markets, writing and personalizing query letters, putting together submission packages, and so on. It takes sooo much time and energy. A lot of that energy ends up emotional when I send it and then keep checking the mail and my in box. And the emotion ends up negative when it's a rejection, especially a rejection on a full or partial. Not sure it outweighs the elation of a request for material, especially when that hasn't translated into an offer.

Anyway, that's me.

Me too, Caro. My book is good but it doesn't fit into any tidy genre niches. I've only queried 5 times, had a request for a full once. I love storytelling, writing and editing but I hate the submission process. To me it's The Rejection Process.

I have niggling doubts about the story arc. Even though it's long since been polished to a high gloss, something keeps telling me to start it at the beginning of the second act, then work the important stuff in from the first act so it's not in the straight linear timeline that I have now. This would be a huge project, and I'm spending what little writing time I have re-writing my Nano book. But so many betas have told me they loved the whole thing, but from the second act forward they literally couldn't put it down, stayed up all night reading it, etc. This rewrite idea is hard for me to let go of.

So yes, I'm totally guilty of letting a good book languish for the very reasons the OP states.

Why won't you submit?

part of the human equation

Miss Behave

part of the human equation

Horror Man

Mushroom

I should be writing.

Writing Anarchist

Living the dream

Lost in School Work

On hiatus

Resident Zombie

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Hired Pen

Revolutionize the World

Toughen up.

living in the past

I have plans...

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

Come on you stranger, you legend,