Angry Robot 2017 Open Door

BlueLobster said:

Based on our table, I'd estimate that months had heavier submissions in the first and last couple days. So we'd be seeing 'U' patterning (W almost for the two months together) with the largest spike toward the end of December (because a good chunk of us used as much time as we were given).

If 400 were said to have been read of 1086, I'd believe it. While our table has 25% of subs happening in Nov, other charts I've see are actually Nov heavy in comparison (to our chart, not overall). Plus, we have a large gap in the first two weeks of Nov. This could actually be a statement about AW more than about submissions patterns, but I'd love to pull together a spreadsheet from everywhere that's tracking this. Either way - the comparison would be 36% (on their end) done in Nov vs. our 25%. Not only is that different not significant in a 95% confidence interval, the gap in our chart and the fact that not all Rs from those 400 manuscripts likely were out suggests around 36% of submissions occurred in November. Considering November was approximately 50% of the time available, 36% would be a reasonable.

Based on form letters (which are name specific), they either send as they go or have a database lump send. To keep 1086 manuscripts organized, I think a database would be easiest to use - best way to sort by genre, reader, etc. However, if they're doing a database lump send, we can't necessarily assume the Rs come out in a manner which clearly correlates to the time of reading (beyond that it's after). They might have particular dates to send Rs or a particular # of Rs which they hit before sending their lump send. Without confirmation, this is difficult to determine unless we're able to look at the email's coding or have confirmation from AR.

If all listed 1086 subs are those which are after the base cull (i.e. those with blatant errors), then our spread goes Nov 1 - Dec 31 with ~400 being read Jan-March (i.e. by Easter Con). That would assume 3 months (89 days from Jan 1 - March 30 (Easter Con)). Average read rate if they began on Jan 1st is 4.5 MS a day. While it's unlikely they worked every single day, the holidays therein should roughly mimic those in later months, which would suggest that to complete their reading list they'll end around 241-242 days from their start point (rough Jan 1st). This would be August 30th or 31st. This, of course, assumes a constant rate, which isn't likely due to individual readers taking vacations and manuscripts having varying lengths. The strike length guidelines minimizes variance there, but only so much as to narrow the window.

Our chart doesn't contain word count, so I can't analyze the possibility of a relationship between MS length and submissions date (though I'd love the data for that).

Based on the chart, we're being read in order of submission. This is good. This means they likely didn't separate preferential categories right off, but it doesn't guarantee that they are reading the full manuscripts every time. Knowing this won't necessarily disrupt the average reading rate. We can't be certain that there's a date/interest correlation. Some previous stats on submissions (not AR or publishing correlated) suggest people are more likely to remember and pick from submissions that are given at the beginning (i.e. the first ones they read) and at the end. However, there are multiple readers, so a split there likely happens by genre.

This is just my beginning logic. I plan on analyzing the chart more specifically. Some additional data I think would be interesting (if you guys are up for the distraction like I am) could be: 1) word count; 2) MC female, male, nonbinary, etc; 3) 3rd person, 1st person, (2nd person?); 4) multiple POVs, single POV; 5) aliens vs no aliens (personal question really).

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crystalizing said:

102963

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Patty said:

You rock. Talk about precision.

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• Fantasy (low/historical)
• 92k words
• Female MC
• Third person, limited POV
• Past tense

• Submitted on December 19th
• No response yet
• SciFi (steampunk)
• 103k words
• Dual MC's - female & male
• Third person limited POV
• Past tense
• Both humans and aliens

Usefulidiot said:

Congrats!

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crystalizing said:

Way to go Yorkie!!

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