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I sent out the final emails for the Broken Sleep collection submission window last night, after a 3 hour long meeting with the tremendous board of advisors.
Here's 10 bits of advice I want to share about submitting to presses:
Here's 10 bits of advice I want to share about submitting to presses:
1. If you're rejected, please don't send a nasty or mean email. I can't express how tough these decisions are, we could only accept 1% (5) of submissions (500). I had to turn down people I love. A spiteful response will linger longer than just this submission window.
2. Either address the editor by name, or just put 'hey,' - don't misgender, don't write a different editor at a different presses' name, etc.
I will not reject you because you just put 'hey'
I will not reject you because you just put 'hey'
3. Learn about the press. For example, if you're submitting somewhere that the covers are minimalist and have a defined style (like BSB), don't send a cover design you want used. It shows you don't know/care where you're submitting.
4. Don't send a blank email with an attachment. It's kinda rude. Reading submissions is a long task, make it easier by writing something at least.
5. Don't send each individual poem in a 100-poem collection as seperate attachments. That's a bizarre technique and is frustrating.
6. Read the guidelines. If they want a doc or a pdf it's for a good reason. If they want it A5 it's because A4 won't format properly to their book size. You're MS sized to their standard looks hella professional.
7. Publishers know about other submission windows. So if you send an MS and write that it is not a simultaneous submission, but the structure of the document is clearly designed for another press, that's a red flag. Also, I don't care about simultaneous, so weird lie.
8. It really doesn't matter that much if you have just discovered a press via submissions. What matters is you do your homework then. Whether you read up on us and loved us an hour ago or 2 years ago doesn't matter. Not caring to check us out at all does matter.
9. I cannot emphasise how much a rejection isn't a permanent rejection. Saying no for this MS now doesn't mean the next MS will be a no. (further reason not to burn bridges).
10. Finally, can I reiterate how much I don't like the mean responses? Even from people I've had previous great communication with. I'm am actual human, with an actual life, checking emails while making my kids' breakfast. Don't be a dick. It genuinely hurts.
