writercises | TECH: 101 Tips (61) (Reply)

Originally posted 27 Jan 2010

Writers' Digest, October 2004, pages 26 to 33, has a collection of short "nuggets of wisdom" related to getting published. Maria Schneider is the author of the compilation. Take a deep breath, and here we go:

"Sending out the same query to separate publications (simultaneous submissions) gives you more opportunities to get published, but it can also ruin your chances with editors if they know it's been submitted elsewhere -- especially to a competitor -- unless they accept simultaneous submissions." Brian A. Klems

Given all the warnings about not making simultaneous submissions unless submission guidelines specifically say it's OK, I would've almost thought this was a no-brainer. Of course you avoid simultaneous submissions, right?

And then I saw someone ranting about the stupidity of editors -- on an editor's forum, no less. The gist of their argument was that given the lengthy response times for slush pile submissions, of course writers had the right to make simultaneous submissions. How would the editors catch them? And so on.

There was a part of me that said, "Yeah, good point. Long response times, simultaneous submissions make sense." But as a slush pile reader gently pointed out, editors talk. And if one house has this great story, and it sounds just like that one over there... or even worse, suppose you withdraw your story, and then the editor notices that some other house just signed a contract with you.

Editors have long memories. Burn them once, and later when you want some friendly help, you may find them pointing to the scar of that burn and saying, "Not again."

So, follow the guidelines. If it says no simultaneous submissions, don't do it. Just go ahead and work on another book and submit it somewhere else while you're waiting.