What does unsolicited mean? - the publisher didn’t ask you to send it and often doesn’t know who
you are.
What is a
“slush pile?” - the pile that unsolicited submissions go into often piled high in a corner or empty cubicle.
Rumored to have as many as 10,000 manuscripts in it at one time.
What is genre? - the category of writing that defines your manuscript.
Is it fiction or non-fiction? Picture book or novel? Fantasy or Historical? Poem or Short Story?, etc..
What is a synopsis? This is
a concise summary of your manuscript. It is used with novels to help the editor understand the plot and and motivation of
the character. Editors can often tell if you are able to craft a compelling story by reading your synopsis.
What is a simultaneous submission?
- Submitting to more than one publisher at one time. NEVER submit to more than one imprint of the same publishiing company
at one time. Wait for a rejection before going to the next division.
What is an exclusive submission? - Submitting to a single editor/publisher
at one time.
What
are my “rights?” - Rights govern the various ways that your work may be used and reproduced. Includes
but not limited to electronic, digital, foreign, media, and publishing rights This is part of the contract negotiation
What is an imprint?
- a division or subsidiary within a larger publishiing group that handles a particular subset of the publishiing line. You
submit to an imprint not the conglomerate. For instance, within Randomhouse you’ll find Knopf, Doubleday, Delacourte,
etc. Within Penguin Putnam you’ll find Viking, Dutton, Philomel and many others.
What is an advance? - the money you receive
upon signing a contract and or completing revisions that is an advance payment on their estimate of royalties the book will
earn. If the book does not sell well, you do not have to pay the publisher back. If the book sells better than expected,
any royalties earned in excess of your advance will be sent to you every six months.
What are royalties? - a percentage of the revenue
earned by your book. Sometimes stated as percent of retail or percent of wholesale.
What is a boilerplate contract? - this is a standard,
unedited one-size-fits all contract offered to new writers. Often favors the publisher more than the author.
What is a kill fee? - This
is a fee paid to you if, through no fault of your own, the publisher cancels the contract. Normally 50% of the agreed advance.
What is Commercial
versus Trade? Commercial work is often produced in
paperback and is sold in a number of mass-market environments (Target, Walmart) in addition to bookstores. Price is often
$10 or less. Many children’s commercial books are $5 or less. Lower quality paper but print runs are often in the
tens or hundreds of thousands. Widely distributed.
Trade books have more
of a literary quality. The type of book that is eligible to be considered for awards. Produced in hardback with good quality
papers. Price is often $15.95 and up. Print runs can start at 5,000-15,000 copies (with new writers more often than not
running at the lower end of the range.)
What is Cover Letter? The introduction of
yourself and your work to the editor. It accompanies the actual manuscript. A cover letter should include a lot of white
space and avoid any non-essential details. Red flags in a cover letter include stating that your kids loved it, your parents
loved it, your neighbors loved it. A BIG flag is stating that your grandchildren loved it. Also leave out any details about
your personal life not related to the work (you are married, you like kids, you’ll work hard). Let your work speak
for itself. NEVER EVER tell them you are willing to promote it on Good Morning America! (this has been done).
What is a Query? The introduction of yourself and your work to the editor when the letter is being sent
without the manuscript. Some publishers want to see only a query. If there are interested they will request you send the
manuscript for review. Many publishers are going to this system to cut down on slush piles. A query is your attempt to pique
the publisher’s interest in your work. Think of it as a pitch.
ACRONYMS
MG - Middle Grade
PB - Picture Book
YA - Young Adult
POV
- Point of View
SASE - Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
