Very interesting topic, to say the least. Before I speak my peace, I must warn editors and agents who may read this: this is my own opinion and no one is to get offended in any way.

I believe simultaneous submissions are more than fair on the part of authors. We put our life and blood and sweat and tears into our work, so why shouldn't we want to find a home for it as quickly as we can? Are we supposed to just wait around in order to not upset prospective editors and agents? I've actually read about them not wanting an author to submit to them if they've submitted elsewhere, and frankly, I find this selfish, self-serving, and unprofessional, especially considering how many editors and agents have no problem stating in their submission guidelines that if you don't hear back within a certain time frame, then you can assume it's a no. And those are at least the ones that actually give you a time frame.

What I can't stand and find to be even more unprofessional are the ones that don't even bother to offer a time frame at all. I mean, I've actually seen guidelines that say the above, with no regard to the author who took the time to research an agent or editor, prepare a letter, and in some cases also a synopsis, a 1-3 chapters, which they had to print out, make sure they were on point, address two envelopes for each submission, go to the post office, pay to mail it off, and wait and wait and wait, without any sort of response because the agent or editor was too busy to take the time to even offer up a form rejection just to let the author know for sure they've been turned down. Instead, the author must wait around and wonder what's happening. There have even been cases, when an agent or editor has gotten back to an author for a partial request after 9 months, only to take 7 months reviewing it, only to turn it down.

Now I'm sure these guys are busy, but do they honestly think authors are immortal, with all the time in the world. Of course authors want to get their work published. That's why we torture ourselves by pandering to unreasonable guidelines a lot of these people put up.

So if our time isn't valuable and we can just wait and/or just wonder forever, then what does that say about how they view the only thing keeping their careers alive? Let's face it, without the very writers they treat this way, editors and agents would simply not be.

I am not remotely speaking to all agents and editors, but I am speaking to those who would deny an author the right to submit elsewhere when there has been no contract offered, and thus no obligation has been entered.

So submit away, my friend. You have to think about your work, not the "feelings" of people who have no problem saying no, no matter how long it takes them to do it...and that's if they're "generous" enough to even answer you.
 

Hi C.L.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write on this subject. You know, it’s often tough to gauge what is politically correct in this business so when I'm really pursuing feedback, I want and need it from those who have been there in the trenches with me and I can't thank you enough! You made some excellent points and I've already directed a few people over to my blog to read what you have here--thank you!

Thrilled you stopped by and very excited about what you’re writing!


Destiny
 

Hi Destiny!

I agree with C.L. Do you realize how many years--yes, years--it would take to sub to all the the major houses for only one book if you did the single submission? I personally waited 8 months on a book that made it to a Sr. Editor's desk at Harlequin. That's a long time. I would have pulled it but when I contacted them about the submission, they asked me to be a little patient because the Sr. Editor was reviewing it. How can you say no to that?

Anyway, I have an agent and when he subbed my last book, he sent it to several big houses at the same time. So, it's okay for an agent to do it and not an author? Send them out where ever you need to. Their guideline may say that but what about mine as an author? Do I want to just sit and wait months to hear from a publisher? Not me. Even without my agent, I would send to more than one editor.

Judith
 

Hi Judith,

Thank you for stopping by and for the examples because you make some excellent points too! I know you’re with an up and coming rising star among literary agents (in my opinion—rapidly becoming one of the very best) so I’m sure he can get by with simultaneous submissions but you make a strong point. Even without an agent, why not? I know it would be significantly harder but why not?

Thanks again for dropping in! You’re always a favorite with me and I love hearing your opinions!


Destiny
 

I tell ya, C.L., you took the words right out of my mouth. An author you know thought it was rude, Destiny? I say it's rude of the agents/publishers to expect it. Yeah, we aren't immortal. We can't sit around for years hoping to find someone who feels our work is worthy.

I've actually read that the publisher who won't accept simultaneous submissions won't do it because they would hate to waste their time *when they finally get around to actually looking at the work* and get back with the author to find out that it has been accepted somewhere else. What I have to say to publishers like that? Well, if you didn't take so long to look at the work and make a decision, you might have been the first one to report back to the author that you accepted it. LOL ;-)
 

Hey Jude!

Thanks for stopping by to blog with me. Yes, I must admit that the rude comment “miffed” me but I guess I decided that it is better to take the stance of “don’t get mad…just blog!” This way I don’t waste time sulking instead of writing. Besides, you know me. I have an inquiring mind! I wanted to know how everyone else out there felt about the subject!

I’m so glad you stopped by! I always love to hear from you!

Destiny
 

The speed in which publishers get back to an author seems to be biggest problem here. Playing the waiting game is both annoying and frustrating. However on the other hand, taking the first offer is as equally dangerous too. I think for an author to fire off multiple submissions is only part of the game we all play. I have a manuscript which has been sitting on Aphrodite's Unlaced submission desk since October. It is NOT a multiple submission, and I told them that. I sent it to them since they were very interested in my novel "The Curse of Albrecht Manor" but lost out to Aphrodite's Apples due to a slow response time. But "Happily Ever After" is in a holding pattern above this publisher. Now, their website claims they will get back to me in six to eight weeks. It's been much longer than that. So I submitted it to Ellora's Cave recently. I guess my point is does it really matter? You follow their rules, wait for an answer, and blow them off if they don't respond in the time they claim they need. I wish it was like a booth in the Mall. You have your "product" out for all to see and the first one willing to buy it, gets it. Just be cautious to whom you are selling it to. An author must look out for themselves, since no one else will. As far as "Curse" goes, I'm still happy for the choice I made. I had a wonderful working relationship with all on staff. In the end you must trust your instincts, pay your fee, and enter this game at your own risk.
 

Hi Chris!

Thank you so much for stopping by! The “mall booth” idea drew a thumbs-up from me! Waiting since October does seem like a very long time for a response so I can understand your frustration. In fact, those who know me, know I would never have the patience to wait that long for a response from an e-publisher.

For me, part of the appeal of publishing through e-publishers is the advantage of a quick response. I like to see my work out there working for me quickly while gaining the experience. If we all waited for four months to hear from an e-publisher, then it would make more sense to simply submit to New York and wait it out.

Thanks again for stopping by! I’m so glad to find out more about your work.

Destiny
 

Hi, Destiny,

Speaking from both sides of the fence, I think it's only fair of the publisher if they have a set response time for queries/submissions, i.e., it's posted on their website, and they adhere to that schedule. If I really want to be with one particular publisher who doesn't accept simultaneous submissions, I will submit and give them a month to respond because it isn't fair for our work to be held up ad infinitum. I can't see waiting longer than a month or two for an e-publishing company to respond at all. Maybe that's not being fair to all e-publishers, but I run one (that does accept simultaneous submissions). Responses don't have to take as long as they usually do.

As a writer, I do let the publisher know it's a simultaneous submission, and I also contact them immediately if I accept a contract somewhere else. To me, it's a "don't put all your eggs in one basket" concept. Suppose I submit my book to one publishing company, and I wait. Then that publisher rejects the book after three months. I've just wasted three months' time waiting.

Now, that said, I don't think it's fair for an author to send a book to three different publishers and only give the publisher two or three days to read their book before yanking it or not having the courtesy to inform the publisher that they've accepted an offer elsewhere. Why? Because the publisher may have already read the book, liked it, and is going to offer a contract. So they contact the author only to discover the author has already signed elsewhere. I just think the scale needs to be as level as possible on both sides. I don't wait forever to hear back from a publisher, and I don't expect any other author to, either.

As a publisher, I think it's only fair that I respond back to an author as quickly as possible, or, at the very least, let them know if there's going to be a hold-up on reading the submission. Of course, the response time is going to vary if you've written a 300,000 word epic. LOL

That's just my take on the subject!

Rachel Carrington
 

Hi Rachel!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m glad to hear from you on this subject because you do have experience from both sides of the fence. I think you make a very good point regarding e-publishers. One to two months, in my opinion also, should be about max for a wait time. There could always be exceptions but overall, I think that authors expect a quicker response from e-publishers.

Thanks again for stopping by. I always love to hear from you and want to thank you for the rapid turnaround on your submissions! (Side note to all: My first submission with Rachel received a response in less than two weeks!)

Destiny
 

You're very welcome, Destiny. Expecting a faster response from e-publishers is perfectly normal in my opinion because, let's face it, everything is sent by e-mail, so there's no waiting on the mail. The editor doesn't have to lug a bunch of manuscripts home with him/her to read or slog through them during the day, and most e-publishers have first line readers or editors who read the manuscripts and then report back to the EIC, thereby simplifying the process.

That's just more of my take on this great topic!

Rachel