In the traditional publishing cycle, submission is when your agent will send your manuscript out to editors and pitch them on acquiring the book. This is the phase right before the deal. So if you are querying, you should absolutely have this phase in mind. Right? Because once you sign with your agent, you’ll work together to get to this point.

When you have your call with your agent before signing with them, ask them about this phase. How many edits before they think the manuscript will be ready for submission? Are they thinking of a wide submission, a rolling submission, or small rounds of submissions? What is their plan?

Absolutely, confirm that they will let you know WHO you are on submission to. Regardless of how much other information they provide, you should know who gets the manuscript.

So how much other information do you need?

Some authors and agents have a spreadsheet that they use to update on who requested the full, who passed, etc. The agent updates, and the author can check at any time. Or all the time. It can become a sickness.

Some agents say they’ll send weekly or biweekly updates on how many still have the manuscript. Are they going on another round. Etc.

My agent didn’t do this. I was sent the list when we went on submission and told to relax. I only got an update when I asked “who is still considering the book,” and I made a point to not ask for at least 8 weeks.

I’m glad I didn’t have unreserved feedback. Of date sent, date receipt confirmed, who requested the full, and who said what about my book.

Some agents and authors have a spreadsheet. Very organized. Very nerve-wracking to check for updates. Some agree to send weekly updates on passes. Some forward them on immediately. Some only communicate when there is good news.
My agent sent me a list of these are the editors and their houses. When I asked for an update, she sent a revised list. At first, I was desperate for updates. But I realized it was better. Because I could blindly think things were great. I was able to focus on my next book instead of constantly hitting refresh. Because I can tell you I would have.

No matter how many updates you get, you should know which editors at what houses have your book/have seen it. At a bare minimum. Because what if your agent retires or decides to go into another industry? So they’re not your agent anymore, and you want to query a new agent with your manuscript. You need to be able to say, “Hey, here is who already passed, here is who has it but hasn’t responded.”

I think less news is better. I knew when I got an email from my agent, it was something. Sometimes it was just an office closed update. But sometimes it was something.

And I’m on here talking about submission because… I’m no longer on submission. I was going to release this video to align with the publisher’s marketplace announcement, but that was expedited. So if you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter or don’t follow me on social media, you missed this announcement already. But after a few months on submission, we have a deal! I will have all the videos with updates for you. So subscribe here and there and everywhere.

What other questions about the traditional publishing process do you have?

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