Sending manuscript to multiple publishers
As an addendum to this question, I have written a children's picturebook, and as I understand it, the process of sending off a manuscript and getting it reviewed is expected to take 3-6 months (I am based in the UK).
Is it bad form to send the manuscript to multiple publishers, or is this expected?
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From what I have read elsewhere, unless they specifically mention that they accept multiple submissions, it is very bad form indeed.
The publisher has a process that takes time. If he is impressed by the mss and is working to get it published, having rivals doing the same unbeknownst to him will sour things.
Imagine you are working on a project, you go to your client and tell them it is finished and here it is. They tell you that they had it done already by X, thank you for your interest. You won’t do business with them again and will likely mention the experience to colleagues.
Multiple submissions could destroy your reputation.
One publisher at a time.
This post was sourced from https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44192. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Most publishers are fine with simultaneous submissions and understand that it could otherwise take years for a manuscript to be accepted. What's important is to read the publisher's guidelines before submitting (they should say if they require exclusive submissions) and to be up front about it.
Because every genre has a different publishing culture, I looked up information about children's books. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is the primary professional writer's organization for this genre. They say:
Once you have chosen the right markets for your project, you are free to send it to publishers that are accepting unsolicited manuscripts...Exclusive submission means that you will not present your project to any other publisher while one publisher has it. You can designate the length of time it will remain exclusive. But most publishers who still accept unsolicited manuscripts also allow multiple submissions, which means you are sending it to multiple publishers. You should make your submission status very clear in your cover letter...Keep copies/files of your correspondence and set up a system to track your submissions.
The way I've seen it managed is to state in the cover letter either that this is a "simultaneous submission" (the term "multiple submission" is often used but technically means sending more than one manuscript to the same publisher) or to say that you will give them X number of weeks before submitting elsewhere. I plan to use that last one when I submit my book to my dream publisher.
It is also important to send a short note to the publisher if you get an offer from a different publisher. This allows them the opportunity to move your book up in the review queue so they can decide if they'd like to make you an offer as well. Agents do this all the time.
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