From Pitch to Publication: Navigating the Submission Process

After completing the writing process of a book, the next thing probably is figuring out how to get it published. Submitting your manuscript to publishers or literary agents is one of the very important steps that lead to publication. It could be a challenge if you're new to the process.

Before thinking of submitting your manuscript, you should first decide to whom you want to send it. There are many types of publishers and agents, specializing in different niches and offering different services.  Only choose an agent or publisher if they specialize in your niche and are proven to have published or worked on books like yours. Sometimes publishers or agents have specific requirements in terms of formatting, etc. Once you have chosen an agent, know and follow their guidelines carefully.

Now, to the tricky/most important part, your pitch/query letter. In essence, it's a sales letter meant to convince an agency or editor to ask for a full proposal or manuscript. This ideally, 1-page sales tool is recommended to have some important elements, including your book’s genre, word count, title/subtitle, the description of your story (usually 150-300 words), something about yourself (usually 50-100 words), and a closing sentence. Send your query letter out to your chosen publishing houses or agents making sure that each one is personalized for each recipient.

There's a variety of outcomes that could result after you send out queries. You might get No response at all, which is usually a rejection, or you get, A request for a partial manuscript and/or a synopsis. Or better still, A request for the full manuscript and/or synopsis. Don't get discouraged and abandon a project dedicated time and effort to, should you get a rejection. If you get any, examine rejection slips for patterns about what’s not working.  Getting no requests for the manuscript or book proposal could mean something is wrong with your query and If your material is requested, but then gets denied, there could be a problem with the manuscript or proposal.

If you receive an offer of representation or publication, celebrate your success and be proud of your accomplishment. Authors could get hundreds of rejections before they finally get an acceptance. Negotiate contract terms carefully and ensure you understand the terms and conditions before accepting any offers.

Remember that each submission is a step forward in your writing career, and every rejection brings you one step closer to finding the right fit for your work.