BBC: "Everything You Need To Know About Submission"

These are the main site links for your general submission information:

• Writing Guidelines
• Manuscript Format Requirements
• Editorial Offices

Theses are the Message Board Links for More Information. (Please note, these are archived discussions and as such, will not have anyone answering new questions.):

• Toronto, Ontario (CANADA): Harlequin
• New York, New York (USA): Silhouette
• Richmond, England (UK): M&B (Includes Harlequin Medical, Presents, Romance & Historical)

This latest spate of links is from Editor and Author specific discussions with current updates on many categories. These will be updated from this point on our message boards.

very evil, very smart a$$ grin, biting my tongue. :-)

 But seriously, I'm all ears. Er, eyes!

Who, me? 

I won't go too into detail because BBC continues next month with an "Understanding Your Rejection Letter" discussion, but yes, there are all kinds of responses you can get and feedback is generally sent when an editor sees promise in you. It could be as small as your voice catching their eye or your excellent plotting skills... One never knows what does it, but feedback can and often does come in letters and even in phone calls. :)

Eds are really good to us.

Dee 

That was a very logical question and equally good answers.  I've often wondered about the editors making comments and suggestions.  I've received a couple of rejection letters, but not really any personalized feedback.  I like Julie's answer about how that it's a matter of how much time the editor might have, and the particular circumstance for whether they comment or not.  Every situation is probably a little different.  I try not to take my past rejections too hard, and will hopefully learn from every experience I encounter in the future as well. In the meantime while I wait to hear back from SSE, I'm doing just as Julie suggested, and am plotting out my next ms.

I have learned so much from these forums and blogs! But I have a lot further to go....

vary from 6 weeks to 3 months. Longer submissions might take up to 6 months.

Although, it should be said that line response times vary due to the vagaries of submissions. Some have higher volume at any given time.

In other words...they don't want us to expect by any certain day, just in case. So, standard rules are to check in in three month increments.

Hope that helps!

Dee 

thanks Dee. Jodie, you just answered my next question. thanks.

Then I can feel a little bit better sending in my "it's been over three months" email to Bites.  I'm starting to worry they don't have it -- and if they don't, and I need to re-send, I'm going to try it via the Bites pitch! :-)  If they have it and it's in queue, well, then I'll just grow some patience. Thanks!

Edited to add I just sent a nice note asking if they have my ms, or if I need to re-send.

Response times are generally the same as listed above.

Hope that helps,

Dee 

Hey folks, I thought you might like to know that we're having Chris Roerden on Cigars (link below) tomorrow, and she's written Don't Murder Your Mystery, but also Don't Sabotage Your Submission -- so you may want to drop by and check her out if you are subbing to lines like Intrigue or with general submission questions...

Clarisa, if you didn't receive your post card, I think it's okay to check, IMO.

However, no, you cannot "bombard" eds with submissions -- until you sell and have an editor to work with, you are only advised to submit one ms at a time. It's frustrating, I know, but it's how it's done. You have to wait until you have word on the first one. (You can submit a different ms to a different line, however) However, it's good that you have more work in the wings for when the time comes!

I don't know about your third question, so will leave that one to someone else. :)

Sam

hi! should new writers query with editorial assistants first or should they just query directly with senior editors?

thanks Dee

I can see already I will need to do a lot more reading of the posts, but a quick question right now is this....

If I have written the book, and rewritten it until I am happy with it, do I submit MY final version for reading, or do I just send my umcompleted version?

OK, I just found this and answered one question: Do not send any material that is being considered by another publisher.

That will keep me straight for now, but something else I just read, we have to TYPE our manuscripts? They can't be done on the computer and printed on good paper?