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| original work by Christine I Steeves Speakman |
Believe me or not, but as a writer I know how hard you’ve worked on your manuscript. Wait, I’d rather not start off with what experience has shown me to be a possible lie.
Believe me or not, but as a writer I know how much your manuscript means to you. Wait, again. Experience has shown me this too may be a possible lie.
I have declined…rejected…manuscripts which I believe the writer has worked hard on a manuscript that means more to them than just random words on a page. I have declined, rejected, manuscripts that needed more work.
What should the above bits tell you? Experience has shown me manuscripts that have been worked on and not worked on. Some manuscripts have meaning to their authors and some don’t…why because they’ve been worked on or not worked on.
But, in the end, I have declined manuscripts.
Reading the above makes it sound so easy, doesn’t it? Just open an email, read a bit, then toss one way or another…accept or reject. Heck, maybe I don’t even read it, just toss it wherever the mood moves me.
Ahh, if submission reading was so simple.
Ahh, if only I could care so little. Heck, if I could care so little most of life would be so much simpler.
The fact is I read every manuscript which crosses my computer screen. Every submission email I answer, I’ve read the submitted manuscript.
Within the first two pages I’ll know whether I need to scan for overused word habits. From the first two pages, I’ll know to jump chapters and see if the writing maintains the strength of the opening. From the last few pages I’ll know whether or not you’ve left your readers hanging for a conclusion. By jumping in and out of your manuscript, I’ll know your voice and style.
If I find myself still reading into chapters three, four, or more, then I know you’ve locked my attention.
I’ll also know you weren’t blowing hot air at me with your opening email.
Yup, that brings a whole other avenue of discussion with submitted manuscripts. Are you hard selling me something that doesn’t deliver?
There is a difference between “selling” a publisher your manuscript versus selling a finished, polished eBook/book to a reader.
At my end, there is no packaging. Your manuscript has arrived in the same cyber brown paper bag as everyone else’s. No, you’re not vying for my attention. Yes, you are vying for an acceptance. And that acceptance comes from the work within the brown paper bag.
I’m hearing the MC from the television show “Dragnet” in my head – just the facts. Yup, that’s all I need from you at this submission stage. The facts on who you are…experience or no experience. Your manuscript’s facts…what is it, what is it supposedly about.
Then step back and let your manuscript sell itself.
Now you have my decline. A polite, safe word for “I’m rejecting your manuscript.” Thanks, but no thanks. Not interested. Don’t want it.
If you tell me those harsh negative thoughts never crossed your mind when reading a decline email, well, I won’t believe you. I’ll say I believe you, but deep inside I won’t be believing you. Been there, got those.
In one early case, had a new critique group partner tell me my writing was trash. She would have tossed it back in a heartbeat. Damn, woman, ouch!
The emotion of a decline email may feel harsh, but the delivery of the decline shouldn’t be.
There’s always a reason(s) behind a decline and I’ll try my best to explain them to you. Will we agree? Maybe not, but at least you’ll know it’s not because I’ve just tossed you aside…say like a piece of trash referenced a couple of lines above.
Will you believe me? I don’t know and I have no control whether you do or don’t. As much as I trust in every author submitting, the reality is, you just have to trust those you’re sending your manuscript to and go with it.
Yes, a thank you back to me is always appreciated. Whether you agree with me or not. Inside knowledge here…I’m just as nervous sending those declines out as you were sending your manuscript in.
Yeah, seriously.
What…you think I have fun saying no? I’m an editor not a sadist.
I even like hearing when you’ve found a home for your manuscript. (just don’t keep coming back sounding like a neener-neener, see I left that behaviour back on my elementary school playground years ago)
In the end, I’ll keep sending declines and you…and I…will keep receiving them. It’s the nature of this writing beast.