![Foggy Forest by ilovebutter http://www.flickr.com/people/jdickert/](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oCkOu9jIgyc/UMwQ3wSIuCI/AAAAAAAABaA/uOhELJdxC7M/s1600/Foggy+Forest+by+ilovebutter.jpg)
If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound?
I have been in the woods and actually seen a tree suddenly implode
and crumble-crash to the ground for seemingly no reason. It was loud. Very
loud.
But what about manuscript submissions? If a manuscript sits in a slush
pile does it get read? At first it’s just a single tree in a lush forest of
envelopes. Okay, it’s probably more like a pebble on a mountain.
Most likely it is there for what seems like forever, at least to the
writer. Finally, suddenly, unexpectedly, it is torn from its envelope (or the
email is opened, but that’s so much less dramatic.) BOOM! Look at me!
In that short moment the cover letter, the hook, the manuscript, needs
to speak loudly. Very loudly. Or it will join the masses of fallen manuscripts.
I do believe that in most all cases, if you have followed submission
guidelines, your submission (or query) does get read. Yes, there are many
publishing houses and even many agents who don’t respond if they aren’t
interested. That’s just how it goes these days. There is too much to do and not
enough time to do it. Yes, it can be hard to not ever know for certain when you
don’t get the closure of a response. Things can happen. Postal mail can get lost. Emails can vanish. But we can't control that. I like to think that if it is meant to happen it will happen.
It’s best if we just keep moving forward. Keep sending out submissions.
Keep trying. Putting all one’s hopes into one submission isn’t a very good plan
for publication. Sure, it probably happens one in a billion times or so. But publishing really does have that luck of the draw aspect to it. So don’t worry about those non-responders. Query on and make your own
luck!
Well said, Heather. I try and tell myself this everyday. Some days are easier than others. Thanks for the inspiration and positive message. :)
ReplyDeleteHeather, I hope you're taking your own excellent advice! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteAmen - query on! And take comfort in the thought that - if querying electronically - no actual trees need be felled in order to create the paper necessary to submit.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Ha! Cathy, you are right! Yay for electronic submissions!
ReplyDeleteLove this post, Heather. And the comments-- Cathy said it so well--"Query On!" indeed!
ReplyDelete