Prepare Submission for Third Friday (PubSub3rdFri)
Dear Pub Subbers,
Thanks for joining me in Pub Sub 3rd Fri. Our goal commitment is to submit an article, poem, puzzle, devotion, illustration, short story, picture book, chapter book, middle grade novel, young adult novel, adult novel, play, song, or movie to a publisher on the third Friday of each month for a whole year. We started in February 2010. I’m glad I can count you in.
Each time you submit a manuscript or query, say, “Hurray for me. I’m getting closer to publication.”
If you haven’t submitted lately, spend the next three weeks getting your creative work ready to send off. Start today to say, “I can do it.” Let me hear you shout, “Yes, yes. I can do it. I CAN DO IT.”
Summary of Week One
Summary: During Week One, you will send your creative work to your critique group or to a professional editing service for critique. You will choose the publisher for this month’s submission. You will print out this publisher’s guidelines and save them to your computer in your submissions folder. You say to yourself, “I can do it.” You’ve take action.
Steps for Week One
1. Choose three possible publishers for the kind of writing you are submitting:
a. Read all three publishers’ guidelines.
b. Select the publisher you will use this month.
c. Print out a copy and save a copy of the publisher’s guidelines.
2. Fine tune your manuscript
a. Use spell and grammar check with your manuscript.
b. Here are eight books that may help you with your writing skills. Check out the book from your local library for free, a used book store, or purchase online.
Remni Browne and Dave King: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
Donald Maass: The Fire in Fiction
Donald Maass: Writing the Breakout Novel
Donald Maass: Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
Karl Iglesias: Writing for Emotional Impact
Margaret Lucke: Schaum’s Quick Guide to Writing Great Short Stories
Noah Lukeman: The First Five Pages
Darcy Pattison: Novel Metamorphosis
Week Two Steps for Pub Sub 3rd Fri
1. Let your manuscript sit a week in an incubator while you do your query or cover letter, resume, and proposal.
2. If the guidelines say to write a query letter , then write your query letter.
3. If you’re submitting a manuscript or article, write a cover letter to accompany it.
a. Include a strong pitch for your manuscript in your cover letter. A pitch is a 25 word eye-catching, heart-trapping summary of your book or article to hook the attention of the reader, agent, and/or editor.
b. In your cover letter, mention one book, article, or illustration similar to yours and how yours hooks readers and attracts them to it. Each time you write a cover letter, you will improve.
c. If you’re a member of SCBWI, mention that fact in your cover letter. SCBWI has a great reputation with publishers.
d. If this is an exclusive submission, write that in your cover letter. “This is an exclusive submission for three months. On December 17, 2010 I am submitting it to other publishers.” For exclusive submission with an agent, you can limit the time to two months or six weeks. Their guidelines might give you an idea of how much time they usually take. I think giving them a time, keeps you from wondering and gives them reason to respect your choice.
4. Write your resume.
a. Include your snail mail address, phone number, email address, website, blog.
b. List all memberships in professional organizations.
c. Include all of your publishing credits.
5. If needed, write your proposal.
Steps for Week Three for Pub Sub 3rd Fri: Pub Sub day is September 17, 2010
1. Read aloud a printed out (hard copy) of your manuscript. Make all necessary changes.
2. Print out your manuscript again. Read it aloud, again. Then read it from the bottom to the top, and from right to left. This will help you notice more errors that your might not notice in other ways.
3. If you see errors, correct them.
4. Print out the GO FOR IT copy of manuscript, cover letter, resume, and/or proposal.
5. Put one copy of manuscript, cover letter, resume, and/or proposal in 9×12 envelope
6. Print out and save another copy of manuscript, cover letter, resume, and/or proposal in a folder called “Submitted Manuscripts.”
7. Make sure you put your snail mail address, phone number, email address, website, and blog on your cover letter, proposal, query, and/or manuscript. If it’s an email submission, follow the publisher/editor/agent guidelines about attachments. Many publishers do not accept attachments. Follow their guidelines.
8. Print out label for 9×12 inch envelope – use the mailing address in publisher’s guidelines. If it is an exclusive submission, mark it as such on the outside of the envelope.
9. Enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope, if the guidelines ask for one.
10. Put sufficient postage on the envelope.
11. Leave the envelope with all the items inside over night (24 hours is good).
Pub Sub 3rd Friday
13. Check your manuscript, cover letter, proposal, and resume Friday morning.
14. Put addressed, stamped envelope with your PUB SUB in a mailbox or email. Say a prayer. Ask God to bless this submission. Say to yourself: I allow myself to receive a positive response, such as, “Yes, I’d like to publish this manuscript.”
Each time you submit, you will get better and better. In case you’re not ready on Friday, September 17, 2010 Go to my website and print out a rain check: http://www.joanyedwards.com/pubsub3rdfri.htm
See my other Pub Sub 3rd Fri posts for more information. http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/category/writing/pub-sub-3rd-fri/
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Please leave a comment, question, or resource.
Never Give Up
Live
Joan Y. Edwards
http://www.joanyedwards.com/FlipFlapFloodle.htm
Author/Illustrator
Flip Flap Floodle on Amazon.com
Copyright 2010 Joan Y. Edwards. All rights reserved.
Filed under: Pub Sub 3rd Fri (Pub Subber), Writing Tagged: | 2010 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, Charlotte Dillon, copyright 2010 Joan Y. Edwards, cover letter, Darcy Pattison, Dave King, Donald Maass, find three publishers, fine tune your manuscript, Flip Flap Floodle, hook, Karl Iglesias, manuscript, Margaret Lucke, Moira Allen, Never Give Up, Noah Lukeman, novel, Novel Metamorphosis, pitch, professional organizations, proposal, Pub Sub 3rd Fri (Pub Subber), pub subber, publisher’s guidelines, raincheck, Renni Browne, SASE, Schaum's Quick Guide to Wrting Great Short Stories, self-addressed stamped envelope, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, September 17-2010, short story, snail mail, The Fire in Fiction, Week One, Week Three, Week Two, Writing, Writing for Emotional Impact, Writing the Break Out Novel, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, Writing | Tagged: Writing, written by Joan Y. Edwards
Joan,
Thanks for keeping us on the right track–the publishing track.
Linda A.
You’re welcome. Thanks for leaving such sweet comments.
Have a Flip Flap Floodle Day!
Joan Y. Edwards Flip on my website: http://www.joanyedwards.com/FlipFlapFloodle.htm Flip at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Flap-Floodle-Joan-Edwards/dp/1594572852/ Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Y-Edwards-Author/111310278911077
September 17 is closing in. Wow, Joan, what a complete list you have posted. Thanks for sharing your ideas, especially the details.
Dear Gretchen, Thanks for leaving such a sweet comment. I hope the details help you get so close to publication you can hear it breathe and see its tonsils!
Have a Flip Flap Floodle Day!
Joan Y. Edwards Flip on my website: http://www.joanyedwards.com/FlipFlapFloodle.htm Flip at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Flap-Floodle-Joan-Edwards/dp/1594572852/ Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Y-Edwards-Author/111310278911077