My local paper, the venerable Cleveland Plain Dealer, sliced a significant chunk of its book review space this summer. And we'll probably never see it again. Groan.
Yeah, I know the newspaper biz is reportedly (ha! there's irony!) dying. But the book pages appeal to readers and papers really, really need readers, right?
The cut is likely to result in one, or maybe two or three fewer reviews each week. All of the reviews are likely to be shorter.
If you care, let the editors know that you miss the space.
Showing posts with label publisher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publisher. Show all posts
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Yay, Newspapers!
I just read that the Washington Post, New York Post, and the Daily News are planning to consolidate some operations to save costs - particularly in distribution. And I'm thrilled! It sounds like a very logical step, and one that could loosen up a bit of $$$ that should be allocated to paying writers. You know, the people who provide the content? Yeah, them.
We need them thar writers, folks. If we want to know what's going on in the world, we really need 'em.
We need them thar writers, folks. If we want to know what's going on in the world, we really need 'em.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Simultaneous Submissions - Or, can you do two things at once?
Are simultaneous submissions OK?
Yes.
Sometimes.
Well...
Here I venture into an area already covered by thousands of scribes.
Is it OK to submit the same manuscript to several publishers at once?
The answer is yes, no, sometimes, and well, it depends.
The latest discussion I've read on the subject was one of the sanest. It boils down to this: When submitting a manuscript, follow the publisher's rules, use common sense, common courtesy, and good communication skills!
Recently, when I submitted to a small publishing house, I intended my manuscript be for that house only - for a while. But, I failed to say so in my cover letter. (Whoops.)
So, a couple of weeks after sending the ms, I followed up with a letter to the editor stating (a little more professionally than this, I hope), "this is for your eyes only - until the week of Thanksgiving. If you want more time to "digest" the submission, let me know."
See, there are oodles of publishers and billions of oodles of writers out there. And that's just taking into account the good ones ;) Everyone has their own rules.
Some houses will consider ONLY exclusive submissions; others are cool with knowing their transom is just one of many a manuscript may cross - on the same day.
Some writers (I suppose) are content to wait for a response from one house before moving on to another house. I'm not. But common sense must prevail.
In the case I described above, there were extenuating circumstances. Let's face it; there always are. That's why common sense, good manners, and clear communication is critical in the writing/publishing game.
In my case, I think I did a good job selecting a publisher where my manuscript would "fit." I had queried long ago, and received a note of interest - so I felt I "owed" the publisher a period of time to review the manuscript in its entirety without feeling I'd offered the (fabulous) idea to another house.
And of course, I think it's really fabulous. I can't wait to see the thing in print. On bestsellers' lists, even. So, while I'm content to wait (about six weeks) for a reply, I'm not going to wait around forever.
After all, there are readers waiting to hear from me, right?
Yes.
Sometimes.
Well...
Here I venture into an area already covered by thousands of scribes.
Is it OK to submit the same manuscript to several publishers at once?
The answer is yes, no, sometimes, and well, it depends.
The latest discussion I've read on the subject was one of the sanest. It boils down to this: When submitting a manuscript, follow the publisher's rules, use common sense, common courtesy, and good communication skills!
Recently, when I submitted to a small publishing house, I intended my manuscript be for that house only - for a while. But, I failed to say so in my cover letter. (Whoops.)
So, a couple of weeks after sending the ms, I followed up with a letter to the editor stating (a little more professionally than this, I hope), "this is for your eyes only - until the week of Thanksgiving. If you want more time to "digest" the submission, let me know."
See, there are oodles of publishers and billions of oodles of writers out there. And that's just taking into account the good ones ;) Everyone has their own rules.
Some houses will consider ONLY exclusive submissions; others are cool with knowing their transom is just one of many a manuscript may cross - on the same day.
Some writers (I suppose) are content to wait for a response from one house before moving on to another house. I'm not. But common sense must prevail.
In the case I described above, there were extenuating circumstances. Let's face it; there always are. That's why common sense, good manners, and clear communication is critical in the writing/publishing game.
In my case, I think I did a good job selecting a publisher where my manuscript would "fit." I had queried long ago, and received a note of interest - so I felt I "owed" the publisher a period of time to review the manuscript in its entirety without feeling I'd offered the (fabulous) idea to another house.
And of course, I think it's really fabulous. I can't wait to see the thing in print. On bestsellers' lists, even. So, while I'm content to wait (about six weeks) for a reply, I'm not going to wait around forever.
After all, there are readers waiting to hear from me, right?
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