A Primer on How to Submit a Manuscript

Learning how to submit a manuscript is one of the things that can make even the most motivated author to lose heart and just give up. It is replete with technical guidelines and social complexities that have been chiseled out ever since Gutenberg made the printing press. Even today, in an age of ebooks, audio books, blogs and self publishing platforms, the process remains as refined and as tedious as it is. The intention stays the same though, regardless of the technological advances that have been made. First and foremost is the desire of publishers to screen out the lackadaisical and lazy authors. All too often, an overly enthusiastic “author” who has been able to craft his own perceived magnum opus, may not have crafted his with some basic guidelines in mind. It’s not a simple matter of just putting words together and asking publishers to print it. There’s a whole lot of checking and editing activity that happens in between to such extent that some authors say that they spend the same amount of time here as they did writing the manuscript.

Probably the next most important facet in learning how to submit a manuscript other than making the manuscript itself is in knowing the guidelines and the formatting. Submitting a manuscript is pretty much like submitting an undergraduate thesis. Rather than presenting your work to your thesis adviser you present it to a literary agent. Submitting your manuscript directly to the publisher or the editor is tantamount to submitting your thesis to the dean of your university without having gone through your professor first. It’s something that you shouldn’t do though thousands of writers persist on doing this and maybe believe in their luck. Your chances for getting published if you do it this way would probably be like the odds of you winning the lottery.

Another thing to know when learning how to submit a manuscript is that it’s not about the fancy paper or cover letter but about your ability to go by the rules of the publisher.  Moreover, never, ever, bribe a publisher to have your work even considered. Merit is assigned to the meritorious and sending gifts to a publisher is tantamount to saying, “Hey, my work is not good enough, that’s why I’m bribing you.” If your work deserves to be on the stand, it will get on the stand regardless of what you do or do not do. The essential thing that you should remember is always to go by the rules of the publisher. Just follow what they say and you’ll be fine.

Over the course of this long and tedious process in the process of learning how to submit a manuscript is the unlimited number of editing and revision work that you are 100% most likely going to do. Preparing yourself psychologically to alter your work and even your main characters would somewhat help you get in on the game. Publishers and editors have to take into account a wide cornucopia of factors which may likely include the political correctness of work or the appeal to the target audience. This is plain marketing oriented and you’ll only be able to exert your influence once you have become a notable author. Follow these basic guidelines and always do more research about the publisher to ensure that you would achieve your goals.