The Dreaded Submission
Many excellent writers have tremendous problems when it comes to the dreaded
synopsis and submissions to publishers and agents, an hour or so on the
Internet can leave you totally dispirited and confused and so we decided to
pose a few of the questions to Bettina Croft, Editorial Head of Blackie &
Co. Publishers and she very kindly replied.
Q) What are the main pointers for good manuscript submissions?
A) Manuscripts should be submitted (these days) preferably in Word and on disk.
More and more authors are finding the high costs of mailing a great number of
m/s to possible literary agents and to publishers straining their own
resources. We ourselves always much prefer a disk to be sent to us by recorded
delivery for security. Alternatively, we do accept from abroad submissions by
email attachment.
Q) What page format should be adopted?
A) Normal margin sizes are no problem to us. Double line spacings are usual as
this aids initially the evaluators of manuscripts (our 'Readers') and the
copyeditors and proofers subsequently.
Q) There are so many versions of 'The Good Synopsis' that this is a major
stumbling block to many good writers. What do you like to see?
A) We prefer an extensive synopsis running to about two A4 pages max to enable
us to evaluate the storyline in fiction, and even more detail for non fiction
submissions, it is a useful (but not essential) addition for a resume of the
characters to be given at the end of the synopsis.
We also require three chapters to be submitted alongside the synopsis and these
need not be sequential but can be taken from what the author considers to be
his or her best chapters
Q) On the Internet, there are many differing ideas of what is needed with the
synopsis.
A) Publishers do not have an entirely consistent requirement but, certainly, if
guide lines are specifically given by a particular publisher on a website, then
it would be foolish of an author to ignore this request. We are more flexible
than some publishers and what we really want to see is the quality of the
writing! That is, after all, what the whole business of publishing is about.
Q) Some say each character name must be in upper case on introduction in a
synopsis, others say never use upper case.
A) This is pedantic, yet one must comply with specific requests if given
otherwise the publisher will not cooperate because they have so many
submissions each day and they can (if they are so inclined) use the fact that
their requirements have not been adhered to as an excuse for the m/s to be
assigned to the slush pile.
This is a land full of talented writers as I am sure you are well aware. Most
publishers are heavily inundated with submissions and good advice is that
anything to make their understanding of your work easier is helpful. For
instance, a very short introductory letter is essential. Faced with pages of
explaining why an author has written the book and then why they have chosen a
particular publisher puts the recipient off and is not good. Keep the
submission letter very brief, to the point yet enthusiastic, of course. Make
sure it is typed never handwritten as this takes so long to read.
Q) Is it right to never initially send a full synopsis but send a letter with
just a one paragraph synopsis, and if the storyline is acceptable to that
particular publisher, then they will ask for more?
A) Sorry, but we do require a full synopsis straight away ourselves, so useful
from many points of view. For instance, usable when compiling the back cover
blurb for the book should the book be accepted; we cooperate and supervise the
creation of this with our authors. It has to be a matter of complete agreement
since it forms such a vital part of promotion and marketing a book.
Our Promotion and Marketing section is most particular about this. In effect,
not only the would-be reader studies this but so does the bookshop in
conjunction with press releases sent to them by the publishers.
Bettina adds:
I am actually in the process of writing a handbook for authors covering a great
number of your points amongst others often asked of us.
