You ask me why I do not write something….I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words, they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions which bring results.
Florence Nightingale
If you’re at the stage of writing where you are sending out submissions how many are out the door at one time?
Many writer friends and query books suggest you set a rule for yourself- The Rule of 10, or 12 or 13 whatever you’re comfortable with says that you always have that many submissions/queries out at one time, as soon as you get rejections or acceptance you send out as many as necessary to fill out your submission rule. The last time I sent out large numbers of submissions was back in October and it’s almost May, it’s time for me to start again, and yes I’m pretty behind because I should have kept up my rule if my goal is publication. If you’re the type of writer that constantly checks your email or mail to see if your work got accepted having a submission rule may quell some anxiety, keep your work out there, and get you published quicker.
Today, if you haven’t done so set up a submission tracker in Word or Excel and decide how many queries/submissions you would be most comfortable with…my suggestion try to aim a little higher than you think is possible. Take the day to gather up your finished work and do some research, what markets would fit your work, I like using Writer’s Market and Duotrope. Set a goal that by this time next week you will have 10, 12, 13 submissions/queries/contest entries ready to go. With so many publications using the online submission process this might not cost you anything but time. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
Are you talking about magazine article submissions or book proposals?
I couldn’t tell from your post.
How many book proposals would you submit at one time? Why?
Currently three editors are looking at a book proposal, and I feel a bit uneasy about that fact. What if they all say yes??? Worse, what if they all say no on the same day?
Sorry I wasn’t clear Eric I was talking about poetry submissions, magazine queries, and/or contest entries. I haven’t done any submitting for a book proposal because my manuscript is currently unfinished. If they all said yes I would think you would be in a good position, if they all said no I would try again. 🙂