In a previous book I wrote, I submitted the entire manuscript along with a couple page proposal to a few different publishers. Both editors never responded to me.
In my current book, I sent the entire manuscript with a short description to an editor at Springer, and it has been two weeks, and I have heard nothing, not even an acknowledgement of receipt.
Am I doing something against proper procedure?
Update: I emailed the editor again asking her if she received the manuscript, and she said she did. She was just on vacation. (I guess Europeans take longer ones than those in the U.S. are used to…)
Answer
Did you follow the book proposal guidelines for Springer? It does not include sending the entire manuscript but does include items like:
- Author
- Author CV
- Any other contributors (include CVs)?
- Who's the audience including undergraduate or graduate
- What book do you see as the main competitor?
- 3-4 paragraphs describing the contents of the book
- Unique Selling Points (why should someone buy this book)
- etc.
Note: I'm not sure that I've linked to the book proposal guidelines for your area, but they surely exist.
Second Note: Geremia provided a link to the book series webpage. Poking around on the page and tracing links, I did find a general manuscript preparation page, but nothing on what the proposal should look like. I maintain that unless they tell you explicitly to send the entire manuscript, you should send a brief proposal or even a query ("are there guidelines I should follow?") to the editor first.
Based on blogs and articles that I've read by fiction editors and agents, not following published guidelines for a submission is one of the top pet peeves and a quick way for your submission to get deleted or tossed in the recycle bin.
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