Getting Out of the Slush Pile
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Ever wondered what it's like to read the submissions that publishers receive? Do you imagine a senior editor sitting at a nice desk with a cup of coffee leisurely reading a few manuscripts before going to lunch with an author? The reality is a little different, often involving the junior staff at a big house or freelancers coming in one day a week, who sit in front of a large stack of manila envelopes and try to get through as many as possible before they have to go on to something else. I speak as a veteran--I've been editing hardcover children's books for several years now, and as part of my job have read quite literally thousands of unsolicited manuscripts.
In a pile of hundreds of manuscripts, how can you be sure yours will be noticed--and, even better, get a response? After all, publishers call this stack the "slush pile," a demeaning term. But we say "slush" with a mix of frustration, bemusement, and hope--frustration with the volume of material, bemusement at some of the more misguided submissions, and hope that we will find something interesting today (and if not today, then tomorrow). The slush is the future for a publisher, and so many children's publishers still do read the slush, though not always in an organized or speedy way.
Wade through the slush pile with me, and you may find out how to increase the chance that your manuscript will be one of those that get pulled out (see the Footnote to find what what we mean by getting out of the slush pile), and you will certainly increase the chance that it will be read. If you avoid common mistakes, the chances are better than you might think, since well over 90% of authors put themselves out of the running by committing them.
What does getting out of the slush pile mean?
Consider first what it means to be in the slush pile.
If your manuscripts are going into the slush pile, they are often
sitting for months before they are read, and when they are, you may
only get a form response. Often there is no way around the slush pile,
at least on first contact with a publisher. But if you write well, and
take the advice I give here, you can hope to get a personal response
from an editor, who you can then write to with the expectation that you
will now not end up in the pile. And that means that your manuscript
will go straight to that editor, who will write to you again, and with
luck and persistence, and perhaps years of work, you may end up with a
contract from that publisher. Getting out of the slush pile is a first
step, then, but an important one.
One thing you should not expect is a faster response
time. Some companies get their slush rejections out promptly, while you
can wait months to hear from an editor who has expressed interest in
seeing more of your work when you send him or her your newest story. It
takes time to write a thoughtful letter, and writing thoughtful letters
is the first thing to be put aside when an editor gets busy.
..... Harold's tips are priceless. If you want to learn how to get your book out of the slush pile, you'll want to read the entire article.
To read this article in its entirety, visit Harold's site: Getting Out of the Slush Pile
Used by Permission - Copyright © 1995-1999 and 2005 by Harold D. Underdown. - www.underdown.org
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