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Topic: Submitted Book Proposal and Have Heard Nothing
| Author | Message |
| mentat | Posted – 11/24/2007 10:50:27 PM | show profile | email poster My friend submitted a proposal for a martial arts book about two months ago and has heard nothing from the publisher. Is this usual? I've never worked in the book industry so I don't know what standard protocols are. Would it be ok to follow up on the proposal with a phone call? What is the usual time horizon for hearing from a publisher? If the publisher is not interested, will they at least have the courtesy to send a rejection letter? Thanks for any help. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 11/24/2007 10:56:36 PM | show profile It's not surprising. Everyone is inundated and few have the courtesy to reply "No thanks." Tell your friend to submit elsewhere. |
| arewrites | Posted – 11/25/2007 1:33:49 AM | show profile Are you sure this publisher even takes un-agented submissions? If not, your friend probably won't hear back at all, because they likely won't even bother to read it, I'm afraid. |
| Letterbox | Posted – 11/25/2007 4:42:36 PM | show profile Tell your friend to send proposals to an agent. You can find listings for agents that might have experience in that area in the Writer's Market. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 11/25/2007 9:22:10 PM | show profile In my experience, it can range from one day to never. A two month wait on an unsolicited proposal is not uncommon. --What is the usual time horizon for hearing from a publisher? If the publisher is not interested, will they at least have the courtesy to send a rejection letter?-- |
| writesonwater | Posted – 11/26/2007 3:10:31 AM | show profile I've heard that non-fiction publishers and children's book publishers are more likely to take unagented proposals than fiction publishers -- now I'm wondering if that's the case. Anyone? |
| mentat | Posted – 12/4/2007 1:50:07 AM | show profile So should he call to follow up? Sounds like it couldn't hurt. |
| Village Gal | Posted – 12/4/2007 8:22:25 AM | show profile Was the proposal solicted after he queried or was it sent cold? If the latter, the publisher/editor probably feels no obligation to reply. |
