The Ethics Of MS Submission

by jim mcgrory
23rd June 2012

I am a first time writer who currently has an offer from a publsher to publish three pieces of work in a (very) niche market. However I also have three other, more general, pieces of work ready for delivery. My dilemma is that I am unsure as to whether or not it is strictly ethical to send submissions to different publishers and or agents simultaneously. I haver read the W&A yearbook, but it is not paritcularly clear on this point.

After all some agents/publishers take two months (or more!) to respond - to be fair a prospective author could spend a year going three or four potential outlets, and still get nowhere.

Replies

Thanks to both Lousie and Mark for their helpful advice. At least I won't get run out of town now!

J

Profile picture for user jim.mcgr_22874
jim
mcgrory
270 points
Practical publishing
Film, Music, Theatre, TV and Radio
Short stories
Fiction
Middle Grade (Children's)
Picture Books (Children's)
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Historical
Philosophy and Religion
jim mcgrory
23/06/2012

Most agents will tell you if they prefer to be contacted - what's the word? - exclusively? But it's very rare (or so I've found) that they will only take submissions in this way. Personally I've only found a few that prefer to have exclusive access and I would suggest that these are the ones that will give the most constructive feedback.

Profile picture for user mark.rud_11053
Mark
Rudd
330 points
Ready to publish
Film, Music, Theatre, TV and Radio
Fiction
Middle Grade (Children's)
Picture Books (Children's)
Comic
Speculative Fiction
Adventure
Historical
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Philosophy and Religion
Mark Rudd
23/06/2012