By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin
At the end of May, I spent several days at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference speaking with writers. I intentionally chose to talk with as many individuals as I could. Why? Our time together passed in almost an instant and each connection was an important opportunity.
During our conversations, we exchanged information and often business cards. Now that the event is over until next year, the critical skill takes place: follow up. Our world is filled with abundant opportunities for our words to get into the world. Throughout the week, I listened to the pitches and book ideas, then I encouraged the writer to send me their work. I applaud the couple of people who have already acted on my encouragement.
I’m unsure why they have not responded. Maybe they didn’t believe my request or possibly their submission is not ready and they are looking for another route to get their book published. Or it could be as simple as inertia to type my work email into their computer. There are many possible reasons for their lack of response.
Throughout my years in publishing, people wonder how I’ve written more than 60 books for traditional publishers and my writing has been published in more than 50 magazines. The answer isn’t complicated. When someone gave me the opportunity to submit my work, I created my book proposal or manuscript to the best of my ability. Then I submitted it. It doesn’t mean that I got it published because like everyone, I get rejected. Through the submission process, I gave myself a chance to get published.
Follow up After A Writing Conference by @terrywhalin on @BRMCWC #Writing #Writinglife #BRMCWC Share on XAt the conference I met several people from last year that I followed up with and asked for their work. They did not send it, and I learned they had not sent it anywhere else. In their minds, the work wasn’t perfected enough or some other issue. If you receive such encouragement, I encourage you to act and follow through with your submission. If that encouragement was months ago, still send the requested materials.
As editors and literary agents, we receive many submissions. At Morgan James Publishing where I work, we receive over 5,000 submissions each year and publish about 150 to 180 books. Here’s the simple truth: I am always looking for the right book and the right author. You can’t publish with us if you don’t submit your material.
What if you submit it and don’t receive a response?
The process is imperfect. It may surprise you, but editors and agents lose submissions, or they get stuck in our inbox and are not processed. Possibly the professional never received your work through some technology glitch. In these situations, what actions do you take? I encourage you to use your critical skill: follow up.
The gentle follow up is what I call this approach. With a short email, you ask a simple question or two: Did they receive your submission? Do they need anything else from you? Notice you are not pushing for a decision from them because the quickest decision you can get is no thank you (a rejection). The question about whether they received your submission is a fair one and something you should not be hesitant to ask. It shows you understand the massive amount of material that every editor and agent receives and processes as they do the work.
Your follow-up and reconnection to the publishing professional is a critical part of the communication process. We are in the communication business, and we need to connect with each other. It’s proven in the marketplace that we work with people who we know, like and trust. Your follow up is crucial to your success as a writer. What actions are you going to take?
W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in California. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s newest book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com
