Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

How NOT To Get Automatically Rejected 101

This blog gives a little peek into one facet of an editor’s job. It applies not only to Samhain, but to probably almost every other publisher/editor out there. The Rejection Letter.

There are multiple reasons manuscripts get rejected, and it is hard for an editor to write a rejection letter (yes, really, regardless of what you may read). These reasons can range from: the story wasn’t well plotted; there are too many characters; the hero moves aimlessly through the story; and, the characters have no specific conflict. There are other reasons, but there is one reason I reject manuscripts automatically. I don’t have to think. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the story is, how beautiful the descriptions are or how perfect the characters interact. I reject the story. This may seem callous and cruel, but when you read this reason, I think you’ll understand.

Imagine a perfect night out with your significant other or friends. The food is wonderful, you have a table by the window overlooking the most beautiful scenery and the conversation is scintillating and fun. Then it’s time to leave the restaurant and watch the movie that you’ve been looking forward to for months. Your favorite stars are in it. You haven’t read any reviews, it’s all been hush-hush. But you know it will be funny and romantic. You sit through several previews anticipating that moment when the movie starts.

The movie starts and…it’s a horror movie. Blood and guts are spilling in every direction, people are dying, the dog dies, the cat dies and, by the end of the first scene, there is a firm belief in your mind that the entire planet will be destroyed. What happened to the romantic comedy? Where are the stars? Where is the happy ever after? Ahhh…the management just threw a new movie on instead of the one you were expecting. The disappointment is overwhelming.

Now think about submissions we receive at Samhain. I usually skim a synopsis to get a general idea of what the story is about, who the main characters are, how it will end, etc. There are times I am scratching my head by the time I’m done reading the synopsis wondering what the story is about, but usually I am ready to give the story a shot.

Here is the interesting part. Imagine my surprise when I open the submission document, begin reading it looking for the romance, the plot, the build up to the happy ever after (or at least happy for now) ending and instead find—cue horror music—blood and guts spilling in every direction, people are dying, the dog dies, the cat dies and, by the end of the first scene, there is a firm belief in my mind that the entire planet will be destroyed. The disappointment is overwhelming.

What just happened? My number one reason for an automatic rejection. The author didn’t read our submission guidelines. (Insert heavy sigh here.)

In this day and age, we have directions for everything. Directions on heating a frozen entrée in the microwave, connecting new cameras to the computer to access images, creating Microsoft Word macros…AND…submitting to a publisher. It’s not just Samhain. I don’t think I’ve ever found a publisher that doesn’t have submission guidelines.

It’s important to remember that any information found on a market list may be incomplete, out-of-date or just plain inaccurate. There’s no excuse not to check out the site before you submit and follow them. Publishers have different preferences as to how to prepare/deliver submissions. Most print markets do not accept electronic submissions unless they’ve worked with you before. Many web-only publications don’t accept hardcopy. Before you ask—no, Samhain does not accept hardcopy submissions.

Here are some of Samhain’s submission guidelines:

The preferred word count is 60,000 or longer, but we are quite happy to publish shorter works with word counts of no less than 12,000 and no more than 120,000. We will consider manuscripts up to 130,000 words, but only on the understanding that the book will have to be edited down to 120,000 or less before publication.

Any book that glorifies depraved or illegal acts will not be considered. No pedophilia, bestiality, racial intolerance, rape as titillation, necrophilia—no ick factors, please!

I’ve worked at Samhain for a little over two years. During that time, every one of these submission guidelines has been broken by a submitter.

The moral to this story—please, please read the submission guidelines before submitting a manuscript, not only to Samhain, but also to any publisher.

If you’re about to submit a manuscript to Samhain, look it over first. Make sure it complies with our submission guidelines.

I’ll save telling you about some of my submissions until a later blog. You’ll love the one about the dead rabbit!