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EDITORS’ TIPS

Our editors are often called upon to speak to aspiring writers at conferences across the country.  Now you can read some of their best advice—without having to travel to the conference yourself!

Do your research.

There’s nothing more frustrating than receiving submissions for subjects we don’t publish.  Before submitting to any house, read several of their books and get a copy of their submission guidelines.  Resources such as The Guide to Literary Agents (Writer’s Digest), The Literary Marketplace and The Writer’s Guide to Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents are invaluable for learning who publishes which genres.

Write the book of your heart.

I know it sounds cliché, but this comes up time and again.  Don’t write to trends or because someone tells you it will sell.  If you write something new and fresh, something you love, your enthusiasm will shine through, and our editors can’t help noticing.

Join an organization.

Writers groups such as RWA, HWA, WWA, and others can be a tremendous source of support, networking, and industry information.  They can help you learn how to craft a pitch letter or synopsis, recommend an agent, or give you the opportunity to meet with our editors face-to-face at a conference.  Even if you don’t feel comfortable joining a national organization, there are many online critique groups that will steer you through the process.  Looking for a critique partner?  Try our message boards.

Don’t be afraid to try something different.

The guidelines exist for a reason, but at the same time, we encourage our authors to push the boundaries of each genre.  Sometimes the book of your heart doesn’t fall into a nice, neat category, or maybe your book has elements differing from the traditional genre fare. As long as the book fits our word-count requirements and the most basic premise of the genre (developing relationship in a romance, a scare factor for horror), take a chance and send it in.

Build name recognition.

The more our editors run into your name, the more likely they are to pick you up out of the pile.  Visiting our Writer’s Corner and message boards is a great start to building a reputation in the community, but here are some other tips:

FAQs

How do I get my book published?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this one, but being here is a good start.  The Literary Marketplace and The Writer’s Guide to Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents are two great resources to help you learn how to break into the biz.

What are Dorchester’s submission guidelines?

Visit http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SubmissionGuidlines.cfmfor our full guidelines. 

What is a synopsis?

A synopsis is a summary of your entire book—from beginning to end. The length will depend on how long it takes you to hit the main plot points of your novel, but most are 3-10 pages. 

Do you accept international submissions?

We accept submissions from anywhere in the world, as long as they’re written in English.

Do I have to use a certain font or margins?

If you’re sending in a hard copy, the manuscript should be double-spaced, one-sided, unbound and easy to read, there are no specific requirements as to font or layout.

Email submissions should be sent as a Word or .rtf attachment.  Again, it should be a legible font and double spaced.

To whom should I address my submission?

Unless you’ve spoken with a specific editor, you can direct your work to Editorial Assistant.  I know it seems impersonal, but our assistants are the first to receive all submissions, and they will make sure that your project gets to the editor whose tastes match the style of the work.

What happens to my book after I send it?

Your submission is received and logged in by an editorial assistant.  The assistant reads through the cover letter to make sure it meets our basic requirements—word count, genre, free of major grammatical errors.  If the work does not meet these requirements, notice will quickly be sent to the author.  If the work does meet the standard requirements, the assistant will look through the first few pages of the manuscript itself to check for basic storytelling ability.  If this condition is met, the submission will be read further, either by an assistant or a freelance reader.  If the story is especially compelling, it might go directly to an editor.  After an evaluation by the reader, the work either goes on to an editor or back to the author.

How long does it take to get a response?

If your work does not meet our guidelines, you will hear in two weeks or less. Typically our response time is 6-8 months, but some of our editors have been known to hold a manuscript they like for more than a year.  Response time is the same for hard copies or electronic submission.

How can I avoid the slush pile?

One of the best ways for romance writers to get their work directly to an editor is to enter chapter contests judged by our staff. This can be through RWA or a contest Dorchester sponsors for unpublished writers.  You can also start building a following through reputable epublishers or small presses.  Another good tactic is to get an agent who regularly works with our editors.  It might also help to set up an appointment with an editor at a conference.  Sometimes a terrific pitch will have an editor keeping an eye on the mail.

Do I need an agent?

We accept agented and unagented works, so you don’t need an agent.  However, they can be helpful in opening a door or explaining a contract.  Ultimately, the decision lies with the author.

Does Dorchester have other resources available?

You can find up-to-the-minute info on Dorchester’s latest events at Twitter.com/DorchesterPub. Editor Leah Hultenschmidt also blogs daily at RomanticReads about trends in the industry and publishing from an editor’s perspective.