In a couple of months, a new publishing service called Pubmission will launch. It will revolutionize the way writers submit works to publishers, magazine editors, and literary agents. This blog will chronicle the days leading up to and following the launch. It’s also meant to garner feedback from those who will eventually use the site. The goal is for the end product to match its customers’ needs as best as possible.
My name is Wolf Hoelscher. For a number of years, I was an acquisitions editor with several book publishers. I don’t think there was ever a time when I didn’t dread my responsibility of managing the slush pile. For those unfamiliar with this term, the “slush pile” is publishing jargon for the endless influx of manuscript submissions from writers hoping to see their work in print.
For many companies, the pile can reach enormous proportions. Sometimes whole rooms are cordoned off to house these stacks of manila envelopes, each crying out in agony, “Over here! Open me! Yes, me!”
Regardless of how much I read from the pile, a new shipment of slush would arrive the next day and the mound of manuscripts would keep growing. And growing…
It’s an inefficient and disheartening process. At least 95% of what was sent to me was either poorly written or didn’t match our publishing needs. (Which means the writer didn’t do his homework.) I sent out form letter after form letter and created a database to track the status of each submission. Because if an author failed to get a response, she most assuredly would let me know about it.
I’m also a writer. I’ve been on the other side of the pile and I still feel queasy every time I mail my next submission. Because I know where it’s headed. It’s like flushing a bug down the toilet. There really isn’t much chance of things working out well for the bug.
Now most big publishers are closing their doors to unsolicited manuscripts. (Which seems like suicide to me, but I can understand why they’re doing it.) So, this forces writers to send one-page query letters to literary agents, who will decide if they want to shop the manuscripts around. Now, agents are getting swamped with submissions as well.
A little over a year ago, I decided that there had to be a better way. Publishing companies are going out of business as quickly as Amazon sells another e-book. Publishers and agents need a more efficient and less time-consuming means for attracting new, undiscovered talent. And writers need a better way to get their voices heard.
In my next post, I’ll shed a bit more light on what you can expect from Pubmission.com. The design has been approved, the copy written (mostly), and the business plan in good order. Along the way, I’d love to see your comments and criticisms. And words of encouragement would be nice, too.
Thanks!
