Multiple Submissions - Opinions required

fabbydabby

I have some material that I intend submitting to publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts. I have followed their guidelines and I am happy that their requirements have been met.

My question is what a publisher would think of me submitting the same MS to maybe four different publishing houses simultanously?

I have heard differing opinions on the matter. On one hand, they say it p*sses publishers off a bit - understandably. But surely they can understand that a writer would want to get feedback on their progress in as short a time as possible, as well as giving him/herself the best chance possible to get published.

I would really appreciate the opinions of anyone here in the industry, or anyone who has an opinion on the matter.

Matt Holck

having never submitted to a publisher, I wouldn't know

but I understand that rejection is par for the course
therefor multiple submissions seems the only reasonable action

claire h

But surely they can understand that a writer would want to get feedback on their progress in as short a time as possible, as well as giving him/herself the best chance possible to get published.

You'd think.

They hope that you've done your research and selected them as your #1 choice, rather than just sending it off to as many places as you can find. They hope that when they make you an offer, you'll accept it instead of going 'well, actually, Publisher X has offered me more money' or 'sorry, I'm waiting to see if Publisher Y gets back to me' (if you want a bidding war to start, get an agent). You may well get away with it, but it's a do-at-your-own-peril sort of deal.

(Not sure if I count as 'in the industry', but I write and have been dealing with publishers for over a decade at this point.)

fabbydabby

Hi Claire,

Thanks for your input

That was pretty much what I'd gathered from the little bit of 'pre submission investigation' I did alright!

Just thought I would ask here anyway to see what people thought.