Going on Submission 101 by Hien Nguyen

You’ll often hear agented writers talk about “going on sub” or “going on submission”. In essence, this means that their agent is sending out their manuscript to editors. There is a lot of lingo and information that isn’t known to writers until they are actually in the submission trenches, so my goal is to give a very basic 101 on what going on submission is like.

Do I need an agent to submit to publishing houses?

The answer to this is usually, yes! Most of the big to mid-size traditional publishing houses will only accept manuscripts through an agent. Occasionally, big publishers will have smaller competitions in which a direct submission from the author is requested (e.g. Simon & Schuster’s Books Like Us First Novel Contest). These will explicitly say they are accepting manuscripts directly from writers. 

Some smaller or indie publishers will accept manuscripts directly from the writer. They will also explicitly state this in their requirements. If you do get an offer, a legitimate publishing house should not take issue with you trying to acquire an agent to facilitate negotiating that contract. 

Okay, so if I have an agent. When do we go on submission?

This will really depend on you, this project, and the agent. Typically, you will go on one or more rounds of revision and editing with your agent. Some agents are more or less editorial than others and you will want to get a sense of this when you have your agent call. There is a lot of diversity here. Some agents are not editorial at all and you’ll go on sub pretty quickly. Others will want to do multiple revision rounds and also do line edits, and there are plenty along the spectrum.

As far as who gets to decide when to go on sub, that also depends. This will be something to clarify on your agent call (is it the agent who gives the green light, or do you, the author, get to decide when a manuscript is ready?) 

What actually happens when we go on submission?

Simply put, your agent will send a pitch letter (very similar to a query letter) to editors they think are a good fit. There will be either sample pages, or the entire manuscript attached. This does depend on individual agent and/or editor preferences. You, the author, then start playing a waiting game. 

Do I get any input on my pitch letter or which editors we go out to?

Again, this totally depends on your individual agent relationship. Some agents will operate very autonomously, and others will be open to more author input. I was able to see my full pitch letter and the initial list of editors before we went out. I was also able to make suggestions. I liked having this level of input, but you may want a more hands off approach. You’ll want to talk to any potential agents about this if you get an offer of representation.

I hear things about “submission rounds”. What’s that about?

Many agents will send to editors in smaller rounds. This really depends on agent preference, some will stick to a smaller number and some will send to a much larger number of editors at once. There is really no right or wrong method. Smaller rounds have the benefit of allowing for revision in the event any actionable feedback comes up in one crop of editors. However, larger rounds means you’ll likely be hearing back more quickly. And some folks prefer larger rounds since editorial taste can be so subjective, so you are intentionally throwing a wide net from the get go. 

Okay, so what do I do while I’m on sub?

Another wonderful mentor will be doing a post on how to survive sub, but I’ll give some basic advice here. You’ll just be waiting. Work on new projects or work on things totally outside of writing. Wallow whenever you want to and celebrate whenever you want to. I find the stress of sub so different between writers that whatever coping mechanism feels right for you is the correct one. Find friends to commiserate with and cultivate joy for yourself. 

I know going on sub may feel far off for folks who are querying, but hopefully this provides some helpful information on what to expect. It's a wild ride (or, potentially a serene one if you're lucky). Happy writing, and always remember to hold yourself in care during this journey.