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Before you begin to submit your manuscript to publishers, it is crucial to do some advance research. The industry is highly competitive, and publishers receive unsolicited manuscripts daily. A lot of time can be saved by finding out who publishes what, and who will accept what kind of submissions.
Here are some ways to obtain such information
- Study a particular publisher's titles in bookstores; get a feel for what they do.
- Attend book launches in local stores, or book fairs where publishers display their titles.
- Request recent catalogues in order to examine titles.
- Consult the Canadian Publishers Directory, a listing of all Canadian publishers and representatives of foreign publishers in Canada (published by Key Publishers Company, it is available to subscribers of Quill & Quire, and in many libraries).
- Buy or borrow a copy of the Writer's Guide to Canadian Publishers, which lists publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts and specifies the kind of work they will consider (produced and sold through the Writers' Union of Canada).
- Two other very useful reference books are The Book Trade in Canada (now published by Quill & Quire) and The Canadian Writer's Market (McClelland & Stewart). The latter includes a list of Canadian literary agencies, indicating the kind of manuscripts considered and whether unsolicited manuscripts will be accepted.
- Make sure you have the most recent edition of the book.
There are a few simple, universally observed guidelines to follow in preparing and submitting your work. Your manuscript should be double spaced and typed on white, 8 1/2" x 11" paper, typed on one side of the page only. It should be free of typographical errors (have it proofread if possible). It should have the title appear on the top left hand corner of each page. Pages should be numbered consecutively in the upper right hand margin throughout the manuscript. Do not staple pages or put them in a binder. Have the title centered on the title page Have your name, address and the international symbol for copyright (©) on the bottom right hand corner of the title page.
Publishers normally ask that you do not submit an entire manuscript unless requested. It is better to start with a letter of inquiry. A letter of inquiry should contain
- A short covering letter about yourself, particularly your qualifications and publishing credits, if any;
- An estimated word count of your manuscript;
- A two- to four-page outline and one or two sample chapters.
Note in your covering letter if any parts of your manuscript have been published previously.
Never send your only copy, and never send original art work or photographs unless specifically requested. Enclose a self addressed, stamped postcard for acknowledgement, and a postage paid envelope for the return of your material. Remember that publishers are under no obligation to return unsolicited material.
Yes, you can submit a letter of inquiry to more than one publisher; mention in your letter that you are sending out multiple submissions. Then you can deal with the publisher who shows interest in your manuscript.
Finally, be patient. It is not uncommon for publishers to take three months or more before responding to a submission.
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Organizations or associations which might be helpful...
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Quebec Writers' Federation (QWF)
1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 1X4
Telephone:
(514) 933 0878
Fax:
(514) 934 2485
Email:
admin@qwf.org
Web site:
www.qwf.org
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Editors' Association of Canada
Quebec/Atlantic Canada Branch
C.P. 696, Place du Parc
Montreal, Quebec
H2W 2P3
Telephone:
(514) 990 0972
Hotline:
(514) 990 0972
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L'Association nationale des editeurs de livres is the French language counterpart of the Association of Canadian Publishers.
They can be reached at
2514, boulevard Rosemont
Montreal, Quebec
HIY IK4
Telephone:
(514) 273 8130
Te1ecopieur:
(514) 273 9657
Internet:
www.anel.org
Courriel:
anel@anel.org
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