Is it ok to submit a novel manuscript to several agents simultaneously?

Question

I've always heard it's bad form, but if an agent takes several months to read my submission I need to be able to send it to three or four at once. If I do simultaneously submit, should I mention that in my cover letter? Thanks for your advice.

KItty rogers, do I need to send my manuscript to an appraisal agency first? Is that the magic trick - pay to get it appraised? Please tell me. The work is good.

Answer 1

You should be up front about it if that is what you are going to do. Some agents really disapprove of multiple submissions and others don't, so it's best to just be honest.

I've also heard that, while multiple submissions may be frowned upon by many agents, multiple queries are just fine. So send those letters out to as many agents as you can!

Don't pay to get it "appraised" or whatever. I think what Kitty was refering to was the process of querying versus submitting. If you send your entire manuscript to a publisher, they most likely won't look at a page of it. If you send a query letter and short summary, they may request sample chapters. That's what was meant by "approved"

Answer 2

Don't listen to those here who have NO CLUE what they are talking about. As an editor, I am here to tell you that you had best be careful with simultaneous submissions. You can do that, but you need to be up front in your cover letter that it is WHAT you are doing. Don't be surprised if publishers turn you down flat after they find out that is what you are up to. And I have to tell you something else. Most manuscripts sent to publishers without prior approval or through an agent, have about as much chance of being published as a snowball has in hell. Most are never even read and just returned with the standard rejection slip. Sorry, but this is the hard truth of the thing. Good luck.

Answer 3

Agents and editors say you should tell them if it's a simultaneous submission, but I have to wonder if that's a good idea. They may just chuck it aside with the thought that they'll leave it up to someone else to decide the fate of your manuscript. When you get them back, you might even see a coffee ring on the title page.

Anyway, the reason they ask you to tell them is because they want to know if and when they might like it, they'll know beforehand that they have to do battle for it.

Good luck and I really mean that.

Answer 4

I submitted mine to multiple agents over the last six years.

It's a common trade practice with writers and agents.

But I never mentioned it in my queries. It's considered the work of an amateur.

But sending it to an appraisal agency? You'd best keep your money, and hold onto it. All these people will do is stoke your ego, and you don't really need that! lol

Answer 5

Absolutely. It increases your chances of having someone take your book seriously, and you don't have to take every offer that comes your way (you should be so lucky).

There are arguments for telling and for not telling that you've sent it to more than one place. On one hand, it may give them a sense of urgency (which I doubt); on the other hand, it could discourage them altogether from looking at it (I tend to favor this opinion, but then, I'm a pessimist).

Good luck.

Answer 6

In most cases, publishers do NOT want you to submit simultaneously.

Answer 7

How and when you submitt your works is your bussiness, for greater oppritunity for you, but,in the process be assured your copyrights.

Answer 8

Of course; you improve your chances this way. You don't owe them anything, so don't worry about telling them what you're up to.