2006-12-16 15:00:58 · 7 answers · asked by h_oboe 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Many professional publishing houses have on staff writers contracted to publish a certain number of texts per year. They either do not have the staff to review external texts or are not interested in purchasing texts that were not produced in house. An unsolicited manuscript is a text that is produced and sent to a company for review without being requested. Many companies will not accept unsolicited manuscripts, but yet many writers continue to send them to the publishing houses in hopes of being discovered.
2006-12-16 15:06:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
An unsolicited manuscript means one that you send to a publisher on spec, when they have not asked to see it. The routine they follow is that you first write them a letter submitting an outline of the book -- a one page summary -- and a stamped self addressed enveloped (SSAE) and if they find the plot interesting, they will ask you to submit two or three chapters, with an SSAE. If they like those chapters, they will ask you to submit the whole manuscript. Then it becomes a solicited manuscript and as they have shown some interest in it already, it will get a full read and a report by the reader. In other words, it joins the line of books that has a chance at being published. The unsolicited manuscripts, if they are even accepted by the publisher, go into what is called the 'slush pile' which means that someone may pick it up and thumb through it, if they have the time or the interest, or it may simply sit there and gather dust.
2006-12-16 15:11:15 · answer #2 · answered by old lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From: http://www.austinscbwi.com/faqs.html
Solicited vs. Unsolicited Manuscript: Solicited means that the editor requested to see the manuscript. Your manuscript can have solicited status either through an agent, an editor you may have met at a conference, or you queried the editor according to their guidelines and got the okay to submit your manuscript. Otherwise, do not submit your work to a publisher who does not accept unsolicited submissions. It will not be read.
I guess in simple terms "unsolicited" means they didn't ask you to send it/are not expecting it/do not know it is coming.
Not sure how it is for writers but for screenplays I have always been told to send in a query letter first to an agency before sending a script. Sometimes you'll need a release form too. Pick up a copy of "The Writer's Market 2006" or 2007.
These sites may be useful:
http://apc-online.com/publishing/manuscripts.html
http://agentoo7.blogspot.com/2005/07/secret-lives-of-editorial-assistants.html
2006-12-16 15:08:17 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An unsolicited manuscript is one that was NOT requested. They did not ask you to send it to them, they do NOT want it.
2006-12-16 15:12:22 · answer #4 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means that the manuscript was sent without them asking for it. if company says they do not accept 'unsolicited manuscripts' it means that they only accept manuscripts through an agent/agency.
2006-12-16 15:02:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you submit a book to a publisher when they never asked you to write it.
2006-12-16 15:02:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
one you send that isnt asked for
2006-12-16 15:02:16 · answer #7 · answered by b-overit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋