Simultaneously!
By D.L. Winchester.
Most writers love submitting to calls that allow simultaneous submissions.
Most editors wring their hands before deciding that yes, they will allow simultaneous submissions—if they reach that decision at all. There are plenty of places that are not interested in looking at stories unless they can “go exclusive” with it.
Allowing authors to submit their stories to multiple calls at the same time seems reasonable. In the game of percentages that is the submission grind, the odds of multiple editors wanting your piece are low to begin with. All simultaneous submissions do is increase the number of eyes a story is put in front of, increasing the chances of it finding a home.
The problem here is one of goals. A writer’s goal is to get their story published so they can move on to trying to get other stories published. An editor is trying to put together the best anthology/magazine/webzine/whatever they can without having their favorite story swiped from under them by another editor.
And since the editor has the power in this relationship, they can dictate things like, “No simultaneous submissions.”
As someone working on both sides of the fence, I come down firmly in favor of allowing simultaneous submissions. Unless an editor intends to maintain a ridiculously fast turnaround time (which I also try to do), keeping a story off the market for months serves no one but the editor. It’s inconsiderate to the writer, other editors who might be interested in the story, and the readers of the world who want to see the story in print.
But, I’ll still submit to calls that say “no simultaneous submissions.” I’m just selective about them.
What do I look for?
Posted Timelines
If my story is going to be off the market, I want to know how long it will be off the market. It doesn’t have to be exact, and I understand that life happens, even to editors and publishers, but a general idea of when I can expect to start shopping the story again increases the chances of me submitting it.
Paying Calls
This is my own hot take, but I don’t think non-paying markets have any business not allowing simultaneous submissions. If someone is willing to let you use their work for free, you should be bending over backward to accommodate them. The amount of potential compensation is always a factor in deciding to take my story off the market.
Ease of Submission
The less work I have to do as a writer, the more likely I am to submit to ANY call. Want the story emailed to you in Modern Shunn format? I’m all over that. Want me to fill out a three-page form and tattoo the story onto the skin of a live ocelot? Sorry, probably going to pass on that.
Prestige
Big name publication? Super awesome editor? Both? Definitely something to make me consider submitting.
And as always, there may be cases in which a call checks every one of these boxes, and I decide not to submit. There may also be cases in which a call checks none of these boxes, and I send the submission anyway.
Sometimes you just have to go with your gut.
As editors and publishers, Undertaker Books allows simultaneous submissions because we believe it helps us build a positive reputation with authors. Sure, a story we want may slip through our grasp every once in a while, but it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. We’re writers too, and we try to make decisions that benefit other writers, even if it may lead to a little frustration on our end.
Our goal is to be a press people want to submit to. Tying authors down with annoying limitations that only benefit us isn’t the way to do that.
Simultaneous Submission Etiquette
-If your piece is accepted (hurray!), immediately notify the other presses you have submitted it to. This doesn't have to be a long, drawn out process. Just a short notification email or message:
Hello,
I am writing to inform you that I am withdrawing my piece, "Awesome Story," from consideration in your call. I appreciate the opportunity to submit, and look forward to submitting to you in the future.
Sincerely,
Writer McWriter
-Some editors want to know if a piece is a simultaneous submission. If it is, just mention it in your cover letter (you are including a cover letter, right?).
If this is the first place you've submitted and you aren't sure if you'll be submitting it somewhere else, go ahead and say that it's a simultaneous submission. That way, if you do decide to submit somewhere else, you're covered.
-If you submit to a call that does not allow simultaneous submissions and find another call you would rather submit the piece to, well... Welcome to the gray area.
On the one hand, you should be able to withdraw your piece from consideration at any time, for any reason.
On the other hand, if you get a reputation for pulling your submissions, you're likely to find yourself on editor's blacklists. And since editors talk to each other, you may end up on the blacklist of editors you've never submitted to without ever knowing.
My advice is to submit something else to the second call, or wait to see if you get a response on the piece you want to submit before the deadline. Don't try to be sneaky and submit it to the second call without telling the first—if it ends up getting accepted at both places, responding to the original call with a withdrawal "at the altar" is liable to ruin relationships and put you on a blacklist.