A submission question...

[Tommie Lyn]

...for those of you who are currently submitting novels to agencies, seeking representation.

What method do you use to keep track of which agencies you've submitted to, when you submitted, what means of submission you used (email or snail mail) and what response you received?

This is an important question, because, given the fact that I'm submitting to about 10 at a time (I don't want all those rejection letters coming at one time and burdening the poor mail man) and I don't want to inadvertently submit to an agency twice (a definite no-no).

This is a crucial question for me, given the fact that, at my age, my memory isn't what it once was, and, while years ago I could have remembered a complicated list of agencies, dates submitted, responses, etc., that is no longer one of my abilities.

I have a piece of software that was touted as a wonderful tracker of submissions, but it is far too complex and unwieldy for my needs -- and it really doesn't address my aim in keeping track. Right now, I have started a number of files in my word processor, keeping information on the various agencies, but I can already see that it's going to be a huge headache, and won't prevent redundant submissions.

Help.....please?

[DrRita]

I just use a simple little notebook . . . guess it's just the best way for me.

[Tommie Lyn]

I just use a simple little notebook . . . guess it's just the best way for me.

Thanks for the suggestion. But....you write your entries by hand in your notebook, right? I can't read my own handwriting. The older I get, the worse it becomes. So a handwritten notebook isn't an option any more. I rely on the computer for everything nowadays.

I can print out sheets containing the information, as I'm doing now, and insert them in a folder or a loose-leaf binder, but it's still a problem (don't want to end up submitting to more than one agent at an agency, several months apart, for instance, which could be possible with the way I'm structuring the information).

[Mouse5]

If I were you I would get myself a three ring binder and store my info in that. Making sure each paper I print out would have the date of submission, name of agency and agent it was submitted to, and when I received an answer back I would take that answer and staple it to the information sheet.

I might even go so far as to get some dividers so I could separate them into categories. Such as recently submitted/waiting for responses, rejections, accepted, maybe's. Something like that. This way all the information is in one spot and organized.

[righter1]

Tommie,

I do 2 things when I'm in submitting mode...

I have an Excel Spreadsheet with all the pertinent data--when, what, who, etc. This makes it handy and easy to read.

I also track my submissions similarly on LitMatch.net (may be .org.) It's free to sign up, and their system is easy, plus you can search for agents there by specific categories, and track all your various projects individually. In addition to that, your feedback about any agents provides data for other writers that may be submitting there as well--and you can see their feedback before you submit. Really, I think this is one of the better agent sites on the web right now (although AgentQuery.com is wonderful, too.) Very easy to use, and if you need any pointers, you know where to find me... :rolleyes:

[Tamera]

I use outlook. I enter the agencies as contacts adding any notes that I need. Then I catogorize them: green for to be submitted or waiting on additional material, yellow for submitted, red for rejected. Then I put a flag on the contact to follow up when it's time. I tried other methods, but this works best for me since I use outlook for other things as well.

I was using Litmatch, but I found that not all of the agencies were listed.

[righter1]

I was using Litmatch, but I found that not all of the agencies were listed.

I haven't run into this scenario, but I'm not so sure that one of their requirements is that the agent is a member of AAR (that's always in my search criteria, at least.) Surely it couldn't hurt to e-mail them and suggest they add an agent...

It seems AgentQuery.com may have a tracking system, but I think they charge for it... but don't quote me on that.

[Tommie Lyn]

The spreadsheet will fill my needs. I'd forgotten I had a spreadsheet -- but it comes as part of Open Office, which I downloaded a couple of months ago. So, I'm busy getting it set up.

Thanks, everyone, for all your helpful suggestions.

[lynnmosher]

Tommie Lyn, Writing non-fiction requires a lot more keeping track so I use an Excel spreadsheet also.

[paulchernoch]

I have a folder on my computer called "Proposals". In it I store one subfolder for each Agent or Publisher, named accordingly.

The folder contains the submission guidelines for the agent/pub, my proposal, cover letter or query letter, copy of MS, and a file named correspondence.txt. Whenever I write them, I add an entry to correspondence.txt with the date and purpose. Ditto when they write me.

If I get rejected, I add "-r" to the name of the folder. I have other suffixes for the other states, with "-u" meaning I have not yet submitted.

- Paul

[Tommie Lyn]

Paul, I got tired just reading all you do....I'm far too disorganized to keep up with that, LOL.

Seriously, it sounds like a good system, but with my addled brain, I'm afraid I'd find some way to mess it up.