By Deanna Lee

Editor in Chief

Cobblestone Press, LLC

What happens to a submission when it hits in my inbox? I’m sure that’s a question more than one author has so I’ll break that process down.

1. I review the cover letter
2. Verify the correct file format
3. File the submission for review based on the genre and purpose of the submission (i.e. – contest, specific line, and genre).

There are times, more often than I like, where my process is stymied because the author failed to provide a cover letter, the accurate file format, or a blurb for their material.

When I see these errors, I come away with the thought that the author has:

1. Not bothered to read our guidelines
2. Doesn’t feel like we’re worth the effort to do it correctly
3. That we’re just one of many they are submitting to and I’ve been included in a mass submission email

First, we will not review a manuscript that does not come with a cover letter. I will not open any file that does not come in an RTF format. If the interior isn’t formatted to my specifications, I find it annoying but I can change that readily enough.

What bothers me most about those that don’t follow instructions:

1. I’m not confident they’ll do well in our publication process
2. If their submission isn’t important enough to get right, how important will the actual publication be to them?

Why follow the guidelines?

1. It demonstrates both your respect for the person receiving the submission and the publisher as a whole.
2. It tells the editor that you are very serious about your craft and your career.
3. It is an indication that you can work within their publication process because you can follow directions.

I’ve asked myself if I could I work with an author who doesn’t bother with the courtesy of following our instructions. I don’t have an answer to that, but what I will tell you is that there are publishers out there who won’t ask an author to resubmit with the correct file and who won’t remind you to include a cover letter. They’ll just delete your submission outright and move on.

The current acceptance rate at Cobblestone Press is around 5%, and I don’t imagine that many publishers are higher than that. As a writer you owe your dream of publication the best chance it has – don’t diminish it by not following the rules.

About the Author

Deanna Lee is a multi-published, award winning author in both eBook and print. It is her goal as a publisher to provide the most positive and rewarding experience possible for both published and unpublished authors in the e-publishing world.

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