Simultaneous Subs

[Riley]

I didn't see any threads that specifically answered my question. If there are, feel free to point me to it (them).

I understand that when a magazine says "no simultaneous submissions", they mean they don't want you sending out the manuscript you sent to them to other publishers until they accept or reject it.

Does this mean you're also not supposed to send out different manuscripts? Or are you allowed to send out different manuscripts to different magazines, so long as the submission guidelines don't forbid otherwise?

[Mumut]

I believe they can only try to restrict the manuscript you sent them, no others. I'd like to know how they would know if you disobeyed, though. Everyone has heard of famous authors whose works were refused by over a hundred major publishers. Both my submissions took six months to be rejected, so did they spend fifty years trying to reach fame? I don't think so!

[Birol]

I moved this from Roundtable to BWQ.

What you're suggesting, Riley, is that a writer is only able to work one manuscript -- whether it be a novel, an article, a short story, a poem, etc. -- at a time. And, no. That's not what 'no simultaneous submissions' means. The only way to make a living in this business is to have multiple manuscripts and queries out there circulating.

However, editors do talk to one another. They don't work in isolation. So don't submit the same manuscript to different places if the guidelines specifically forbid this.

[Julie Worth]

Quoting Duotrope (http://www.duotrope.com/glossary.aspx):

Simultaneous submissions: This refers to the practice of sending a single story to different publications at the same time. When simultaneous submissions are allowed, most editors prefer for you to let them know up front, and always let them know if the piece is accepted elsewhere. When simultaneous submissions aren't allowed, some editors blacklist writers who get caught sending them simultaneous submissions.

Multiple submissions: When more than one of your stories or poems are under consideration with a single publication, you have sent multiple submissions. Very few fiction publications allow multiple submissions, and when they do, be sure to follow their guidelines. Many impose length restrictions on multiple submissions. Most publications prefer for you to wait until you hear back from them on a pending submission before submitting another.

[Riley]

Thanks for the good answers. I've always been confused about that, because a couple of people once told me that you weren't supposed to send in more than one story if a publisher said no simultaneous subs. It didn't make sense then, it doesn't now. Thanks again for clearing up the confusion.

[IceCreamEmpress]

Thanks for the good answers. I've always been confused about that, because a couple of people once told me that you weren't supposed to send in more than one story if a publisher said no simultaneous subs. It didn't make sense then, it doesn't now. Thanks again for clearing up the confusion.

Although that's not what "no simultaneous submissions" means, it generally isn't considered good form to have more than one manuscript under consideration at a magazine at a time.

(This does not apply to poetry, where people often send magazines a batch at a time.)

But, no, you shouldn't send your novella to a magazine that's currently considering your short story--you should wait until you hear yea or nay from them about the first manuscript.

[Mayntz]

Here's another aspect to consider: larger magazines with a greater circulation may have contract restrictions about the content you submit to other publications. For example, if you write a travel piece about a specific destination, say a round-up piece, you may not be able to send a similar overview to one of their competitors within a specified time frame -- up to as much as a year. However, you're not restricted from writing an entirely different article, say about a local festival as opposed to the original overview roundup, for a competitor. Always read contract language carefully!

[DonnaDuck]

Just a note about letting editors know up front about simsubs, I haven't run into any of those. I've just seen editors asking to be notified should your simsub piece get accepted elsewhere.

On that note, I had a story that was simsubbed and I placed in a writing competition with it but it's not getting published anywhere. It's just a pat on the back type thing, 'yay, you're good now come read for us.' No publication, just a congratulation. I believe I still have one or two places that this story is still being considered for although I do believe I'm past their consideration time. Should I notify them or just let it lie?