Hey guys. I received a contract offer from a decent smaller publisher today! I did just send a full request to my top publishing pick last Friday though and have another full and a partial out as well.
What do I say to the other guys who are still considering?
I received a contract offer today but would love to work with you... what do I say after that? Everything I came up with sounds a little pushy.
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First off, congrats on getting the contract! If you're going to go with this decent-sized smaller publisher--and only you can make that decision--then I'd tell the other publishers the truth right away. That way, it'll save them time from reading through your manuscript when they could be doing other things.
I've been in the same situation. Publishers may seem sort of greedy when they say "you should have come to me first and told me" and I can understand that POV. After all, they get hundreds if not thousands of manuscripts a year and have to wade through them and decide who to take and who to turn down. At the same time, though, you have to do for you first and foremost. So if they get a little pissed, it's understandable, but the process works both ways. Tell them the truth and have done with it. Best of luck!
