This morning, I received a submission from an ambitious
young author. He self-published his novel last year, and now he wants to find a
wider audience through a traditional publisher. Good for him. Indeed, I know
how he feels. Or in the words of Maya Angelou:
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story
inside you.”
Unfortunately, his approach will probably do him more harm
than good. For,
he didn’t just ignore our submission instructions entirely;
and
he didn’t just NOT give the information I need, in order
to give him a fair hearing; and
he didn’t send sample chapters (which, at least, agents do
sometimes request).
