Based on our poll results, the biggest gripe writers have about the old, paper submission process is “interminable response times” (60%), followed by “rejections that don’t give useful feedback” (23%). What do editors most dislike about the old process? “Having to slog through 100 manuscripts. . .before finding one that shows promise” (35%), “Feeling perpetually behind” (28%), and “Being cast as the evil editor” (21%). Thanks to everyone who participated!
By the way, we’ve shortened those response times a bit. Currently, for those writers whose manuscripts are accepted by our first readers, it’s averaging less than three weeks from the first time they submitted their manuscripts to Creative Byline until they hear back from an editor. If you have a manuscript ready, clearly would be a great time to submit it!
2 Comments
I am wondering how you qualify editors to be a part of your system. How do we know we are dealing with a quality editor or reader. Are there organizations that rate these editors so we know if we are being reviewed by someone associated with an actual publishing house and not some vanity press or worse?
It sounds like you might be confusing first readers with editors. First readers are the folks paid by Creative Byline to determine whether or not a manuscript is ready to be submitted to an editor at a publishing house. You can find out about Creative Byline’s first readers here [http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/all-about-first-readers/]. Once a first reader approves your manuscript, you can submit it to an editor, none of whom are paid by Creative Byline. Editors simply use our system to access manuscripts. All the editors work at one of the publishing houses listed on our front page [http://www.creativebyline.com/]. Editors can’t sign up individually; only editors who work for the publishers who have signed contracts with Creative Byline can access the system. And we only do business with publishers who pay writers for their work, not the other way around. If we haven’t fully answered your question, please ask again!