From what I've read people seem to send submissions in batches but what's the reasoning behind this?

What would be wrong with making the most of the work printer and post room to submit to all possible agents at the same time?

What would be wrong with making the most of the work printer and post room to submit to all possible agents at the same time?

Well in my case I often do something really daft in my submissions - typos, usually, but there have been half blank pages, forgotten the page numbering...you name it, at some point or other I've done it - and it is better to catch it before the second half a dozen submissions go out, rather than die of embarrassment because I've submitted to everyone and now there's nothing I can do but cringe in some dark corner somewhere while I wait for their rejections.


- NaomiM




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But, other that that, nope can't think of a single reason why not.

Lol

Guess I'll just have to make sure mine are all prefect then won't I?

I knew someone who send off 100 submissions at the same time and ended up with 2 interested agents - admittedly that was in the US where there are proportionally more agents.


- NaomiM

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I suppose the advantage is you don't get discouraged by the rejections coming in and stop submitting before you've covered all the bases.

I think it’s a case of one person’s hope over other people’s experience. We all like to think that the first batch of six will all love it, so no point in wasting postage on the rest

Dee

As you know, I just sent off a batch of four with a typo in the first line - even though I'm pretty meticulous about checking and re-checking stuff - so agree with Naomi. Another thing is that IF an agent comes back with some helpful suggestion or feedback about what you've sent, you can then incorporate that and improve the MS before sending it to the next lot. And, on a purely personal note, I like to keep a certain amount of hope alive while I work on the next one, and if I keep sending out in small batches, will have finished the first draft of the next by the time I've covered every agent.
Susiex

I sent out a first batch of about 10; most came back with standard rejections but a couple gave me their reasons for rejecting. The reasons were consistent (and made sense) and so I decided to make some changes before I sent it out again.

Oh and I don't have a work printer or post room so I have to pay for it all myself, hence budgeting restrictions on mass mailouts!

I sent about 18 off, Geoff, and after a few rejections got some very interesting feedback and was kicking myself that the others were out there.

Having said that, i would always make sure i had at least 6 with agents at the same time.

I believe it worked for Stefland, who sent out 47 in one go?

I stuck to batches of 6 - not for any particular reason, just seemed like a good healthy number to have out there. I didn't fancy 30-odd rejections plopping on to the doormat in quick succession...

For me it's a matter of spreading the cost, but I'm also hoping that when the rejections start coming in, I'll feel better knowing that I still have some more on my list to send out to.

The other great thing about sending in batches is that sometimes they come back completely pristine - obviously no-one's even picked them up, except to bung them back in the envelope, so you can save printing costs by sending 'em out to the next one (providing you check really carefully first).
Susiex

I was thinking of doing that too Susie, because my printer seems to drink ink like water.