Back at the beginning of January, I submitted two different manuscripts (one a picture book, one a longer book) to two different publishers. One was by e-mail, the other by post. I have long since heard from other publishers and agents submitted to in the meantime, but it's been 8 months now.

Shall I contact them to enquire about the manuscripts? Or with the e-mail submission, shall I just send a submission by post and mention in the letter that it was submitted earlier but may have gone astray?

Or shall I just assume that they are rejected and move on?

freebird

P.S I know that last time I had to wait this long, it was because the publisher was seriously considering the manuscript. I don't want to be too pushy if that's the case!

I don't think you are being pushy after 8 months, Freebird. Unless their website or guidelines say something like 'don't contact us, we'll contact you', or 'no reponse means rejection', then i'd just send a very brief, polite email, asking if they have had a chance to consider your work yet.

I don't think a publisher will be put off, if they are seriously considering you.

Having said that - coincidence probably - i have always been rejected when i've nudged! But, i have and would never wait longer than 3 months on principle.

Good luck with it, whatever you decide.

Yes, I'd agree. It's not as if you're likely to get an answer now if you don't nudge, and any answer is worse than no answer. Yes, honestly, it is.

I suggest you nudge by the same route that you originally submitted, or email for both.

Emma

Totally agree.
I didn't get a reply for one book I submitted and when I sent my 2nd to her, asked if she'd had a chance to look at the first, which I'd sent a good 8 months previously.
She was mortified at having over-looked it, asked me to resubmit, apologised profusely, then rejected both!
But she was very lovely about it and told me to send her any future work!
Debs

Very true. Some agents are notoriously chaotic (I was rung up by one assistant, saying, 'We've been sorting out Big Agent's office while he's away, and we've come across your submission; I imagine it's too late to ask for the full MS...' but even the super-organised ones deal with so much stuff, it's not surprising that sometimes it goes astray. It's not always (or even perhaps usually) because they don't give a monkey's.

Emma