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What does solicited and unsolicited mean?


  • JessicaMadden
    Sep 12 7:04 PM
    Reply
    What does solicited and unsolicited mean? I keep coming across them when I read submission guidelines for agents and publishes. I have looked up the meaning but it doesn't make sense to me. Could someone explain it to me, please?

  • KodyBoye
    September 12 ↑
    Reply
    Solicited - Asked for
    Unsolicited - Not asked for.

    If an agent says they don't seek unsolicited submissions, it means they won't accept general submissions.

  • Valkyrie
    September 12 ↑
    Reply
    +1 KodyBoye

    I saw an ezine yesterday that had a submissions page, then said they don't accept unsolicited submissions. Why bother with the page, if you only print stuff you've asked people to write for you?

  • Gary Alexander
    September 17 ↑
    Reply

    The problem is no one tells the truth.

    The problem, Jessica-Madden, is it is a crowded world out there and EVERYBODY wants to be rich, famous, a great tennis player, an actor or a WRITER. Lots and lots of people (even those who CAN'T write) want to become writers! The agents, editors and publishers ARE SWAMPED with these people "knocking" on their doors. They are SWAMPED with submissions. They are beside themselves with trying to KEEP most of these people away. They don't even have the time to sort through the lot to discern who CAN and who CANNOT write. They have no time to read WONDERFUL and TALENTED writers! So...they have these euphemistic phrases...like: "No Unsolicited Manuscripts." Like Valkyrie suggests, it makes little sense. But what they are REALLY saying...REALLY... is: "GO AWAY!"..."WE HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP US BUSY!"..."WE DON'T WANT ANYMORE!"
    So...Jessica-Madden, unless you are good...and VERY GOOD...and unless you have honed your craft...and unless you KNOW someone who can get you a contact, slip you in the "door" and vouch for you...your CRAFT...your ORIGINALITY...and your MARKETABILITY (because, let's face it...it's all about SELLING! and making the publisher MONEY)...I suggest writing for love...at this point! And perhaps, one day, when you are REALLY READY... with a lot of LUCK...it'll happen!
    GA

    • Bitter Irony
      September 20 ↑
      Reply
      No offense, GA, but don't freak out. It really isn't that bad. :-)

      If it's a book publisher who would prefer not to see unsolicited manuscripts, it means "get an agent and have them query." If it's a magazine, it means "write some really awesome short stories, get them published in good markets, and sooner or later we'll come knocking on your door asking you for something."

      I've never been solicited for anything pro-paying, but I was an invited author for the first issue of 10Flash! and an invited essayist for the Winter 2008 issue of Riverbed Haiku. It's not a matter of luck, really, but a matter of skill and making yourself visible.
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