If a literary agent asks to read your entire manuscript, pat yourself on the back! Something in your book or novel piqued the agent’s interest—not an easy thing to do. The literary agent believes you may have something that he or she could sell to an editor.

BUT—before you bundle up your manuscript and send it off in the mail, there are a few things to consider. You’ll want to get the most mileage out of the agent’s interest in your book. A savvy and diplomatic writer may be able to use one agent’s request to stir up interest from other agents.

Here are some options and tips to help you decide how to handle an agent’s request for a complete manuscript:

Of course, the easiest thing to do is to simply send the manuscript ASAP, as per the agent’s request. No questions asked.

But sometimes, it’s not that simple.

Has the agent requested an exclusive read? If so, you may want to put the brakes on. There are a number of ways to handle a request for an exclusive, and we’ve written a post to help you make the right choice. READ MORE: When A Literary Agent Requests An Exclusive: Solutions For Sticky Situations.

If the agent is your top choice and you know that you’ll sign with the agency given the opportunity, then you do not necessarily need to drum up enthusiasm at other literary agencies. Doing so might feed your ego, but it may not be conducive to a strong partnership built on mutual respect and trust.

If, however, you’re hoping that a literary agent other than the one who requested your book will rep your writing, you may want to contact the agencies who have already received your query in order to inform them that you’ve received a request from another agent.

(TIP: Don’t call. Agents hate that. Email is fine. State simply that you want to let so-and-so know that another literary agency has requested your complete manuscript and that you want to extend the courtesy of informing said agency.)

You don’t need to drop the names of the people who are reading your book, but by informing the parties involved that your full manuscript is currently being read by others, you may just get bumped to the top of the slush pile. After all, no literary agent wants to get scooped by another agent.

Need help negotiating the finer points of the book publishing industry? Writer’s Relief submission strategists are here to help!

Anthologies are rich with opportunity for new writers hoping to break into the market. And they're a popular market now—simply count the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul collections in circulation. Editors of anthologies frequently put out calls for submissions from new and established writers. This article will teach you how to submit your stories, poems, and essays to anthologies, as well as where to find a list of anthologies that are open to your work. 

An anthology gathers stories and/or essays that center around a common theme, which opens up a great avenue for aspiring authors. Are you a lifetime hiker? There's probably an anthology of nature-based tales waiting for your contribution. Are you a cancer survivor? Caretaker of an elderly parent? If there's a common thread that makes people feel a connection with each other, there's likely a market for your story. These publications depend on the contributions of folks just like you.

Anthologies are often started as a way to fill gaps in the market when a publishing house perceives a need for a certain theme. Sometimes authors get together and submit samples as an anthology package, and other times a single author comes up with the idea and invites other writers to submit. Smaller publishing houses often put out anthologies too. The process will require research, but it may be well worth it.

Click here to find a list of Anthology Calls For Submissions.

A few things to look out for when choosing to submit:

1. Some anthologies consider reprints, and it's best not to be locked into selling all your rights to the piece. Look for "reprints welcome" and "one-time or nonexclusive rights." If the publisher insists on first rights only, you should receive a larger payment. Check the simultaneous submission policies as well, so that you can circulate your story to more than one potential anthology. However, if your piece is highly specific (targeted for Chicken Soup for the Avalanche Survivor's Soul), you may have only one market in mind.

2. You should not be forced to purchase the anthology that has published your work, and you should receive at least one free copy plus discounts on additional copies. Avoid "reading fees" and collections that are "for a good cause" (unless you're willing to write for free).

3. Get the terms of your payment up front and in writing. Some anthologies pay token fees, which can be acceptable when you consider a great writing credit, while others pay quite handsomely.

Tips for submission:

1. Pay attention to reading periods. Ignore them and risk the Round File.

2. Study the editor's submission guidelines and follow them to the letter. If the editor wants a 4,000 word count and Times New Roman font, do not be the exception to the rule to "stand out."

3. Keep your cover letter brief, professional, and to the point. Do not tell your story in the cover letter and then use a couple of paragraphs persuading the editor to buy it. Let her do her job and get on to the good stuff—your actual piece.

4. If you have writing credits, list only the top four or five recognizable literary journals or publications. A list of 20 obscure 'zines will likely be skipped over.

5. Make sure your work is proofed and polished to within an inch of its life. Clean copy is your friend.

6. As with all submissions, do not be impatient and pester the editor to make sure your piece was received or to ask if he liked it. This is a sure sign of an amateur and a surefire way to irritate the editor. If the publication deadline is looming and you still haven't heard anything, then a quick query is acceptable.

Overall, anthologies are a great way to get started in this difficult industry. Even if you don't land a lucrative sale, you'll still be able to boast a writing credit, and this is what it's all about—getting your work out there to be read. At Writer's Relief, it's our goal to help creative writers like you get published. We can target your writing to the best literary agents and editors out there. Contact us today so that we can save you the hassle of making your submissions. 

Wondering how or where to get a short story published? Although short stories may not be as widely read as novels and memoirs, there is a strong market for short story writers in the form of literary magazines. If you want to publish a short story, use this step-by-step guide to help!

1. Write well.

2. Know the market. Be sure you know the proper word count for short stories. Also, you’ll want to choose a great opening line for your story. And use our fantastic short story checklist to be sure that your prose is up to par.

3. Proofread and format. Does your manuscript meet industry standards? Is it error-free? If you doubt the perfection of your grammar and usage, Writer’s Relief proofreaders can help.

4. Research, research, research. There are thousands of literary magazines publishing creative writing today, and they actively read and acquire short stories. But you’ve got to know which literary journals are right for you (as well as which journals are wrong for you). Researching can take countless hours, but it’s a vital and necessary part of making submissions that get results. If you don’t want to do the research on your own, Writer’s Relief, an author’s submission service, can help.

Bonus tip: If you don’t have any publishing credentials and are trying to break into the market, submitting your work to online literary journals can be a great place to start. Online journals are publishing some of the best writing around, and they’re quickly taking the place of print journals.

5. Write your cover letter. To write a good cover letter for a short story, stick to the basics. Skip the clever intros and silly bios. When you’re submitting to a literary agent, the query letter matters lots. But when you’re submitting to a literary journal, emphasis isn’t on the query as much as the manuscript itself. At Writer’s Relief, we write our client’s cover letters for short stories.

6. Mail or email your submissions.

7. Track your responses. Keep track of who you sent your story to (so that you don’t inadvertently send more than one story at once). Also, keep track of who has rejected or accepted your story—as well as any personal notes that may be helpful in the future when you submit again.

8. Wait. Sometimes it can take a long time to hear back from literary journals.

9. Rinse and repeat!

Additional reading:

How To Write A Query Letter For A Short Story Collection

How Much Money Can I Make Writing Poems, Short Stories, And Books?

Short Story Or Novella? What’s The Difference And Where To Publish Shorter Fiction

Once you’ve got a significant number of short stories published, you may want to consider publishing a collection: How To Publish A Short Story Collection: Tips For Getting Agents' And Editors' Attention For Your Short Stories

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of researching markets and submitting your short story on your own, Writer’s Relief can lift the stress and anxiety of making submissions. We’ve been working with short story authors since 1994, successfully helping writers place their stories in literary magazines. Lean how Writer’s Relief can help you submit your work today!

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Publish your short story in a reputable publication today!

Literary agents and editors play different but important roles in the book publishing industry. Many writers wonder: Can you get an editor without a literary agent? Do you need a literary agent to get a book published? Why have both a literary agent and an editor—isn’t one or the other enough?

The Primary Purposes

What is the point of having a literary agent? A literary agent gives writers access to editors at publishing houses. Without a literary agent’s help, most writers would not be able to approach editors at major publishers with their ideas, proposals, and manuscripts. Agents have a number of other roles as well. Read more: Top Reasons To Query Agents First. 

What is the point of having an editor?  At most major publishing houses, an editor’s work is to acquire strong book projects and make those book projects even stronger through critique.

Professional Relationships

Who pays a literary agent? Literary agents are generally paid a 15 percent commission on the sale of a book; in a sense, a literary agent works for his/her clients. However, it is best to approach a relationship with a literary agent as a partnership. 

Who pays the editor? An editor is generally an employee of a publishing house. A writer and editor are both paid by the publisher for their work; however, editors often are charged with determining how much a writer is paid. 

Read more: How Much Money Can I Make Writing Poems, Stories, and Books? 

Critiquing And Editing Your Book

Will a literary agent critique your book? Yes and no. A literary agent’s primary job is NOT to offer editorial advice on a book: An agent’s task is to sell a book to an editor. Sometimes, a literary agent will offer editorial guidance for a novel, but it’s not mandatory. A literary agent may also be willing to critique a proposal for a nonfiction book. 

Will an editor critique your book? Yes, an editor will critique a book or novel. Editors work closely with authors to make sure a book is ready for a large audience and public scrutiny.  

How to connect

How does a writer get a literary agent? A writer can get a literary agent by composing query letters and sending submissions via email and mail. Writers can also meet literary agents at writing conferences and can network at writing groups. Find out how Writer’s Relief can help you get a literary agent. 

How does a writer get an editor at a publishing house? A writer can get an editor by having his/her literary agent pitch a manuscript to editors. Some editors at independent publishing houses do accept queries from unagented (unrepresented) submissions.

Where Does Writer’s Relief Fit In?

Writer’s Relief is neither a literary agency nor a publishing house that employs editors. Writer’s Relief manages the submission process for writers who wish to submit their work for publication with a major publisher. We have been helping writers submit their nonfiction books, memoirs, and novels to literary agents since 1994. Learn how you can become a client of Writer’s Relief. 

Not all writers make it a habit of going to writers’ conferences, but they are a part of many writers’ professional lives. These conferences are a meeting ground for literary agents, editors, writing instructors, and fellow scribes who gather to share knowledge and expertise, make contacts, and meet specific goals, whether it’s a writer pitching a novel or an agent scoring a best-seller.

Although you can find day workshops that are more affordable, longer conferences are often not cheap. They range from 200 to 500 dollars and up, so it’s important to choose wisely. Here are some tips to help you get the most for your money.

Here’s where you can find a list of writing conferences organized by date and state.

What to look for:

First, you’ll want to locate conferences that fit your particular needs. Some focus on children’s writing, while others are for romance or mystery writers. Narrow down the field to those that pertain to your genre. The Internet is full of information on various conferences.

As with all investments, a little research can go a long way. Request all the information offered and go over it carefully. Do some checking with fellow writers or critique groups for opinions, and research the guest speaker(s).

Take a good look at the opportunities available. Are there workshops, networking opportunities, well-known lecturers? If all you’re offered is a chance to hear an obscure author read her work, you won’t get much out of the experience.

Make note of the specifics, such as the travel requirements, lodging choices, and facilities. You may want to stick closer to home, or choose a mountain retreat over urban classrooms. Is there lodging available, or are you responsible for making hotel arrangements separately?

Double-check for hidden costs, and tally all possible expenses. If you’re organized and ask well in advance, you may be able to apply for a scholarship (or partial scholarship) to help defray the cost. The same goes for volunteering at the conference. You’ll have to ask for these options, as they probably won’t be advertised. You may also choose to attend with a friend. If you each take different seminars and workshops and then share notes, you’ll get more for your money.

What to do:

Clarify your conference goals before the actual event. Are you hoping to meet an agent, hone your writing skills, schmooze with other writers, learn new trends, and/or promote your work? Plan your time accordingly. If networking is your objective, skip the guest lecture and attend the less formal cocktail party instead. Or sign up for that "new media" seminar if you’re interested in learning new trends.

Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately. "Business casual" is a safe bet, although there are usually opportunities for more formal dress during dinners, etc. Be sure you’re remembered for your professional and engaging personality, not your plunging neckline or glow-in-the-dark cowboy boots.

Keep an eye on the time. If you’ve made appointments to speak with editors or agents, don’t be late. Stick to your allotted time out of courtesy both to the editor or agent and to your fellow writers.

Bring a light shoulder bag or briefcase stocked with your business cards, a notebook, extra pens...and use your bag for the free handouts. When you receive a business card, make a note on the back to remind you who you talked to and what it was about. It’s best to keep your hands free, so check other luggage and your coat in advance.

Position yourself carefully—asking questions from the front of the room will get you noticed, while the back row is a good place if you plan to slip out early.

Be prepared to do some work—networking can be exhausting, and this is not the time to sit back and be a passive observer. Everyone at this conference shares a common interest, so don’t let insecurity keep you from meeting new people and learning from them. The energy of these events can be very inspirational.

After the conference, send "nice to meet you" notes to agents or editors you spoke to, and be sure to mention where you met and (briefly) what you talked about.

Pitching your work:

Feel free to bring copies of your query letter, synopsis, or a few sample chapters or other writing samples. (Note: Writer’s Relief will proofread, format, and submit your manuscripts to literary agents and editors. We also compose query letters and cover letters, and we manage all the tasks related to making submissions. Learn more about Writer’s Relief’s process for submitting to literary agents and editors)

Some conferences have time set aside specifically for pitching your work, so be prepared in advance and take advantage of this time. Make sure your pitch is polished (practice giving it to the mirror, your friends, your parrot), exciting, and BRIEF. There’s no need to compulsively tell everything about the story and the reason it was written. Agents and editors are trained to spot a good opportunity on very little information, and you want to avoid that glazed look in their eyes if you go on and on.

Do not aggressively corner agents and editors and subject them to a verbal pitch during dinner or in the restroom. You’ll only aggravate them or scare them away. And be careful what you say. Editors and agents often run in the same circles, and if you’ve been ranting about other writers or editors, you will be remembered—but not in the way you’d like. Read more: Ten Things NOT To Do At A Writer's Conference.