Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Aw, crap!

This is topic Aw, crap! in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

Recently sent off the manuscript without a SASE (because I'm a giant idiot). Is it okay in that case to send a SASE seperately with a note that says, "Please stick this with my manuscript."

Anybody know?

Man, somebody needs to kick me good for that.

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

>KICK!<

Does the magazine have an e-mail address you can query to? If so, I would write and ask what you should do. What magazine is it, BTW?

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

No magazine. It's a pretty big publishing house. The manuscript is a novel, not a short story.

Ouch! Don't kick me, jerk!

[This message has been edited by wetwilly (edited July 19, 2004).]

Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :

I don't want to sound like jerk, but....

How is that possible?

You know the SASE is an essential part of sending out a manuscript. You're not the only one around here who has made these kind of mistakes. People tell stories of having their manuscripts or cover letters filled with gross misspellings and grammatical errors. How is this possible? I suppose I should chalk it up as complete carelessness. But how is it that one can be so careless about things so important?

Sorry, I just don't get it, and I don't have too much sympathy.

Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :

Was your story headed for the slush pile or was it requested after a query? If the former, it might be a lost cause; or, maybe resubmit it all again(?). If the latter, maybe a tag-along SASE would work. I'd like to know what Kathleen thinks here.???

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

Wow, Balthasar, a whole 7 line post without one helpful word. I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm looking for a damn answer.

If you MUST know...I had to have someone else do the actual mailing for me because I work 6am-4pm, Mon-Sat, which means I am NEVER away from work when the post office is open, and the SASE didn't get included because I wasn't actually there checking the contents of the package. Reasonable mistake? I think so.

Keep your judgements to yourself, ass.

Posted by punahougirl84 (Member # 1731) on :

I have read an answer for this from a great source (might have been Writer's Digest, or The Writer, or any of the several great books on publishing SF/F that I own)... and can't find it for you.

The answer is yes, you send an SASE under separate cover, with a short tactful note.

Dear (whoever you sent it to),

Enclosed please find an SASE to go with (name of manuscript) that I sent on (date) for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

You don't need to go on about the mistake. It can happen. If you really feel the need, you could apologize for any inconvenience, but that just brings to their attention that you are inconveniencing them/taking up time.

By sending it, you show you are a professional - correcting your error quickly and efficiently. You want to send it soon, because if they open your package and there is no SASE, they might dump it... I don't know for sure. Chances are your submission has not been opened yet, and perhaps you have a chance to save it. You don't mention if your manuscript was requested - if so, you have a better chance of saving it and the SASE will get put with it.

Another thought - if you sent it, for example, unsolicited to Tor, maybe you could also call, and let them know you sent the manuscript, and the SASE is coming separately. This might also help you avoid the circular file.

Good luck.

Lee

Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :

I've spent a little time on the Nightshade Books board and Ellen Datlow, Gordon Van Gelder and others hang out there. They have said that sending a tagalong SASE is perfectly acceptable and that it happens fairly often.

They said that everyone makes mistakes and that they never hold a late SASE against someone.

I wish someone could teach me how to remember everything always and never make a mistake ever. Nah... if I never made a mistake, people would probably think I was a jerk.

[This message has been edited by MaryRobinette (edited July 19, 2004).]

Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :

I'd like to toss my two cents in:

AW CRAP!!!!!!

I haven't done anything like that because, I don't have anything yet, but I don't know how'd I act.

-Bryan-

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

Wow, it's a good thing I'm perfect. No wait, I meant human, it's a good thing I'm human.

Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :

Wetwilly, do you have a phone number for the editor to whom you were sending the package? It couldn't hurt to call and tell them, their secretary, or their answering machine all the details: your name, title of your manuscript, roughly the date it would have arrived, and that you are sorry but you inadvertantly left out the SASE, which is arriving ASAP under separate cover. This way when your SASE arrives, they can better match it to the rest of your manuscript package.

In the meantime, don't sweat it...I'd seriously doubt a missing SASE is a complete deal-killer.

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

Thank you so much for all the help. Now I can stop freaking out about it.

Posted by shadowynd (Member # 2077) on :

I once thought I had made a mistake, but I was wrong.

If the worst happens, WW, resubmit the entire ms *with* SASE, and eat the printing cost. 'Tis better to spend double the monies than to have had your ms trashed because of one teensy mistake.

But do try to send a SASE separately, first. You've had some wonderful advice along those lines already.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Susan