In this post, we discuss the platform Submittable for writers and answer some key questions such as 'how does Submittable work?'
Let us start with a fact. Did you know that according to statista.com, there are 44.2 thousand writers and authors working in the United States as of the year 2020?
The wealthiest author known worldwide is J.K. Rowling, best known for her very famous "Harry Potter" franchise that has sold 7.7 billion US dollars in total as of June 2019.
The second highest-earning author is James Patterson, whose income is 70 million dollars, followed by the former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.
Her memoir entitled "Becoming," which was published in 2018, ranked in the best-selling print books in the United States.
Martin Luther talked about writing that "If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write."
Yes, write your heart out. But what if your writing was not published? It was kept only in your files, and it will not reach the hearts of the world.
There are a lot of writers that compete for publishing and wait for their careers to bloom. With publishers receiving hundreds or even thousands of submissions per year, monitoring or following up on the status of your submission can be challenging.
Another challenge is how to stand out from the long list of writers. The competition is tough.
The good thing is that we can now share our writings without the hassle of traditional hunting for a publishing company. There is a platform that lets you connect to prospective publishers in the comforts of your home.
It is called Submittable, and let me share with you how it works.
What is Submittable?
The submission process for aspiring writers is said to come down to the numbers game. However, monitoring and keeping track of all the submissions take a lot of effort and work.
You have to come out with monitoring tools or a database for the selection. This time is where Submittable comes in.
Submittable.com is an online cloud-based management system that is launched in 2010 in Missoula, Montana. Its goal is to make the submission process streamlined, convenient, and transparent.
While finding the right contests or publishing company is challenging and time-consuming, the platform makes it easier for the authors. In Submittable, aspiring authors can find and submit their writing to magazines, publishers, and contests online.
Why Submittable is an Author's Best Friend
It saves time and effort. While traditional submission takes a lot of effort to look up a publishing company, print your work, and submit it personally, you can do the process online.
There are hundreds of open calls that are accessible on the site. All you have to do is search and submit to your target publisher.
Speaking of target publishers, in Submittable, you can find exactly what you are looking for. You may target your search through keywords, genre, entry cost, or deadline.
If you want to publish a poem, just search poem. If you're going to go for a short story, it is all there. You can filter your searches easily.
Another feature of the site is you can keep track of all your submissions. There is a dashboard where you can be updated on the progress of your submission. Also, the website has a feature where you may withdraw your proposal or update an edited version of your work.
It is a website filled with opportunities. There are a lot of open calls for writers to get their works published. There are also a lot of contests you may enter and join with.
You may also follow your favorite publishers or publishers that interest you to update you on their new openings and submission posts.
In submittable, you "hover to discover." Opportunities with the details of submission of requirements are readily available and within reach.
You may access them in an instant – no need to move from one website to another—the days of hours-long research are over.
You can see a list of openings according to the deadline, and you may choose the most convenient one for you. If you're the type of writer that doesn't like being chased by the deadline, there is a "no deadlines" section as well.
To date, there are around 500 companies and small businesses on the platform.
Also, 200,000 writers are signed up on the website. To keep you updated, the company sends weekly newsletters. Submittable continues to grow as it has daily sign-ups from companies and aspiring authors.
How Submittable Works
The first thing that you need to do is go to the website and create a free account. Sign up and update your writer's profile. After that, you are now ready for the haunt.
When you're all set, it is time to submit. Search for open submissions, and then find the one that fits your genre and goals. The portion can be found under the "Discover" tab.
The tip is to research the publication first. You have to make sure that you are a good fit for the publication or publisher.
Get to know the magazine, journal, or publisher before submitting your material. If you submitted and it is not a good fit, you will only be wasting your time and money.
Yes, I mentioned cash because some publications require entry or reading fee—the access or reading fee costs around $3.00 per submission.
Another tip for the submission is to have available additional material beforehand. Some publications have additional requirements aside from your work.
They look for author information such as the author's bio, a picture of the author, and other details. Make sure that you have available material offline. Do not submit with incomplete attachments.
Also, when submitting your work, do not submit it unless it is already the final draft. Even though the website offers a "withdraw" button or the feature to update or edit your submission, do not constantly use it.
The organization receives notification every time a writer withdraws or corrects their submission. Better submit the best version of your work at first.
The Post-Submission Process
After you have submitted your work, it is now time to relax and wait for updates. You may track your submissions through the dashboard under the "Submissions" tab.
Due to the high volume of submissions received, the publishing companies may take time to review your requests. Patience is a virtue, and you better keep that positive attitude that you'll be shortlisted.
While you wait for the status of your previous submission, my advice is for you to keep looking for more opportunities. There are tons of openings out there, so you better get going and keep sharing your work. The more submissions you do, the better chances that your work be noticed and become published.
The waiting game can be challenging, and it might bore you. I suggest starting working on ideas for your following writing or writing the first draft of your new work. Keep yourself busy while growing your potential.
So, if you're looking for a place to showcase your talent and share that extravagant writing work, Submittable is the best place for you.
It is a website filled with opportunities to boost that writing career and be the future J.K. Rowling of the United States.
If you have that compilation of writing works you have kept for so long, now is the perfect time to put your dreams to reality.
Now that you know how Submittable works, take the chance to find your ideal match and future publication company.
