...I handed my submission across. The clerk wiped it away, stamped it up and then glared at me because I was having trouble leaving the post office counter.
The agent I was posting to invites submissions by post or email, but as it was my first ever I wanted to do it the old-fashioned way. Do you send by email because it's free or is it too likely to get lost in cyberspace for your liking? I have to admit, having stared at my envelope pondering possible errors and been asked to clear the counter for the next customer, I think email would be less embarrassing!
Do you have a preference?
Staying in Spain a lot I am working my way through email submissions only, and tend to abide by the respective guidelines of the agents, including being exclusive. This is very slow and not recommended. At least four remain unanswered. Two were very thoughtful and responded with an acknowledgement on receipt and actually sent my rejection out within two weeks, which is very good of them. Others typically take between 6-8 weeks. Now it seems to be the best I can hope for is a quick rejection.
So despondent am I with the submission business that now I am dripping my novel chapter by chapter onto wattpad (wattpad.com/jbwilson) and hopefully some kind soul may take pity on me and offer to take it up. If not, well I reckon there's a reason.
If I were to do it again, i would have 50 copies printed up and sent out all at once. Life's too short.
Email every time.
I so object to the wasted paper, printer-ink and postage (and return postage half the time) when you just KNOW your sub's is going to be rejected. And it's worse when you send a full MS :(
You can tell I'm a 'glass half-empty' sort of person ;)
I haven't reached the stage of worrying about it yet, but wish you the best of luck!
Keep us posted.