Interesting submission requirement...

[dwndrgn]

I was checking out a book that was recommended by another author and it was listed on the publisher's site. On the site was a place for 'submission info' so, just for chuckles decided to check it out (in the interest of research for this site natch ) and found an interesting requirement. They want submissions to be in third person. I thought that was rather odd. A bit restrictive and silly. But, I'm not a publisher or even a writer so I'm sure they have their reasons. Anyway, here's the publisher's site in case you want to see for yourself: http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SubmissionGuidlines.cfm

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

They seem to have very specific requirements all the way down the line. Write to their formula, or forget it. But at least they say what they want, instead of leaving prospective authors to guess.

 

[Tyranus]

It may be because the poeple who have to read the manuscripts just don't like first-person perspectives. I for one am like that, no matter how hard I try, I cannot read books in first person, no matter how good it is (or rather supposed to be, as I don't get past the first few pages). It may seem like a strange request, but maybe its just a way to save people time and trouble.

 

[GrownUp]

But there are some gorgeous exceptions to that rule, like Catcher in the Rye, which grasps you just about straight away and couldn't grasp, in that way, if it wasn't first person.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Seems that they are making clear what the market is that they are serving, and expecting that people make the effort to write for it.