Novelists: If the Engine Books Prize deadline snuck up on you, but you can get a manuscript in the mail in the next week or so, go on ahead. I’ve been known to miss a deadline from time to time, and will still take your submissions as long as they arrive in the next couple of weeks–let’s say by March 24th. (The original deadline was postmarked by 3/12.) I’ve got a tower of submissions already, and I’m sure I won’t be through them any time in the next week or two.
On another prize-related note, I plan next year to implement an online submission system for the contest. I know that would have helped everyone out this year–I see on your packages how much you spent on postage! I’m really grateful to everyone who stuck with Engine Books anyway, even though I’m a bit behind the times on this. (I think I’m probably going to an online submissions system for regular queries soon, as well.)
I can’t wait to take a look at all your submissions! Thank you so much for your interest in the press.
I’m going to take advantage of the extended deadline and submit my novel, Lucky in America, sometime next week. I see that you are going to the Submishmash system next year. I have mixed feelings about that; of course it’s easy and much cheaper to submit electronically, but something is lost when you read any story, especially a novel that aspires to be literary on a computer screen if for no other reason than that process discourages re-reading.
Thanks for commenting, Bill!
You know, I don’t necessarily disagree, though I do know that I can mitigate that response, and I am the first screener for this contest. I think that the benefit to submitters–particularly, saving the often rather high, and seemingly always increasing postage cost–probably outweighs that detriment.
Generally speaking, within the non-contest system, I ask authors whose full manuscripts I wish to consider to send them on paper for the very reason you suggest. The reading process is a bit better.
As the contest goes, I think what matters most is that every manuscript is read in the same form, so any advantages or disadvantages apply to all submitters equally.
Okay, so it’s time to wrap it up. There are so, so many great-looking manuscripts here. I can’t wait to dig further into them all. Thanks, everyone, for entering!