I’m an aspiring writer – what did you expect? Who isn’t? (Actually Simon’s not, yet).

I have a cool idea. It’s non-fiction. It has even had some publisher interest.

I write a well-researched proposal document detailing the structure and layout of the book, target audiences, pop in a few simple online marketing ideas, provide biographies, thoughts for expanding the concept into a series of titles, and even commission an illustration from a popular freelance illustrator.

I research an agent who I feel is going to be interested in the idea and concept, and who has experience in books of this type, and who knows the publisher that has shown interest.

Their submission guidelines state: NO UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS. Strange, but okay…

I write what I feel to be a well-considered letter of enquiry to the agent, and include the 20 page proposal document, saying I can provide them with a more detailed breakdown of the scenes and content in a separate document should they wish.

I have followed their submission guidelines to the letter. I am confident I have not sent them AN UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPT.

I wait. For a week, that’s all. Not bad in the scheme of things apparently. Unless you’re rejected out-of-hand.

Yep, I receive everything back in my SAE.

And attached is a slip with the sentence: WE DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS.

That’s it. Nothing more. Not even the bog-standard rejection paragraph – thank you, but no thank you, not our cup of tea, but good luck. These I can cope with, and I understand the literary agent’s reasons for sending these out.

But, what I have sent is not an unsolicited manuscript. It’s a topline Proposal document. Or, are they one and the same? I need some clarity. What do you think?

Do I have to contact an agent to ask if I can send in a document asking if they wish to see another document? If I rang up to request to speak to that agent would I even get through to him/her? Would the receptionist make a judgement based on our telephone conversation? What would the difference be if I sent them a letter asking them to have a look at a Proposal document? Would I receive a standard rejection paragraph? Or would I receive a slip stating WE DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS?

Did anybody even READ my letter, let alone the Proposal document?

Will this become a trend?

In five years time… if agents are not willing to receive unsolicited manuscripts, and publishers are not willing to receive unsolicited manuscripts, who will consider new ideas/concepts/words?

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