The Society of Authors has published a code of practice for magazine and authors to work to during the submissions processes – covering each step from initial submission to acceptance or rejection.
The code was designed after some respondents to a Mslexia survey reported poor practices which are out of step with the 2018 Industry Commitment to Professional Behaviour in Bookselling and Publishing. Those experiences were echoed in a recent Bookseller survey of debut authors’ experiences in publishing.
Designed for authors as well as magazines, the code promotes approaches that manage expectations, encourage participation and help to avoid unnecessary anxieties around the submissions process, in what is an inherently stressful part of author life.
The new code in brief
The 22 points for magazines encourage clarity, communication and respect.
They are accompanied by 11 recommendations for authors, so that both parties can collaborate on a smooth submissions process.
Among the asks for magazine publishers are:
- Respect for authors, and for the hope, time and trust invested by them, at every level of the submissions process
- Overall clarity in the form of a clear, prominent submissions policy
- Clarity of the terms writers will be asked to agree to
- A clear indication of when authors can expect to hear back, and notice if an opportunity is unexpectedly closed
- Prompt communication throughout the process
- Swift rejections to all unsuccessful authors
- Requests to successful authors not to announce acceptances on social media before rejections are sent, to avoid information coming through unofficial channels
- Confidentiality; the utmost sensitivity regarding the internal sharing of submissions that contain original ideas, to avoid these being copied
- Clear contractual terms for successful writers
- A clearly stated willingness throughout to discuss contracts for successful writers with the Society of Authors
We are working on a follow-up code for publishers, agents and authors engaged in book submissions.