Answering the Call by Rose Ross Zediker

Most writers’ dream of the day they receive “the call” from their agent or editor offering them an enormous advance to publish their manuscript but as we wait for that life changing call, there is another call that both published and unpublished writers should be aware of and watch for all the time.

The Manuscript Call.

Many times publishers and editors put out a request for a certain type of manuscript. What does this mean? They’re running low on or not receiving manuscripts of a particular type to fill a spot in their publishing calendar.

Although I do believe in writing the book, short story or article of your heart, I also know that if you want to be published and continue to publish, you must put some focus on writing for market needs.

Here are a few examples of how I’ve earned acceptances and publishing credits by answering the publisher’s call for manuscripts.

A newsletter geared toward children’s writing posted a manuscript call. They needed articles for their website on non-secular publishing paths. Since I wrote short pieces for the Christian children’s genre, I typed up two articles. The first article covered the advantages of writing for the Christian children’s market. The second article I submitted was an instructional piece on how to retell Bible stories. Both of these articles garnered contracts. The next time this publication sent a call out, they needed articles on the business aspect of writing. My day job includes business writing, so I whipped up an article about the business letters a writer needs with examples and earned another acceptance.

A member of a yahoo group I subscribe to posted her publishers need for easy craft ideas for children. I looked through my files, reformatted a couple of manuscripts to the publisher’s specifications and sent my submissions off. Later that year I received an acceptance letter and now I’m on the publisher’s email list for manuscript calls.

I follow several blogs. By checking an editor’s blog daily, I discovered they had a need for Christian romance with older characters. For some reason I never considered writing a romance manuscript with “mature” characters but being on the cusp of fifty, I could relate to those character’s feelings, so I tried it. Three months after I submitted my manuscript, I received a request for the full. In June, I signed a contract with Heartsong Presents to publish this book. A book I’d have never written if I hadn’t followed the Edit Café blog and answered their “call” for middle aged or older heroes and heroines.

Some places to watch for manuscript calls are blogs, yahoo groups, chat rooms, newsletters (both online and print). Don’t forget to research the publication to get a sense of their style and publishing history. Follow their guidelines and send your best work in when you answer their manuscript call. The editor may have expressed a need but they won’t accept sloppy or inappropriate submissions just to fill their void.

While you wait for an response to your submission, go back to work on the manuscript of your heart, day dream about that huge advance or better yet, seek out and submit to other manuscript calls. Your hard work will be rewarded when one day your phone rings and you answer “the call”-an editor offering a contract!




I’ve visited Seekerville long enough to know that I shouldn’t come empty handed. Since my book isn’t released yet and there is no access to street vendors selling silk scarves where I live, I’m giving away chocolate! Leave a comment with your email address if you want a chance to win a Bing candy bar. This yummy confection is Palmer Candy Company’s claim to fame since 1923!


From Seekerville:

Rose is one of our long time friends of Seekerville and in honor of her recent sale to Heartsong Presents we're also giving away a Seeker book of choice to a commenter.


Rose's Bio:

Rose Ross Zediker lives in rural Elk Point, SD with her husband of twenty eight years. She works full time at an investment firm and writes during the evening or weekends. The release date for her Heartsong Presents novel, Lily of the Field (title subject to change) is late December 2010. Besides writing inspirational romance novels, Rose has many publishing credits in the Christian children’s genre, including a non-fiction book, Wealth In Biblical Times. Visit Rose at her blog: www.roserosszediker.blogspot.com