How do I track submissions?
- A submission tracker logs where and when you sent each piece.
- It prevents duplicate and accidental simultaneous submissions.
- It records responses, dates, and follow-up timing.
- Patterns in the data reveal where to focus.
- A spreadsheet or dedicated tool both work.
Track submissions by keeping a simple, consistent log — a spreadsheet or dedicated tool — with a row for each submission recording the agent, publisher, or market, the piece sent, the date, any guidelines (like exclusivity), and the response and its date. This prevents embarrassing errors (querying the same agent twice, breaking a no-simultaneous-submissions rule), tells you when to follow up, and surfaces patterns over time — which markets respond, where requests cluster — so you can target future submissions more effectively. Update it every time you send or hear back.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Authors querying agents or submitting to magazines and presses quickly lose track across dozens of submissions, risking duplicate queries, violated guidelines, missed follow-ups, and lost insight into what is working. A submission tracker turns chaos into a clear record that prevents errors and informs strategy. Understanding what to log and keeping it current helps authors submit professionally, follow up at the right time, and learn from response patterns — small organizational discipline that protects reputation and improves results.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A row per submission.
- Recipient, piece, and date sent.
- Guidelines like exclusivity noted.
- Response and response date.
- Follow-up timing.
- Patterns reviewed to guide strategy.
Chapter iii·Example
Querying agents, an author logs each one in a spreadsheet: name, date queried, materials sent, whether they allow simultaneous submissions, and the reply. The tracker stops her from re-querying anyone, tells her when a follow-up is due, and shows that a certain pitch draws more requests — so she leans into it. The discipline keeps her submissions professional and strategic.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom keeps your submissions and responses logged, so you query professionally and never lose track.
See WriteLoom