How do authors track publishing submissions?
- One spreadsheet or database with one row per submission.
- Six core columns: recipient, manuscript version, submission date, status, response date, notes.
- Tracking prevents double-submissions and stale follow-ups.
- Working novelists keep submissions tracking active for 12-24 months per project.
- Industry standards: QueryTracker, Submittable, plus personal spreadsheets.
Authors track publishing submissions in a single spreadsheet or database with one row per submission, tracking the recipient, manuscript version, submission date, status, response date, and notes. The tracker prevents simultaneous-submission mistakes, accidental double-submissions to the same editor, and stale follow-ups. Most working novelists keep submissions tracking active for 12-24 months per project.
Chapter i·Why it matters
An untracked submissions process produces three problems: you submit to the same editor twice (embarrassing), you forget who has been waiting (rude), and you cannot see patterns across your submissions (slow learning). A simple tracker turns submissions from chaos into a manageable pipeline, and over time the data shows you what is working.
Chapter ii·What to include
- One row per submission, never multi-submissions on one row.
- Six columns: recipient, manuscript version, submitted, status, responded, notes.
- A "status" controlled vocabulary: pending, full request, partial request, R&R, offer, rejection.
- A response-time column for analysis.
- A "next steps" column for active submissions.
- A separate tab or file per major project (novel, story collection, etc.).
Chapter iii·Example
A querying writer tracks 28 agent submissions for her 85,000-word thriller across 14 months. Her Google Sheet shows that 18 rejected, 6 are still pending past industry norms, 3 requested partials, and 1 requested a full. The data informs her: she stops following up with the 6 silent ones at month 6 and focuses energy on revising for the partials and the full.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom’s Pitch studio tracks every submission with version, status, and response — so no follow-up gets lost.
See the Pitch studio