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I'm new to book publishing and am at the stage of having sent my first book proposal out to various presses. I've been told it's acceptable to shop the proposal around. Here's my query: I've been offered a contract by a smaller, newer press, while the proposal is still out for review at another press. Is it acceptable to continue to shop the proposal around, even though I've been offered a contract? Is it acceptable to at least wait to see what the other press comes back with?
thanks for the help!

[aristotelian]

Yes, it's acceptable to shop up until the moment you send in a full manuscript.  As soon as you ask someone to sit down and read your book, you are saying that you are committed to them.

[tee_bee]

Yes, it's acceptable to shop up until the moment you send in a full manuscript.  As soon as you ask someone to sit down and read your book, you are saying that you are committed to them.

Yes, and waiting for the Other Press to respond isn't really shopping it around--it's letting the process run its course. Unless Small Press is really where you want to publish the book, there's no ethical violation in letting them wait--they know that they are competing for the ms. anyway.

[sugaree]

Just to follow up on this (and not to hijack the thread); does one respond to the contract offer while waiting to hear from other presses? If so, how? Or, does one just not respond until you hear from the "dream press" one way or the other? I too, am about to start shopping around a manuscript and am wondering about the protocol.

[anthroid]

Just to follow up on this (and not to hijack the thread); does one respond to the contract offer while waiting to hear from other presses? If so, how? Or, does one just not respond until you hear from the "dream press" one way or the other? I too, am about to start shopping around a manuscript and am wondering about the protocol.

I was in the same situation last summer, and I told small press (who wanted me to sign a contract right away) that I had the proposal out with several publishers.  I told small press that I sure was interested in working with them, but of course I wanted to be sure that my ideas were getting the widest dissemination possible, and I'm sure they understood that I needed to get a response from everyone.  Since ultimately a major international publisher picked up the book, I was glad I waited.  The acquisitions editor at small press in fact did understand and was willing to wait, BTW.

[yellowtractor]

We've had many, many threads on this.  The search function, though designed by evil elves, is occasionally useful.

Newnewbie, yes, as others say, you can continue to shop your ms around (presumably via query letters, with sample chapters, or however each press's guidelines suggest you submit) until the point at which you send the full ms to a particular press for consideration.  Due to the exigencies of academic peer review, most academic presses assume (even require) that they have exclusive consideration at this stage.  It's best, therefore, to wait to hear back from as many queries as possible before deciding where to send the full ms.  It's also best to send your query letters in batches, i.e. first-tier presses, then second-tier, and so on, so that you don't wind up with an eager offer from a third-tier house while awaiting word from your dream publisher.

Sugaree, Anthroid's advice is good.  Be professional, yet also discreet.  The last time this happened to me, I sent a brief note back to Small Press thanking them for their offer, expressing excitement for the possibility of working with them, and promising to get back in touch with them about my decision within the next six weeks.

In general, do not try to game any of the presses involved--academic publishing is a small world.  On the other hand, you do want to exhaust as many attractive options as possible before making up your mind.  It is sometimes a difficult tightrope to walk.  Good luck to both of you!