slush pile
Publisher's unread stack
A slush pile is the mass of unsolicited manuscripts that accumulates at publishing houses, literary agencies, and magazines.
Aspiring writers submit work hoping to be discovered; editors wade through the pile looking for gems among the rejects.
The term suggests something cold and unpleasant to slog through: Her novel sat in the slush pile for months before anyone read it.
Not asked for
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
- queriesQuestions seeking information
- submissionsItems offered for consideration
- proposalsFormal offers or plans
synopsis · cover letters · drafts · novels · fiction · nonfiction · poetry · screenplays
Content revisers and correctors
- agentsThose who act for others
- publishersFirms producing printed works
- acquisitionsThings newly gained
- literaryOf written works
magazines · journals · reading · evaluation · interns · readers · gatekeepers · response times
Refused or turned away
- discardedGotten rid of
- unwantedNot wished for
- passedWent beyond or succeeded
- form letterPrewritten mail for many
no response · spurned · overlooked · ignored · dismissed · returned · declined · unrepresented
Rapid mountain snow collapse
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- mountainTall natural landmass
- heapJumbled collection of items
overload · backlog · inundate · swamped · overwhelming · massive · barrage · torrent
Not yet found
- hidden gemUnderappreciated find
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- unearthedRetrieved from the ground
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
debut author · discovered · plucked · champion · advocate · rescued · found · promising
unsolicited
Not asked for
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
- queriesQuestions seeking information
- submissionsItems offered for consideration
proposals · synopsis · cover letters · drafts · novels · fiction · nonfiction · poetry · screenplays · genres
editors
Content revisers and correctors
- agentsThose who act for others
- publishersFirms producing printed works
- acquisitionsThings newly gained
literary · magazines · journals · reading · evaluation · interns · readers · gatekeepers · response times · imprints
rejected
Refused or turned away
form letter · no response · spurned · overlooked · ignored · dismissed · returned · declined · unrepresented · unsold
avalanche
Rapid mountain snow collapse
heap · overload · backlog · inundate · swamped · overwhelming · massive · barrage · torrent · teeming
undiscovered
Not yet found
- hidden gemUnderappreciated find
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- unearthedRetrieved from the ground
surprise · debut author · discovered · plucked · champion · advocate · rescued · found · promising · potential
- writingwriting, drafting, authors, author, books
- submissionssubmit, query letter, application, entry, request
- publishing woestypos, misprints, errata, deadlines, delays
- publishingpublishers, editors, editor, publishing house, books
- editingediting, cut, copy, paste, delete
- literary magazinepoetry, fiction, essay, short story, review