Preparing Your
Manuscript
Manuscript
"Exhilaration is that feeling you get just after a great idea
hits you, and just before you realize what's wrong with it."
hits you, and just before you realize what's wrong with it."
A Few Words on Formatting
I've talked to plenty of new writers over the years, and many let formatting and chapter
length and lots of other small details drive them completely nuts! That's sad, since the
only thing that should be driving them nuts is how good of a story they are telling.
That means worrying about the tough things, the important things, like conflict, pace,
characterization, plot, dialogue, and so on. (See, there are plenty of important things
that can make or break a story, that you really should worry about.)
If you are a member of a writing e-mail list, or any writing group, you've probably seen
the battles over fonts, underlining, one space after a period or two, and some others, at
least once, if not thirty times or a hundred times even. It seems there are two things
that have usually started the battles I've seen.
One -- The old courier fonts like new courier printed so badly that many people hated
them and wanted to try to find another font to replace them with. Good news....there's
dark courier. It prints as dark and clear as any other font. (You can find a free
download link for it below.) So you don't have to worry that if you use courier, you'll
end up with faded print. (I've heard people say that dark courier prints bigger, but I've
actually printed up the same exact page twice, once in an old courier font 12 and once
in dark courier 12, and with the pages help on top of each other, every letter lined up.
There was no difference at all in size.)
Two -- The formatting rules for the older, well-establish big print publishers, compared
to e-publishers, small press publishers, print on demand publishers, and now even
some of the newer print publishers, often aren't the same. People started mixing the
two up. E-pubs always use the word count you get from WP's like Word, they ask
writers to use italics instead of underlining, and so on. Some pint on demand and
smaller presses ask for different things too. Even some of the newer normal print
publishers have different guidelines. (Some of these new guys are coming up with
almost strange formatting and submitting guidelines.) So things are just getting more
and more gray instead of what at one time was pretty black and white. Not so many
years ago novel-length formatting was the same no matter which publisher or which
genre you were talking about.
The battles over which formatting is correct and which isn't when it comes to the big
print publishers, often gets heated. In fact, I've heard it all and seen the arguments so
much that I finally sat down a couple of years back and typed up a survey. I then sent
it out to more than two dozen print-published authors. Some had just been through
their first sale; others had many published books to their credits. I picked a mixture of
publishers too. Some of the authors wrote for Dell and Avon, some for Silhouette and
Harlequin, plus a few others. All I really wanted to know was if those big print
publishers really had changed their spots after so many years. (Smile)
When I got my surveys back from those kind authors, guess what I found? More than
95% of them still used the same old standard novel formatting that most sites and
most writing books suggest you use for novel-length fiction writing. That old
well-known courier font (or dark courier) size 12, 25 lines per page, the one inch or so
margin....or the 10 words per line. They also still used underlining instead of italics
and skipped two spaces at the end of each sentences instead of one. All of the old
standard formatting we have been using for years, that so many had been yelling long
and loudly that was dead and gone.
So If you are sending your work to a big print pub, an agent, or an RWA chapter
writing contests.....you should feel safe to stick with that old standard--unless they
have guidelines up that list something else they want you to use. It's not really that
big of a deal, and no one who isn't brand new to the writing world will think you are
odd or not a pro for using the normal novel formatting rules if the publisher or agent
or contest doesn't list how they prefer things, or if you can't find a site or such that
shares that information about them. The standards really do help you and the
publisher figure word count in a way that tells them just how many pages that
manuscript will become when it's a printed book, and with the cost of ink and paper
and postage always going up, you can see how that would be an important thing to
know.
If you are sending work off to an e-pub, a small press, or even a newer print publisher,
look at their guidelines. Almost every one of them will have some kind of guidelines up
on their website, especially if they want something different from the old standard. If
they have formatting suggestions, FOLLOW THEM. In fact, it's really simple--a
complete no brainer--if any publisher, agent or contest list a preferred font, size,
formatting, or anything else in their guidelines GO WITH THAT. If the publisher you
want to send your work to asks for Bookman size 18 font, 12 lines per page, on purple
paper, with chapters that are no more than six pages long, then that's what you send
them. (Smile) If they don't ask, then I believe the old standard is a safe way to go.
To be honest, as the years go by--I'm writing this in 2004--the old standard might slip
away completely, and even if not, sometimes the formatting you are asked to use might
be just because an editor likes one kind of formatting better than another. Big deal,
don't sweat sticking with the tried and true or trying something new.
If this is just all too confusing to you, and you really don't want to use the standard
and you are just going to have a heart attack worrying over it all. STOP. When it comes
to formatting, as long as the manuscript is easily readable and near the word length
the publisher is asking for, formatting isn't worth giving up writing your story over.
If you do want to stick with that old tried and true though, it's easy, looks professional,
and you'll find all the information you need on it right here on this page, just below
this. Then you can let the important things drive you nuts, like grammar, pace, plot,
and all of that other great stuff. I promise you that the most important thing you put
on those pages you will be sending off--is the writing. The best formatting in the world
isn't going to make an editor buy a bad story, and even bad formatting, as long as it's
readable and reasonable like I said above, isn't going to keep her from buying a great
story either.
Okay, lesson over, pick some kind of formatting and get back to writing! I need a lot
more great books to read. (Smile)
length and lots of other small details drive them completely nuts! That's sad, since the
only thing that should be driving them nuts is how good of a story they are telling.
That means worrying about the tough things, the important things, like conflict, pace,
characterization, plot, dialogue, and so on. (See, there are plenty of important things
that can make or break a story, that you really should worry about.)
If you are a member of a writing e-mail list, or any writing group, you've probably seen
the battles over fonts, underlining, one space after a period or two, and some others, at
least once, if not thirty times or a hundred times even. It seems there are two things
that have usually started the battles I've seen.
One -- The old courier fonts like new courier printed so badly that many people hated
them and wanted to try to find another font to replace them with. Good news....there's
dark courier. It prints as dark and clear as any other font. (You can find a free
download link for it below.) So you don't have to worry that if you use courier, you'll
end up with faded print. (I've heard people say that dark courier prints bigger, but I've
actually printed up the same exact page twice, once in an old courier font 12 and once
in dark courier 12, and with the pages help on top of each other, every letter lined up.
There was no difference at all in size.)
Two -- The formatting rules for the older, well-establish big print publishers, compared
to e-publishers, small press publishers, print on demand publishers, and now even
some of the newer print publishers, often aren't the same. People started mixing the
two up. E-pubs always use the word count you get from WP's like Word, they ask
writers to use italics instead of underlining, and so on. Some pint on demand and
smaller presses ask for different things too. Even some of the newer normal print
publishers have different guidelines. (Some of these new guys are coming up with
almost strange formatting and submitting guidelines.) So things are just getting more
and more gray instead of what at one time was pretty black and white. Not so many
years ago novel-length formatting was the same no matter which publisher or which
genre you were talking about.
The battles over which formatting is correct and which isn't when it comes to the big
print publishers, often gets heated. In fact, I've heard it all and seen the arguments so
much that I finally sat down a couple of years back and typed up a survey. I then sent
it out to more than two dozen print-published authors. Some had just been through
their first sale; others had many published books to their credits. I picked a mixture of
publishers too. Some of the authors wrote for Dell and Avon, some for Silhouette and
Harlequin, plus a few others. All I really wanted to know was if those big print
publishers really had changed their spots after so many years. (Smile)
When I got my surveys back from those kind authors, guess what I found? More than
95% of them still used the same old standard novel formatting that most sites and
most writing books suggest you use for novel-length fiction writing. That old
well-known courier font (or dark courier) size 12, 25 lines per page, the one inch or so
margin....or the 10 words per line. They also still used underlining instead of italics
and skipped two spaces at the end of each sentences instead of one. All of the old
standard formatting we have been using for years, that so many had been yelling long
and loudly that was dead and gone.
So If you are sending your work to a big print pub, an agent, or an RWA chapter
writing contests.....you should feel safe to stick with that old standard--unless they
have guidelines up that list something else they want you to use. It's not really that
big of a deal, and no one who isn't brand new to the writing world will think you are
odd or not a pro for using the normal novel formatting rules if the publisher or agent
or contest doesn't list how they prefer things, or if you can't find a site or such that
shares that information about them. The standards really do help you and the
publisher figure word count in a way that tells them just how many pages that
manuscript will become when it's a printed book, and with the cost of ink and paper
and postage always going up, you can see how that would be an important thing to
know.
If you are sending work off to an e-pub, a small press, or even a newer print publisher,
look at their guidelines. Almost every one of them will have some kind of guidelines up
on their website, especially if they want something different from the old standard. If
they have formatting suggestions, FOLLOW THEM. In fact, it's really simple--a
complete no brainer--if any publisher, agent or contest list a preferred font, size,
formatting, or anything else in their guidelines GO WITH THAT. If the publisher you
want to send your work to asks for Bookman size 18 font, 12 lines per page, on purple
paper, with chapters that are no more than six pages long, then that's what you send
them. (Smile) If they don't ask, then I believe the old standard is a safe way to go.
To be honest, as the years go by--I'm writing this in 2004--the old standard might slip
away completely, and even if not, sometimes the formatting you are asked to use might
be just because an editor likes one kind of formatting better than another. Big deal,
don't sweat sticking with the tried and true or trying something new.
If this is just all too confusing to you, and you really don't want to use the standard
and you are just going to have a heart attack worrying over it all. STOP. When it comes
to formatting, as long as the manuscript is easily readable and near the word length
the publisher is asking for, formatting isn't worth giving up writing your story over.
If you do want to stick with that old tried and true though, it's easy, looks professional,
and you'll find all the information you need on it right here on this page, just below
this. Then you can let the important things drive you nuts, like grammar, pace, plot,
and all of that other great stuff. I promise you that the most important thing you put
on those pages you will be sending off--is the writing. The best formatting in the world
isn't going to make an editor buy a bad story, and even bad formatting, as long as it's
readable and reasonable like I said above, isn't going to keep her from buying a great
story either.
Okay, lesson over, pick some kind of formatting and get back to writing! I need a lot
more great books to read. (Smile)
First, Some Books to Help
Standard Format & More
Print work on clean, white, letter-size paper, 20 lb. weight. Print on one side only.
Standard novel formatting is using a font like Courier size 12, Courier New 12, or my
favorite, Dark Courier 12. All print should be clear. Using colored paper doesn't catch
an editor's eye, it only shows how new you are. The same holds true for strange fonts
or work printed too small or too large. The printed manuscript page should look like a
printed manuscript page, not the printed page of a book. Editors need large, clear, easy
to read print with plenty of space between lines and in the margins to write in notes
and edits.
Click here or here or here or here to get a free Dark Courier download. To find out how
to install a new font -- Click Start, Windows Explorer, Help, Fonts, and then Adding to
Your Computer. There should be step by step instructions there.
A few fonts just for fun. -- Thundrune's Free Fonts -- Gnome FONT Database
Leave at least a one inch margin on all sides. You might find one inch is fine, or you
might need to set your side margins a little larger. You want your lines on the page to
come out to about 10 words each...and for once I am talking about using the word
count you get from which ever program you are writing in.
A header should be on each page, giving your manuscript's title, name, and page
number. Example....
A COWBOY'S WILL DILLON 1
or
A COWBOY'S WILL/Dillon 1
Title Page. This is your info dump page. A lot goes here. I've seen this done two ways,
and have been told both are fine. 1) At the top left of the page list your full real name,
your address, phone number, and e-mail address. On the top of the other side of the
page, list word count. About halfway down the page, center the MS title in caps, the
word "by" goes below that, and then your name. If you wish, you may add your pen
name below your read name. 2) Go half way down the page, center your MS title in
caps, the word "by" goes below that, and then your name, just like above, but instead of
your name, address, phone number, word count, and the rest, going at the top of the
page, with this type it goes at the bottom of the page, in the right corner.
On the first page type Chapter One about half way down the page. Center it. Skip a
line, and start your story. Each new chapter should start on a new page, and be set up
the same way.
Chapter length. Most chapters kind of find their own place to break, where something
major is about to happen or where there is some kind of question left hanging. A place
where the reader won't be able to put the book down for at least a few more pages. A
good length to aim for though is somewhere between 15 and 25 manuscript pages. The
15 being for shorter novels, say 70,000 words, and the 25 better for novels around
100,000 words. In the end, you'll feel what is right for your story and for each chapter,
and that's what you should go by. There is no set rule for chapter length. You might
very well have a seven page chapter someone in your novel and a twenty-six page one
some where else in there.
Word count. Each full page should hold 25 double-spaced lines -- all but the first and
last page of each chapter. An editor will count each page, full or not, as 250 words. {Of
course this is for standard MS formatting -- a courier 12, 25 lines per page, 10 words on
each line = 250.} So a 400 page manuscript is a 100,000 words. To get those 25 lines,
if you are using Word, instead of clicking on double space, click on exactly, and then
25. (Find step by step info on setting up Word at the bottom of this page.)
Standard novel formatting is using a font like Courier size 12, Courier New 12, or my
favorite, Dark Courier 12. All print should be clear. Using colored paper doesn't catch
an editor's eye, it only shows how new you are. The same holds true for strange fonts
or work printed too small or too large. The printed manuscript page should look like a
printed manuscript page, not the printed page of a book. Editors need large, clear, easy
to read print with plenty of space between lines and in the margins to write in notes
and edits.
Click here or here or here or here to get a free Dark Courier download. To find out how
to install a new font -- Click Start, Windows Explorer, Help, Fonts, and then Adding to
Your Computer. There should be step by step instructions there.
A few fonts just for fun. -- Thundrune's Free Fonts -- Gnome FONT Database
Leave at least a one inch margin on all sides. You might find one inch is fine, or you
might need to set your side margins a little larger. You want your lines on the page to
come out to about 10 words each...and for once I am talking about using the word
count you get from which ever program you are writing in.
A header should be on each page, giving your manuscript's title, name, and page
number. Example....
A COWBOY'S WILL DILLON 1
or
A COWBOY'S WILL/Dillon 1
Title Page. This is your info dump page. A lot goes here. I've seen this done two ways,
and have been told both are fine. 1) At the top left of the page list your full real name,
your address, phone number, and e-mail address. On the top of the other side of the
page, list word count. About halfway down the page, center the MS title in caps, the
word "by" goes below that, and then your name. If you wish, you may add your pen
name below your read name. 2) Go half way down the page, center your MS title in
caps, the word "by" goes below that, and then your name, just like above, but instead of
your name, address, phone number, word count, and the rest, going at the top of the
page, with this type it goes at the bottom of the page, in the right corner.
On the first page type Chapter One about half way down the page. Center it. Skip a
line, and start your story. Each new chapter should start on a new page, and be set up
the same way.
Chapter length. Most chapters kind of find their own place to break, where something
major is about to happen or where there is some kind of question left hanging. A place
where the reader won't be able to put the book down for at least a few more pages. A
good length to aim for though is somewhere between 15 and 25 manuscript pages. The
15 being for shorter novels, say 70,000 words, and the 25 better for novels around
100,000 words. In the end, you'll feel what is right for your story and for each chapter,
and that's what you should go by. There is no set rule for chapter length. You might
very well have a seven page chapter someone in your novel and a twenty-six page one
some where else in there.
Word count. Each full page should hold 25 double-spaced lines -- all but the first and
last page of each chapter. An editor will count each page, full or not, as 250 words. {Of
course this is for standard MS formatting -- a courier 12, 25 lines per page, 10 words on
each line = 250.} So a 400 page manuscript is a 100,000 words. To get those 25 lines,
if you are using Word, instead of clicking on double space, click on exactly, and then
25. (Find step by step info on setting up Word at the bottom of this page.)
Word Count by Page
PLEASE NOTE: This word count only works if you use the standard MS
formatting of a courier 12, 25 lines per page, about 10 words per line. If you
are using some other format, or font, then you'll need to figure your word
count with another formula or use the work count from your computer.
formatting of a courier 12, 25 lines per page, about 10 words per line. If you
are using some other format, or font, then you'll need to figure your word
count with another formula or use the work count from your computer.
340 pages = 85,000 words
360 pages = 90,000 words
380 pages = 95,000 words
400 pages = 100,000 words
420 pages = 105,000 words
440 pages = 110,000 words
460 pages = 115,000 words
480 pages = 120,000 words
500 pages = 125,000 words
360 pages = 90,000 words
380 pages = 95,000 words
400 pages = 100,000 words
420 pages = 105,000 words
440 pages = 110,000 words
460 pages = 115,000 words
480 pages = 120,000 words
500 pages = 125,000 words
160 pages = 40,000 words
180 pages = 45,000 words
200 pages = 50,000 words
220 pages = 55,000 words
240 pages = 60,000 words
260 pages = 65,000 words
280 pages = 70,000 words
300 pages = 75,000 words
320 pages = 80,000 words
180 pages = 45,000 words
200 pages = 50,000 words
220 pages = 55,000 words
240 pages = 60,000 words
260 pages = 65,000 words
280 pages = 70,000 words
300 pages = 75,000 words
320 pages = 80,000 words
For print publisher don't italicize words. If you have text that should be italicized,
underline it. I know there is a lot of talk about underlining being old hand, but most
print published writers I asked, still use it. If you are going to enter your MS into an
RWA writing contests, most judges will expect underlining as well. (But like I said
above, if the publisher you are targeting ask for it to be done some other way, do what
they ask -- and e-pubs and small presses almost always ask for some other way.)
How many spaces after the end of a sentence? This is another thing that I hear a lot
of talk about, but it seems when asked, most print published writers still skip two
spaces at the end of sentences. I don't think it's really a big deal, so do which ever you
prefer, unless an editor tells you one or the other. (Of course if you use two spaces,
and then the next publisher you summit to asks that you use only one, it's easy to do
a find in Word for two spaces and then a change to one. You can't do a search for one
and change them to two, since that would be every space.)
Skip a line for a scene break. If it falls as the first or last line on a page, I show it with
three pound marks. In fact, I places those marks between every scene break. That
way if things move around, say I reformat or do a rewrite, I don't lose those breaks.
Example...
# # #
You should NOT submit a query letter, or even chapters, until the manuscript is
completed and ready to go; unless you already have a couple of books published.
There are just so many people who start novels and then never finish them, that
publishers and agents like to deal with completed works until you have proven
yourself.
How to submit. After that finished manuscript is polished and ready to go, it's time to
send out a query letter. Some publishers will take chapters, but most want only a
query letter and a short synopsis. {You can click on the highlighted words here to get
to my pages on them where you will find samples and links.} A query letter often gets
you a quicker answer. If the query and synopsis are good enough and the editor
thinks your story could fit her needs, you also might get to skip being asked for the
first three chapters and get a request for a complete instead. With waiting times being
nearly a year, and even much longer, who wants to wait that long to hear on three
chapters, and then wait again just as long, or longer, to hear about a complete. If you
send in a query and short synopsis, they can be folded and placed in a normal size
business envelope -- don't forget the SASE. If you send in chapters or a complete, of
course you are going to need a large envelope for this. The large brown kind works
well for chapters, or even a short manuscript, but for a long one I've found the larger
Priority envelopes you can get for free from the United States Post Office are great. Do
not staple pages. Bind them by placing a large rubber band around them. If the
manuscript is long, you can place one rubber band length ways, the other width ways.
Don't forget an SASE envelope that is large enough to have the work returned to you.
When you send that manuscript, don't send it in a way that will cause the editor or
agent to have to sign for it. Either send it with a simple delivery confirmation slip, or
enclose a SASP that the editor can place in her out box to be returned to you. Note
that your SASP might not come right back though, since the package might not get
open for a long while. Depends on the house.
underline it. I know there is a lot of talk about underlining being old hand, but most
print published writers I asked, still use it. If you are going to enter your MS into an
RWA writing contests, most judges will expect underlining as well. (But like I said
above, if the publisher you are targeting ask for it to be done some other way, do what
they ask -- and e-pubs and small presses almost always ask for some other way.)
How many spaces after the end of a sentence? This is another thing that I hear a lot
of talk about, but it seems when asked, most print published writers still skip two
spaces at the end of sentences. I don't think it's really a big deal, so do which ever you
prefer, unless an editor tells you one or the other. (Of course if you use two spaces,
and then the next publisher you summit to asks that you use only one, it's easy to do
a find in Word for two spaces and then a change to one. You can't do a search for one
and change them to two, since that would be every space.)
Skip a line for a scene break. If it falls as the first or last line on a page, I show it with
three pound marks. In fact, I places those marks between every scene break. That
way if things move around, say I reformat or do a rewrite, I don't lose those breaks.
Example...
# # #
You should NOT submit a query letter, or even chapters, until the manuscript is
completed and ready to go; unless you already have a couple of books published.
There are just so many people who start novels and then never finish them, that
publishers and agents like to deal with completed works until you have proven
yourself.
How to submit. After that finished manuscript is polished and ready to go, it's time to
send out a query letter. Some publishers will take chapters, but most want only a
query letter and a short synopsis. {You can click on the highlighted words here to get
to my pages on them where you will find samples and links.} A query letter often gets
you a quicker answer. If the query and synopsis are good enough and the editor
thinks your story could fit her needs, you also might get to skip being asked for the
first three chapters and get a request for a complete instead. With waiting times being
nearly a year, and even much longer, who wants to wait that long to hear on three
chapters, and then wait again just as long, or longer, to hear about a complete. If you
send in a query and short synopsis, they can be folded and placed in a normal size
business envelope -- don't forget the SASE. If you send in chapters or a complete, of
course you are going to need a large envelope for this. The large brown kind works
well for chapters, or even a short manuscript, but for a long one I've found the larger
Priority envelopes you can get for free from the United States Post Office are great. Do
not staple pages. Bind them by placing a large rubber band around them. If the
manuscript is long, you can place one rubber band length ways, the other width ways.
Don't forget an SASE envelope that is large enough to have the work returned to you.
When you send that manuscript, don't send it in a way that will cause the editor or
agent to have to sign for it. Either send it with a simple delivery confirmation slip, or
enclose a SASP that the editor can place in her out box to be returned to you. Note
that your SASP might not come right back though, since the package might not get
open for a long while. Depends on the house.
Some Links that Might be Helpful
How to Format Your Manuscript 101
Formatting Your Manuscript For Romance Novels
How to Format Your Manuscript
Manuscript Format Guidelines
Proper Formatting Sample
Publishing Terms
Writing Terms You Need To Know
Submission Package
Standard Manuscript Formatting
20 Valuable Tips to Getting Published
Understanding Publishing Contracts
Manuscript Setup
Glossary of Publishing Terms
Formatting Manuscripts
Proofreading Symbols and Abbreviations
Basic rules for formatting manuscripts and how to avoid common mistakes.
Basic Manuscript Preparation Guidelines
Find more info on these subjects, and others, on my Articles page!
Formatting Your Manuscript For Romance Novels
How to Format Your Manuscript
Manuscript Format Guidelines
Proper Formatting Sample
Publishing Terms
Writing Terms You Need To Know
Submission Package
Standard Manuscript Formatting
20 Valuable Tips to Getting Published
Understanding Publishing Contracts
Manuscript Setup
Glossary of Publishing Terms
Formatting Manuscripts
Proofreading Symbols and Abbreviations
Basic rules for formatting manuscripts and how to avoid common mistakes.
Basic Manuscript Preparation Guidelines
Find more info on these subjects, and others, on my Articles page!
Some Things You Should Know
SASE -- Self Addressed Stamped Envelope. One should go off with every submission.
Make sure if you are sending chapters, that there is enough postage to get it back to
you.
SASP -- Self Addressed Stamped Postcard. You can enclose one with your MS. On
the back write something like,
Your MS reached us on _______
Signed _______
That way you not only know your MS made it to the publisher or agent safe and
sound, but the date it was opened and who has it.
Guidelines -- Most houses offer guidelines that only cost you the price of a letter and
a SASE to get them sent to you. Many houses even post this info on their websites. If
you can't find them on the internet, write and ask. Guidelines are important. They
list wants and want not's, names of editors, and lots of other stuff that will help you
know which house is right for your story. If your MS is 100,000 words, why waste
time and money sending it to a house that only wants MSS that are less than 80,000
words? The same goes with love scenes. Some lines want too hot to touch, and others
want sweet as candy.
Multiple or simultaneous submissions -- This means offering the same story to more
than one house at the same time. Most publishers don't accept these.
MS or MSS -- Manuscript or manuscripts.
Partial -- Usually a query letter, short synopsis, and the first three chapters.
Query letter -- See info and samples.
Synopsis -- See info and samples.
A complete -- Means the whole MS.
Turn around time -- This is the amount of time that you should wait to hear back
from the editor on your submission. It is different at each house. One rule
though...in most cases, if they list two months, that could mean six or more.
Sometimes they live up to the time frame, but not often. I've also noticed that form
rejections come faster than personal ones. That might just be my luck. I've waited a
year for a rejection on a complete, and I'm not alone. I've also gotten one back in as
little as seven weeks. Just don't hold your breath. This is what makes that deal about
not accepting multiple submissions really suck.
Follow up -- If the house's guidelines say three months, and four or five have gone by,
it's okay to send a letter asking about your MS. Include the date it was sent, and the
title. If it was requested work, mention that as well. Don't forget the SASE. I've even
sent an SASP instead, with something on it like,
Your manuscript is still under consideration __
Your manuscript has been rejected __
We enjoyed your manuscript and you'll be hearing from us soon __
All the editor or agent has to do is check one, and toss it in the out box.
Make sure if you are sending chapters, that there is enough postage to get it back to
you.
SASP -- Self Addressed Stamped Postcard. You can enclose one with your MS. On
the back write something like,
Your MS reached us on _______
Signed _______
That way you not only know your MS made it to the publisher or agent safe and
sound, but the date it was opened and who has it.
Guidelines -- Most houses offer guidelines that only cost you the price of a letter and
a SASE to get them sent to you. Many houses even post this info on their websites. If
you can't find them on the internet, write and ask. Guidelines are important. They
list wants and want not's, names of editors, and lots of other stuff that will help you
know which house is right for your story. If your MS is 100,000 words, why waste
time and money sending it to a house that only wants MSS that are less than 80,000
words? The same goes with love scenes. Some lines want too hot to touch, and others
want sweet as candy.
Multiple or simultaneous submissions -- This means offering the same story to more
than one house at the same time. Most publishers don't accept these.
MS or MSS -- Manuscript or manuscripts.
Partial -- Usually a query letter, short synopsis, and the first three chapters.
Query letter -- See info and samples.
Synopsis -- See info and samples.
A complete -- Means the whole MS.
Turn around time -- This is the amount of time that you should wait to hear back
from the editor on your submission. It is different at each house. One rule
though...in most cases, if they list two months, that could mean six or more.
Sometimes they live up to the time frame, but not often. I've also noticed that form
rejections come faster than personal ones. That might just be my luck. I've waited a
year for a rejection on a complete, and I'm not alone. I've also gotten one back in as
little as seven weeks. Just don't hold your breath. This is what makes that deal about
not accepting multiple submissions really suck.
Follow up -- If the house's guidelines say three months, and four or five have gone by,
it's okay to send a letter asking about your MS. Include the date it was sent, and the
title. If it was requested work, mention that as well. Don't forget the SASE. I've even
sent an SASP instead, with something on it like,
Your manuscript is still under consideration __
Your manuscript has been rejected __
We enjoyed your manuscript and you'll be hearing from us soon __
All the editor or agent has to do is check one, and toss it in the out box.
Meet Word
Word is another standard. It's the program that most writers use
and that most editors ask them to use or send work in or from.
Just click on the picture above of Word to find out information
on how to buy it if your computer didn't come with it.
and that most editors ask them to use or send work in or from.
Just click on the picture above of Word to find out information
on how to buy it if your computer didn't come with it.
Setting up Word - Step by Step
I have two different computers and each has a different brand of printer, but I use the
same Word formatting on both. On some computers, or with a different Word
program, you might have to play with these numbers a little. I say use what ever
works to get what you need. Once you find those numbers, save them, so you can set
your next manuscript up the same way each time.
If you have some pages already in Word, just do this.... Click on Edit, Select All,
Format, Paragraph. In Paragraph click on Indents and Spacing. If you are starting
out fresh, with a blank page, you can skip the click on Edit and the Select All steps,
and just start out by clicking on Format, and follow on from there.
After you click on Paragraph, a box will open. That's were you add the below info.
Alignment: Left
Indentation
Left: 0" or 0.1" or 0.2" (Depending on the margin you want, which should be around
1 inch..)
Right: 0"
Spacing
Before: 0 pt
After: 0 pt
Outline Level: Body Text
Special: First Line
By: 0.5"
Line Spacing: Exactly
At: 25 pt
Now click on Line and Page Breaks. Make sure the box next to each thing is left
unchecked, including Widow/Orphan Control. Click OK.
To make a header for your MS, click on View, then on Header and Footer
Type in your title, last name -- like -- MISTER MAGIC/Dillon
Next, use the space bar to move to the right, near the end of the header space...but
not all the way. Now click on the first square you see in the box below. This will be
the Insert Page Number button. You can right click to get rid of that green line if it
pops up between your name and page number. The sixth button in that box looks
like an open book, it's your Page Setup. Click on it, then on Margins, and make sure
your Top margin is set to 1", then click OK. I've found if it is bigger than one inch,
you can get less than 25 lines on each page. Click Close and you're done. I hope
this set up works for you.
Word for Writers -- This link takes you to a site that has lots of info and tricks on
using Word. I have some more links to help out with Word on my Articles page.
same Word formatting on both. On some computers, or with a different Word
program, you might have to play with these numbers a little. I say use what ever
works to get what you need. Once you find those numbers, save them, so you can set
your next manuscript up the same way each time.
If you have some pages already in Word, just do this.... Click on Edit, Select All,
Format, Paragraph. In Paragraph click on Indents and Spacing. If you are starting
out fresh, with a blank page, you can skip the click on Edit and the Select All steps,
and just start out by clicking on Format, and follow on from there.
After you click on Paragraph, a box will open. That's were you add the below info.
Alignment: Left
Indentation
Left: 0" or 0.1" or 0.2" (Depending on the margin you want, which should be around
1 inch..)
Right: 0"
Spacing
Before: 0 pt
After: 0 pt
Outline Level: Body Text
Special: First Line
By: 0.5"
Line Spacing: Exactly
At: 25 pt
Now click on Line and Page Breaks. Make sure the box next to each thing is left
unchecked, including Widow/Orphan Control. Click OK.
To make a header for your MS, click on View, then on Header and Footer
Type in your title, last name -- like -- MISTER MAGIC/Dillon
Next, use the space bar to move to the right, near the end of the header space...but
not all the way. Now click on the first square you see in the box below. This will be
the Insert Page Number button. You can right click to get rid of that green line if it
pops up between your name and page number. The sixth button in that box looks
like an open book, it's your Page Setup. Click on it, then on Margins, and make sure
your Top margin is set to 1", then click OK. I've found if it is bigger than one inch,
you can get less than 25 lines on each page. Click Close and you're done. I hope
this set up works for you.
Word for Writers -- This link takes you to a site that has lots of info and tricks on
using Word. I have some more links to help out with Word on my Articles page.
Copyright © by Charlotte Dillon.
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
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