Posts Tagged ‘Submitting for Publication’
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
It is important for your writing project to be consistent, which can be defined as accepting a style guide appropriate for your type of writing, (e.g., APA, MLA)* or by adopting a style of your own and using it throughout the project.
Examples of using consistency in writing include adopting:
- one font style and only a few font sizes (body font and title font)
- set margins, paragraph style, (e.g., justified), tabs, and bullets
- similar numbering, lettering and grammar for lists and bullet points
- terminology
- spelling style, (e.g., U.S. versus U.K.)
It is very difficult for a reader to look at multiple types of fonts, and mixed uses of italics, bold and underlined lettering. It is distracting, contributing to the view that the manuscript is disorganized and unclear. Headings, titles, and bullets or numbered lists should be consistent within the manuscript. The statements in these sections should be parallel (consistent in how they are presented in terms of the use of a verb tense or descriptive phrase). As an example, the list above uses a noun in each statement. The list below uses an action verb. The manuscript will appear to be well organized and readability and clarity will be improved.
What other steps should the writer include to ensure consistency?
- use an appropriate verb tense throughout the project
- incorporate one style for footnotes, citations and references
- develop spacing rules for sentences, paragraphs, and lines (single versus double-space)
- use one person style, (e.g., first versus third person)
- include a hierarchical system for titles and headings, (e.g., centered, flush left, capitalized, italic)
Being consistent in your writing and editing professionalizes the project whether it is a fiction or non-fiction manuscript. Two good references for font readability include: The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst and The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web. Italicizing book titles and putting a hyperlink in blue and underlining it are examples of a style that you would incorporate every time you include similar references.
The best way to ensure consistency is in the editing of the project. If you are using a style manual, most of the rules are outlined and the major task is to follow the guide. However, if the writing style is unique, the professional editor (or writer completing the editing) should keep a log as the project is reviewed to keep track of the different styles incorporated. The styles can be applied later on in the project. For example, note that your first use of a book title was underlined, and use this similar style each time a book title is used in the manuscript.
Style consistency is a characteristic of a serious and excellent writer. It also demonstrates to many of us who write and read and edit, a love of writing and the appreciation of a well-edited manuscript as an art form.
* APA is the American Psychological Association
MLA is the Modern Language Association
Tags: Add new tag, professional editor, Submitting for Publication, Writing for Publication, writing tips
Posted in Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Sunday, May 17th, 2009
The font of your text says a lot more than you might think. In addition to being a creative way to present your text, various fonts convey various ideas and attitudes. For example, Times New Roman, the most popular font in the United States and the preferred font for printed books and magazines, is known to convey authority and information.
When writing a manuscript for publication, it is important to use a non-proportional font, a font with each character having the same width. This includes Times New Roman and Courier, the most common fonts for manuscripts. Non-proportional fonts make the text appear to have been typed on a typewriter, and the publishing industry is known for being anti-computer. This is changing and will change, but for now it is still important to submit your manuscript in an acceptable font if you plan to have your book printed.
Ebooks are another story. In an ebook, fonts can be used very creatively. The trick is to use restraint and balance. Do not use more than 4 fonts, as this can be very obnoxious for readers. Be consistent with fonts too—use the same font for all headings, even if you use a different font for the body text. You might use one font only for the cover or title page, or one font for one section, depending on the subject matter.
Font size is also worth considering. A traditional manuscript needs to be set in 12pt font, while an ebook can use another size, usually larger because the text is designed to be read onscreen. The same rule goes for font size: do not vary the size too often. Yes, headings might look better in a larger font in your ebook, but do not change the font size of the body text from paragraph to paragraph.
For a traditional manuscript (for your novel for example) should always be in all black. Ebooks may use other colors. The reason a printed manuscript must be in all black is mainly because there is no point in using color—the manuscript is designed to be easily read by a potential agent or publisher, and odd colors can make it hard to read. Also, the manuscript you turn in for possible publication is no the same as the printed manuscript which goes to press, so your color choices will not be reflected in the final copy or the actual book if it is published.
Of course, there are always exceptions to these rules, and some vanity publishers have no regard for the “old school” guidelines, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Some publishers will not read your manuscript if the fonts are wrong. Some will. It’s your choice ultimately.
Often, writers do not have time to care for all the nuances of manuscript preparation, and a professional editor is hired to format the manuscript. In addition to proofreading your work, professional editors are available to properly format your manuscript. Therefore, if you don’t have time to go back through and correct all the odd fonts and varied sizes or colors, you can simply enlist a professional editor. I have done this work many times, and it is always satisfying to maximize the potential of good content by ensuring it is properly presented.
Tags: Font, professional editor, Submitting for Publication
Posted in Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Sunday, January 4th, 2009
So now that you’ve gone through the final edit of your manuscript, before you submit your work, you have to take a look at the formatting and ask yourself, “How does it look?”
If you are submitting it to a publisher or agent, you really have to find out their requirements and follow them to a “T.” However, if who you are submitting your work to has no specific guidelines for submission, then you’ll just want to submit the clearest, cleanest copy you can. There are many books on the market that help with formatting—everything from query letters to manuscripts.
What your manuscript looks like says a lot about you as a writer. If you have several different fonts going on, some paragraphs are indented while others are not, or you flip-flop between capitalizing certain words it not only looks sloppy, but it shows that you don’t care much about your work and you may not be taken seriously. It also shows that you are an amateur. Whether you are a novice at writing or not, you can still present a clean copy. If this is something that you are submitting to a publisher, it can prevent your manuscript from even being read. Editors won’t waste their time trying to sift through a hodge-podge mix of formats.
The most important thing when thinking about your manuscript presentation is that consistency is key. If you start out putting your chapter headings in bold text, then continue throughout. If you start capitalizing a specific word or term in chapter one, then continue in that form. You get the idea. The inconsistencies can also be disconcerting to the reader; that is, if they continue to read it.
Obviously, a perfectly manicured and pristinely formatted manuscript cannot help you with poorly written content. So yes, the content is of utmost importance; but the appearance of your manuscript is what the reader, editor, agent, or publisher will see first, before they even read the first sentence.
Take the time to make your work presentable—it can make all the difference!
Tags: Article Submission, Christian Publication, Christian Writing, How to Submit an Article, Journal Submission, Manuscript Submission, Professional Editing, Submitting for Publication, Submitting to a Publisher, Thesis Editing, Thesis Planning, Writing for Publication
Posted in Christian Writing, Proofreading, Thesis/Research Writing, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
If you’ve just finished writing your novel and you’re ready to send it off to publishers, be sure to read these helpful tips first. Although various publishing houses have their own guidelines, there are standard guidelines you can follow to ensure that your manuscript is easily readable and professionally presented.
First, be sure the font is Times New Roman or Courier. These fonts ensure that each character is the same width; therefore the manuscript looks as if it has been typed on a typewriter. Use a 12 point size, even for chapter headings.
Double-space the text, and be sure it is aligned to the left and NOT justified. Some readers will not even look at a manuscript if the text is justified.
Indent each paragraph with a 0.5 inch tab. Use 1-inch margins all around. Do not leave extra spaces between paragraphs. Chapter numbers and titles may be proceeded by an extra space (for a total of 4 spaces between title and text), but remember to be consistent. Begin each chapter of the book on a new page, and leave a space between the chapter number/title and the text.
Do NOT use bold typeface. Italics are acceptable, and underlining is always fine. It is traditional to underline all text that you wish to be italicized, but it has become acceptable to use italics since computers have replaced typewriters.
Do NOT use large or unusual fonts, bold typeface, or artwork. The style and appearance of your manuscript should be simple; it is not your finished book yet.
Place a running header including page numbers, your last name, and the title or partial title of the book at the top right of every page (except the title page).
Prepare a title page that includes the following information: first and last name, address, phone number and/or email, and word count. Place this information at the top right on the page. Place your title in the center of the page with a byline right under it.
The Great American Novel
by Jane Smith
(OR)
The Great American Novel
by
Jane Smith
If you use a pen name (alias), use that name in the byline and in the running headers on each page (but use your real name in the upper right corner).
You may begin the text of the story on the title page itself, or you may elect to begin on page 2. It is always best to begin with Chapter 1 or the prologue (rather than including dedications and acknowledgments; those can come later). Remember that your goal is to capture the reader’s attention right away.
Print on 8 _ by 11 inch white paper using black ink. Only print on one side of each page. Do not staple or bind the pages. (Use “A-4” paper if you are in Europe.)
Of course, if this all sounds like too much, you can hire professional editors to properly format your manuscript. This is especially useful if you have completed your work in a style that does not comply with these guidelines and you do not have the time or energy to make changes to the entire document yourself. In the process of writing and revising your document, you may encounter formatting issues (such as pagination) and elect to hire a professional to format the final version—this is not uncommon. In fact, many writers hire professional editors to assist them with the technical and mechanical aspects of the writing process.
A properly prepared and presented manuscript is important because it gives the publisher an indication of your knowledge and seriousness, and it makes reading as easy as possible for the person reading your work. In some cases, publishers will not even read a manuscript if it is improperly presented, so a great looking manuscript can increase your chances at publication.
Tags: Christian Publication, Christian Writing, Manuscript Submission, Submitting for Publication, Submitting to a Publisher, Writing for Publication
Posted in Book Editors, Christian Writing, Manuscript Editing, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | 4 Comments »
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
You’ve written a killer research paper or maybe the next Great American (or British or Canadian or…) Novel, and now you’re ready to submit it for grading or for publication—but wait! Has your work been professionally edited?
“Why do I need a professional editor? My word processing program has a spell/grammar check—isn’t that enough?” you ask suspiciously.
Not really. Many times, spell/grammar checks are inconsistent, they can often miss really obvious mistakes, and they frequently suggest horribly wrong “corrections.” A human eye is best for the final edit of your document, and a professional editor is the best person for that job.
Why? Consider this. Professional editors are those annoying people who find grammar and spelling mistakes in books they’re reading for pleasure, as well as in magazines, journals, newspapers—pretty much anything they set eyes on—without even trying. They just can’t help themselves: the errors leap off the page at them.
Further, they’re the folks who, after reading a paragraph, will say, “That’s nice, but you know, wouldn’t it be better to put that paragraph before this one? And by the way, if you move that sentence over here and rephrase this one, it’ll read much more smoothly. Try wording it like this…”
What’s more, professional editors know the various style manuals used by academia, professional journals and so forth, and can make sure your paper meets whatever style manual your professor or journal prefers. Need all citations and references done in MLA format when you’re more familiar with Turabian?
Turn the paper over to a professional editor, who can correct all your citations and references to the required style. When your grade depends on perfection (or as close to it as any human can manage), you want to call in the big guns!
Understand, however, that no truly professional editor is going to do all your work for you: your paper or novel or whatever other document you submit for editing must be complete. Editors don’t do your research; they don’t write your paper; they don’t dig up references for you. What they do is take YOUR work and make it better through rewording awkward phrases or sentences, moving entire paragraphs around, correcting grammar and punctuation, and sometimes asking questions or making comments that force you to re-evaluate a conclusion or a scene—this is what makes them professionals!
After spending hours, maybe weeks or months, laboring over your written creation, don’t put blind faith in computer spell/grammar checks. Hire a professional editor through a firm such as FirstEditing (www.firstediting.com) and know that your work has been given the attention to detail that it deserves.
Tags: Professional Editor, Submitting for Publication, Technical Editing
Posted in Book Editors, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 15th, 2008
So you’ve written the perfect article on…whatever…and you’re ready to submit it for publication. But wait—how do you go about article submission? What secret codes must be cracked, what publishing gods appeased, in order for your article to see print?
It’s not as mysterious a process as you’d think; in fact, it can be quite easy if the right steps are followed. Let’s take a look at the steps you should follow to give your article the best possible chance at publication.
- Know—and follow– the submission guidelines of the magazine! Most magazines have submission guidelines in their hard copies and on their websites. If they require double-spacing and you send in a single-spaced article, guess what? Rejection slip on the way…Similarly, some magazines prefer that you send a query letter, just like you would with a book publisher, outlining your article, its intended audience and the reasons it’s ideal for their publication. Send in the article first, before a query letter, and you could blow your chances at publication with that magazine.
- Make sure your article is as error-free as possible. There are several ways to do this, of course. Most word processing programs have a spell/grammar check function, so you can start there to catch the most obvious gaffes. Keep in mind, though, that these programs aren’t perfect and will miss errors that the human eye can catch—and they also sometimes suggest “corrections” that are, in fact, grammatically incorrect. So use your own eyes to read behind your spell/grammar check, and then have friends or family read behind you. A simpler and usually not prohibitively expensive means of proofing and perfecting your article is to hire a professional editor through a firm such as FirstEditing (www.firstediting.com).
- Be prepared for the possibility of rejection: no matter how wonderful, well-written and timely your article is, there’s no guarantee that a magazine will pick it up. There are lots of talented writers out there who can attest to the mountains of rejection slips they received before that first article was published.
- Finally, to paraphrase Sir Winston Churchill, “Never, ever give up.” No matter how often your article is rejected, submit it to more magazines. Rejections aren’t necessarily a reflection on the quality of the article or the writing abilities of the author. It never hurts to ask the submissions editor why your article was rejected and how it could be reworked to suit their needs. You might not always get a response, but sometimes this sort of persistence and willingness to revise your article to meet the magazine’s current needs can result not only in publication but also in the formation of a long and fruitful relationship with that magazine.
There you have it: a quick and painless method for submitting your article to a magazine and ensuring that it has the best possible chance of being picked up for publication. Good luck!
Tags: Article Submission, How to Submit an Article, How to Submit an Article to a Magazine, Professional Editing, Submitting for Publication
Posted in Thesis/Research Writing, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
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