Posts Tagged ‘Christian Publication’
Monday, January 5th, 2009
 “I’m a good writer; I don’t need anyone else to read my stuff.” Ever said or thought that? Well, maybe it’s true that you’ve committed Strunk & White to memory; your work is polished, professional and print-ready; and publishers are scrambling to be the first to sign you.
On the other hand, maybe, just maybe, you’re like the vast majority of the human race and have issues with the use of “who” and “whom” and are never quite sure where to properly place that comma—or should it be a semi-colon?
This is where a professional editor can be a lifesaver. Professional editors know the proper use of “who” and “whom.” Further, they’re familiar all the mystifying little rules of grammar and punctuation that befuddle the average writer. It’s not only their job to know these things; it’s also their passion. You see, professional editors are those annoying people who just can’t help themselves: grammatical and punctuation errors seem to leap out at them, even in published books or magazines. They’re the ones who will read a passage in a great work of literature and, instead of sighing over its perfection, mull ways it could have been differently worded. They think nothing of telling store owners—politely, of course!—that their outside sign reads “hear” when it should read “here.”
So what exactly does this mean for the aspiring novelist or the student with a paper due yesterday?
A professional editor can check your work for mistakes that your word processing program’s grammar/spell check missed. S/he can suggest ways to better word sentences and even move entire paragraphs around to make your work read more clearly and logically. Professional editors can help ensure your work conforms to the style guide your instructor or publisher requires. In short, a professional editor can take your unpolished manuscript and turn it into a polished gem, ready for submission to those who will decide its ultimate fate.
And isn’t the ultimate fate of your work what it’s all about? A research paper turned in with numerous grammatical errors or using the wrong style guide will receive a failing grade. A novel submitted to a publisher with run-on sentences and improper use of quotation marks will be tossed into the reject pile.
Don’t let your hard work be for naught: before turning in that term paper or submitting that novel to a publisher, take the time to hire a professional editor through a firm such as FirstEditing (www.firstediting.com). It’s worth the money spent to make sure your work is as perfect as humanly possible.
Tags: Christian Publication, Professional Editing, Professional Editor, Proofreading, Technical Editing, Thesis Editing, Writing for Publication
Posted in Christian Writing, Editing Skills & Services, Thesis/Research Writing, 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 »
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
So which is it? Well, it depends on how it is used. Many people tend to want to capitalize the word “god” all the time; let’s look at the context.
Chicago Manual of Style says that “understanding is best served by capitalizing only what are clearly proper nouns and adjectives in the context under discussion.” So basically, when the word “god” is used, look at its context. Is god used as a proper noun? In other words, can you replace “god” with a proper name? Consider the following sentences:
“It is a simple matter of believing in God.”
“What does God say about that?”
“It appears that the gods are angry.”
“Which god do you believe in?”
In the first two examples, God is used a proper noun and you can easily insert a proper name in place of “God” and the sentence still makes sense. Also, it is apparent that the sentences are referring to one Supreme Being, and that always requires capitalization. In the third and fourth examples, “god” is used as a regular noun and cannot be replaced with a proper name; you can see that the god in reference is rather generic and not specified.
All names referring to God as a supreme being are capitalized.
the Almighty
the Lord
the Supreme Being
the Holy Spirit
Jehovah
Yahweh
Jesus
the Messiah
You would only capitalize a prophet’s name or an apostle’s name, but not the word “prophet” or “apostle.”
the prophet Isaiah
the apostle Paul
the apostles
In Christian writing, there are very few times when there is cause to use the lowercase “god.” I think it’s safe to say that if you are a Christian writer, you are typically only speaking of one God—the Lord God Almighty—and any reference to him is always capitalized. Of course, there is always room for discussion of other topics and other gods in Christian writing, and that is where we exercise the distinction between the gods. Consistency is key so make sure you follow through with consistent capitalization throughout the text. Please note that even the names of deities of other religions are capitalized such as, Allah.
I love Christian writing. It is always a joy for me to read. It is close to my heart and I often get some clarity, revelation, or confirmation about something in my own life. Anyway, I hope this helps answer some questions.
Tags: Capitalize, Christian, Christian Publication, Christian Writing, God, Lord
Posted in Christian Writing | 2 Comments »
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