Publisher's Style

[Dahab]

I thought I would open this thread as I have recently found conflicting views on the user of grammar and layout (as preferred by publishers).

In my studies, I learnt about the difference in style guides between publishers and some of the newer conventions. These range from, fantasy always needs a prologue, penguin now want dialogue in its own paragraphs, don’t put commas before conjunctions joining short sentences, one space after a full stop (period), not two... I could go on.

The only thing I know for sure is to be consistent in whatever you do, but I do feel I would be happier being consistent with preferred conventions.

What are people’s experiences, thoughts, questions?

[John Jarrold]

Fantasy certainly does not need a prologue! Good grief. There are no hard and fast rules like that.

What I'd suggest when laying your typescript out is common sense. I've never received a script where new dialogue didn't start a new paragraph, but the other stuff a publisher will look at if they take your book on - that would be dealt with by a copy-editor. Believe me, no editor is going to say 'I love this book, but there are two spaces after full stops, so I can't take it on.'

Set it out cleanly, clearly and double spaced. And you're absolutely right: be consistent

[Havlen]

I'm not sure where you got the prologue stuff. I couldn't see how any genre could demand their use.

[SJAB]

fantasy always needs a prologue

Never heard this at all.

Penguin now want dialogue in its own paragraphs,

I thought this was always the case when writing???

don’t put commas before conjunctions joining short sentences,

Huh???

one space after a full stop (period), not two...

This stems, I believe, from the fact that typists on ye olde typewriter were taught to put two spaces. (least I was during my stint in a typing pool.) Now folks tend to use one. I don't think any editor/agent is going to sit and count how many spaces there are in your manuscript. He/she is looking for a cracking story, with great characters.

As long, as John said, you have your work in a readable font, double spaced, clean and clearly presented, it will at least be looked at.

[Havlen]

I write with two spaces after full stops. That's how I was taught back in typing class 25 years ago. My wife writes with one space after it. (I believe that comes from writing press releases for her company.) It wreaks habit when we try to co-author something. I should probably try and convert myself to a one space guy, but it would be towards the bottom of my list of things to work on in my writing

On leaving out the comma for combining two short sentences, I believe it is a matter of style. You don't have to exclude the comma, but it is fine if you do. I've never heard of a publisher having a preference. In the long run, it's pretty trivial.

[scalem X]

yeah, well about the spaces: in most programs, you'll have the rule of: comma/colon/full stop/exclamation mark and so on+ 1 space. On typewriters indeed one can have double spaces after full stops and both a space before and after a colon.

dialogue in it's own paragraph...
How long a dialogue are we talking about then?
I'm really confused here.

consider this hypothetical example:

She had cursed in silence as Jack popped up in her sight. Jack had always been the loud type, the churchbell type, annoying and neverending. Martha would have ignored him if she could, but the corridor had been too small for that. She had started running towards him, but not hard enough and had thereby sealed her fate. *"Good morning, Martha!" Her insides screamed "busted," but she politely answered: "Good morning, look I'm sorry but I'm in a hurry." She then took a swift glance at her watch and hoped that her fake expression of worry would have the desired effect. It did and with a long sentence he let her go: "I won't keep you busy then, but promise me that the next time, you'll take on less work?" She muttered a faint "yes," while speeding away.* Once inside her office, she...

Besides the other mistakes I should use a new paragraph for the part between the stars?

[SJAB]

This is how I would do it.



She had cursed in silence as Jack popped up in her sight. Jack had always been the loud type, the churchbell type, annoying and neverending. Martha would have ignored him if she could, but the corridor had been too small for that. She had started running towards him, but not hard enough and had thereby sealed her fate.

*"Good morning, Martha!" (assume this is Jack speaking, so new paragraph)

Her insides screamed "busted," but she politely answered: "Good morning, look I'm sorry but I'm in a hurry." She then took a swift glance at her watch and hoped that her fake expression of worry would have the desired effect. (this is Martha speaking so new paragraph.)

It did and with a long sentence he let her go: "I won't keep you busy then, but promise me that the next time, you'll take on less work?" (This is Jack speaking again, so again new paragraph, but I would consider just tagging "It did" to the previous paragraph, and deleting the rest of the sentence)

She muttered a faint "yes," while speeding away.* (Martha, again speaking, so new paragraph, would also consider altering it to "as she sped away")


Once inside her office, she...

Besides the other mistakes I should use a new paragraph for the part between the stars?

I would say yes, I was taught, a new paragarph for each character as they speak.