How is everyone...

[Christian Nash]

How is everyone going about their layout for Angry Robot?

Page 1 -Fonts, contact details, title, word count, are you including a brief biography? Word size?

Page 2 - 3 - Character descirptions before or after synopsis? Etc etc.

You get the idea; I'm worried about everything, so I just thought I'd check with everyone else what they're up to? And if some of the experienced people could drop in with some advice.

[springs]

I'm not experienced, but for SC - i think they're asking the same
pg 1 title, contact, word count and very brief bio of about 100 words.
pg 2 - 3 one sentence descriptor, character outlines of 7 characters and synopsis.
And then the first 14800 words which is my prologue plus first 5 chapters. (I went up to 5 cos one chapter is very very short.)

Just to say to EVERYONE going in for it, those I know about and those I don't, the very best of luck!

[Hex]

Not experienced but I think the trick is probably to follow the guidelines they give and not stress about the rest of it. They say this on the Strange Chemistry page:

"The notes above will tell you everything you need to know about submitting your manuscript. IF IT’S NOT MENTIONED ON THIS PAGE, IT’S NOT WORTH WORRYING ABOUT, SO DON’T FEEL YOU NEED TO QUERY THE SMALLEST DETAIL. For instance, if you telephone us to ask what font to use (this has happened) we’re probably not going to want to take your manuscript further."

So, I'd say:

• use any font you like as long as it's legible (so probably Times New Roman or Verdana or something along those lines - not one of the stupid curly fonts)

• depending on the font (Times New Roman comes out small) the size should be sensible -- so probably around size 12 (11's probably okay if you're using one of the bigger fonts) -- don't send it in size 6 or anything silly. They're going to be able to tell you've got thirty-eight character profiles, even if they fit on half a page in size 2.

I haven't finalised my submission yet, but I'm doing the five main characters (160 words or so in total) and then my plot, which is currently 650 words.

[Christian Nash]

It's common sense I know, but I worry about this...

[crystal haven]

Originally Posted by springs1971

Just to say to EVERYONE going in for it, those I know about and those I don't, the very best of luck!

I would also like to say, good luck, to anyone going for this.

[Hex]

Originally Posted by Christian Nash

It's common sense I know, but I worry about this...

Me too, but I think it helps to assume that the people who'll be reading your submission are fundamentally reasonable human beings who won't dismiss something out of hand because the formatting isn't exactly what they had in mind. As long as you follow what they do say, they're not going to reject your stuff because of a formatting detail.

(I may be wrong, of course, and they could randomly dismiss things because they're written in Courier New or they don't like size 11 font, but we can't second-guess these things and trying to will only make us insane.)

[Warren_Paul]

Originally Posted by crystal haven

I would also like to say, good luck, to anyone going for this.

Yes, with the window about to open, I'd also like to wish everyone good luck with their submissions. Hopefully we will all have good news to tell.


Font doesn't matter, but I'd suggest TNR 12-point.

do the formatting exactly like they say on the open door page which isn't anything like standard submission format and you will be fine - the rest is irrelevant, your preference. It's single spaced, in an RTF file, with default margins - which I believe is 1-inch anyway. Italics instead of underlining.

[springs]

Okay, so here's a quick q. mine are word docs, which they have said they'll accept, so I'm not too worried, but what's the difference between that and an RTF?

[Mouse]

I think an RTF is able to be opened by more programs.

I second the good luck to everyone!

[Warren_Paul]

Originally Posted by springs1971

Okay, so here's a quick q. mine are word docs, which they have said they'll accept, so I'm not too worried, but what's the difference between that and an RTF?

RTF can be opened on every single computer in existence that doesn't pre-date the 1990s, while Word files need a compatible software package. Other than that; no difference.

Word can save as RTF, just a matter of choosing save as and switching to it on the file format drop-down box.

[Arkose]

Good luck everyone!

[David Evil Overlord]

Good luck to all.

My own efforts will not be ready in time for this. I'm aiming for the Terry Pratchett First Novel contest in December.

[Stephen Palmer]

Good luck to all. I'm going to give mine a final check-over, then submit.

[AnyaKimlin]

Good Luck everyone - I am not sure I am going to make it.

[TheDustyZebra]

I'm having a moment of sheer insanity, thinking that maybe I could finish my book by the deadline.

Thought I might have an escape, but upon looking at the Terry Pratchett First Novel contest, I see that it's UK only.