How to avoid the slushpile

[Mharvey]

Thank you for posting this - in a way, I find it very positive. If you follow these rules, you suddenly narrow your competition from thousands to dozens... and this is not hard stuff. Just keep your day job, and don't scrimp on the materials.

I don't doubt this is exactly what happens in publishing houses.

[Sylvetra_Snake]

I think more often you have to be cruel to be kind. Mentions about the ink and the font should be obvious. They need to be able to read the manuscript clearly, and the darker the ink the easier to read. I think if you want someone to publish you then you are going to do whatever they ask for (within reason).

The first post was a good read!

[Grymalkyn]

I still feel confused about ...

• must I use Courier?
• may I not use a pseudonym?
• what are the correct margin spaces?
• You do want paperclips?
• Only give short plot if asked for it?

I suspect it's very much "answer the question asked" NOT the one you would have preferred to be askde . but I'd like to know the parameters so I can fulfill them

[chopper]

Originally Posted by Grymalkyn

I still feel confused about ...

• must I use Courier?
• may I not use a pseudonym?
• what are the correct margin spaces?
• You do want paperclips?
• Only give short plot if asked for it?

I suspect it's very much "answer the question asked" NOT the one you would have preferred to be askde . but I'd like to know the parameters so I can fulfill them

Courier: yes, as it's a monotype font and is practically the industry standard. makes life easy for the poor chaps reading your ms.
psuedonym: up to you, as long as your real name is on the first page with your contact details.
short plot: well, you gotta give em a reason to start reading it - that's the reason for the letter that goes with it.
paperclips: i think not.
margin spaces: an inch left & right, top & bottom.

[Grymalkyn]

Thanks chopper, just what I needed. Very useful article, that ... despite the paper clips :-)

[iansales]

Always read the submission guidelines. Some editors have their idiosyncracies.

[Grymalkyn]

Very true! I've even seen one or two who say Times Roman LOL

[Troo]

TNR is a lot easier on the eye than courier or courier new, particularly when reading off a printed page. Some editors may just prefer that *shrugs*.

[Grymalkyn]

I'm not risking it though . I suspect my last went straight in the bin because I used TNR. It's a bit of a slog to change fonts and make all emphases into underline and make sure it's all neat and tidy, but what the hell? I want the dam thing published.

[Grymalkyn]

Should I use Courier for the accompanying letter ??? I certainly don't intend to double space it

[SJAB]

TNR is fine for the letter, just draft it in a business letter style, keeping it to one page and you will be fine. Just follow the agents/publishers' guidelines. Don't start to micromanage everything, take a deep breath and get the submission in the post!!

And I doubt your submission went in the bin just because you sent it in TNR. Did you include a stamped addressed envelope? I have found that the post office tend to shred the sides of an A4 envelope if it has more than a few sheets in. (Had some submissions come back in a plastic bag with an apology from the post office.) I now reinforce both the envelope I send the submission in, and the reply envelope, with parcel tape round the edges.

[Grymalkyn]

Thanks, wilco. It goes in the post first thing monday :-)

[Troo]

Honestly, few places will really reject a submission just because of the font unless you've sent the whole damn thing in Comic Sans or Abaddon

Some might. If they do, they'll say so in their sub guidelines.