Happy Wednesday! I know I've been a little less visible over the past week or two; that was not my intent. I'm sorry and will post more frequent starting next week.. a lot in store then :) In the meantime, let's talk about more items on your checklist before you send your book out into the world of editors, publishers, etc. We've touched base on the lines, and how to tell as best as you can, if you're not certain. We've talked about queries and synopsis, and things to look out for while editing.
We'll be adding to a prior post about sending out and double-checking their guidelines. This time though, let's talk about the actual sending out part of it. By now, if you're close to polishing your story to within an inch of its life as best as you're able to, you have probably checked out their guidelines and whatnot. Now, I'm not talking the genre you're shooting for or word count, though those are important, too. But I'm referring to the actual 'sending' it out part.
Let's assume you've already made up your mind where you're sending your story, and thinking along this same wave length, you probably have a back up or two if the first passes. But, do they accept simultaneous submissions? If they do, you're able to send to another at the same time, providing the other accepts as well. Do they only accept snail mail or do they want you to send on line? If you're not sure take a look at their site, and even if you're sure but it's been a while since you last visited, you may want to refresh your checklist.. they may have updated their site and changed the way they want and/or accept submissions.
Moving forward, do they want a certain font, size? What about the margins 1/4, 1/2 or 1", header, footer? Every or every other page numbered? Double spaced? Page breaks for each chapter? Title and your name in left or right hand corner? All of these you'll want to double-check to make sure how they want your book to land on their desk.
Yeah, mistakes happen, things get overlooked all the time. You swear you checked to make sure everything was in order, only to find you've made an error and realize they want it a different way than you've sent it. And you know there is nothing you can do because it's on the way.
The only advice I would ever give anyone if asked is.. double check everything.. and I mean everything.. before you send it out. Not a month before, not a couple of weeks before, like a day or two before you send it out.
Sharpen your pencil, make a list of exactly how who you are subbing to wants your ms. Write it down and check off each item as you go along. Even if that means reading/going over your ms again, when honestly, that's the last thing you want to do because you've read/checked it damn close to a hundred times already, lol ;)
The point is, you've come this far.. you've spent so many hours writing, rewriting, editing, scratching pages or chapters even, starting over half way though because of a sagging middle, and frankly, everything in between. The last thing you should want to do now is rush sending it without giving your ms the best version you can possibly give it. And it goes way beyond the actual story. Sure, they may love it, be ready to jump through hoops to sign you on because your sample chapters grabbed them 'that' much. But if the complete is riddled with typo after typo, in 8pt, single spaced, no page numbers etc. Can you imagine printing say, 300 pages, and when someone goes to take it off of the printer, every... single... page... slips from their fingers, falling to the floor? I ask you, would you want to sort through the messy pile as you try to figure out which is the first, second, third, or page sixty? I like to think I am a patient person, but I'd be ready to walk away after about an hour of sorting through all of it.
And with that vision, is this how you want your first impression to be remembered? I personally wouldn't. They're asking for a ms to be a certain way because that's how it works best for them, and so they can focus on the story. Don't give them a reason not to be excited to read your ms by not even considering or adhering to their guidelines.
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
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