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#1: Write it!
- #2: Proofread it! - #3: Match
it! - #4: Format it! - #5: Introduce it! - #6: Send it!
- #7: Monitor it!
StoryBoard
Step #4:
Format it!
If you've done things properly, this won't be a separate step; you'll have
already formatted it while you wrote it!
The way your manuscript appears is as important as how well your story is
written, for if you send it to an editor using red ink, multiple fancy
fonts, on green paper, with no margins, or anything else non-standard, the
editor likely isn’t even going to read it. What follows is generally
considered standard and acceptable by virtually every editor at every
publication around – although, of course, always check the guidelines in
case a particular editor has a non-standard nuance.
Manuscripts
should follow this standard format. Do not get fancy or try to be
different or attempt to stand out; this will only distract the editor from the
only important thing here, your story. Manuscript format should be
standard, boring, and, as a result of these things, invisible to the editor. Writing is a business; think of your manuscript as a business letter. The
last thing you want an editor to do is get distracted because you feel the need
to do it differently. Editors want you to use the standard format.
Give it to them and let them focus on what matters — the story.
Emailing. Many editors prefer
email. Most small-press publications do. Many of the bigger professional
publications still prefer printed materials.
Method of printing
Handwriting. Don't.
Typewriters. Don't use one if you can help it. It looks fine
and all, but trust me, the benefits to moving your operation to a computer
are many. If you must use a
typewriter:
- Make sure all the keys work.
- Be sure you always have a fresh, dark
ribbon and that the letters aren’t blurred or smudged due to dirt or dust on
the ribbon.
- If your typewriter uses print wheels or
elements that allow specialty fonts, don’t use them. A standard,
easy-to-read 12-point typeface is best.
Dot-matrix printers.
Most editors will accept dot-matrix print so long as one
cannot tell at a glance that it is dot-matrix type. If you can see the
dots or if the ribbon is faded enough so that the type is more gray than black,
the editor will likely not even look at it.
- If you use
an older dot-matrix printer, be sure that it is NOT a 7- or 9-pin model.
- If it
is a “letter-quality” printer, be sure it is NOT set on draft mode but on
letter-quality mode.
- Be sure that the ribbon is fresh, clean,
and very dark.
Laser and inkjet printers. While laser printing is ideal, most people have inkjet printers since
they are quite inexpensive. The only drawback to inkjet printers is that
the ink can smudge and if it gets at all wet, it tends to run. Obviously,
you won't be putting dripping wet manuscripts in envelopes; but just be sure to
check for excessive smudging and blurring before you seal it up and send it off.
Paper
Color.The paper you use should be white – it
doesn’t have to be the brightest, most expensive paper out there, but don’t use
something that looks like a light shade of vanilla, either.
Weight. Use 20-pound paper or heavier. Most average laser- or inkjet-printer paper is 20 or 24 pounds.
Brightness. If you can
spring for a few extra bucks, go for a paper with a higher brightness
rating. It just looks better. A 24-pound paper with a 96 or better
brightness is ideal.
Size. In the United States, use standard 8˝" x 11" — known as
"letter size." Don't use anything else.
Form-feed paper.
If you're using a dot-matrix printer,
or any older printer that uses continuous feed paper, be sure to separate all the pages at the perforations and remove the
tractor feed strips from the sides.
Typefaces
Use Courier or Times
New Roman. Use a
simple typeface, and use it throughout the entire manuscript. Most editors
will say they prefer you use Courier or Times New Roman, or a very similar font. This is wise; stick to it. Virtually any computer operating system will come
with these fonts, or comparable fonts.
Type size. Set the
typeface size at 12 points. Some editors don't mind 10 or 11, but nobody
minds 12.
Fancy fonts.
Computers are often capable of thousands of wondrous fonts in script, italic,
block, and novelty fonts. In a short phrase, don't use them. There may be
extremely special instances when you might use a fancy font, such as depicting a
kidnaper's pieced-together ransom note using a ransom-note-type font, but
generally, stick to Courier or Times.
Emphasis. First of all, be careful with any emphasis. Too many words
emphasized on a page will give your writing that "checkerboard look":
too many italicized and capitalized words all over the place. But
sometimes you need to emphasize something, so follow these rules:
- Italics. Don't use
italics unless guidelines tell you to do so. If there is text in your story that you wish to be italicized,
underline it. This is common practice; italics sometimes don't look
clearly like italics, but there's no mistaking an
underline. Some editors WANT italics, so you may have to accommodate them.
- Boldface. There is
rarely any reason you would use bold type. Bold type is for emphasis;
italics cover this. If, however, you need to use it, don't actually
boldface it. The best solution it to indicate boldface with asterisks
before and after the text — *just like this*. A notation at the start of
your manuscript should let the editor know that this indicates boldface. You'll find it far easier to simply not boldface anything at all. Just use
italics.
- ALL CAPITALS. Don't
use them except in special circumstances. A couple of such examples might
be when characters are reading signs (and even these are unnecessary):
- John looked up at the faded sign above the door:
MARSH BROS. GROCERS, it read.
- Jane eased the car to a halt at the corner. Above
her, the street sign said 47TH STREET and BILTMORE AVENUE. She'd come to
the right place.
Document format
What follows is a longer-winded
version of the brief
summary of manuscript format here.
Double-space your print. This does not mean you put two spaces between every word. This
means that you leave a blank line after every printed line. If you're
using a word processor, this is a simple matter of setting the document's line
spacing to 2. If you're using a typewriter, the carriage return can
usually be set to double spacing in the same way. Older typewriters might
require you to hit the carriage return twice at the end of a typed line. Remember what we said about typewriters? Get a computer!
Margins should be about
one inch all the way around — left, right, top, and bottom.
Indent paragraphs about
half-inch, or about 5 spaces if you have to do it manually.
Add a header to each page. A header is a line appearing at the top of every page. On a
computer, this is set quite easily. On a typewriter, you have to type it
at the top of every page (ugh!). The header should contain three pieces of
information: the name of the story, or a reasonable abbreviation; your
name; and the current page number. This is in case the manuscript gets
separated as the editor is reading it; pages can get out of order, the thing
could get dropped on the floor and strewn about, and so on. It also keeps
it obvious who wrote it and which story it is. Headers should be centered
at the top of the page. (Some editors mention right-flushing the header,
but its specific orientation isn't likely to annoy anyone.) Below are a
few examples of proper headers:
- "The Megabanshees of Darox,"
David Fitzpatrick, Page #42
- Megabanshees of Darox/D.
Fitzpatrick/Page 42
- Megabanshees/Fitzpatrick/42
Print on one side of the paper. The back side should always be blank.
Clean print. If
you're using a typewriter and make a mistake, it is perfectly acceptable to
XXXXX out (or ——— out) the error. You may use correcting fluid,
although it isn't necessary. Correction tape should never be used.
If you are using a computer, you should never have to X anything out; if you
find a mistake, reprint the page.
Personal information. On the very first page,
include personal information. Some manuscript formats say to do this at
the top left and right of the first page, but listing it at the top left
is sufficient. Give the following information:
- Your name, your address, phone number, and
email address.
- Some publications ask you to include your Social Security Number (if you're
American). This is, ostensibly, for the purposes of properly reporting anything
they pay to you. However, in this day and age of identity theft,
haphazardly handing out your SSN is not advisable. Any editor who rejects
your submission because you didn't include your SSN is almost certainly
not worth working with anyway. Consider applying online at
www.irs.gov to get a free
EIN, or Employee Identification Number, which will protect you and let all
the money you make get reported to the IRS with that number.
- Word count. If you're using
a word processor, you likely have a word count feature built in. If you
don't, or you're using a typewriter, there a number of ways to estimate word
counts without counting every word manually. My favorite is to count the
words on half a page, double it, and multiple by the number of pages. While it's
acceptable to put "About 5,200 words" or "Approximately 4,700 words," I've
actually seen editors complain about the use of words like "About" here.
They stomp their feet and cry that since word counts can be done with a
word processor, there is no guesswork; simply put "5,200 words." I'm the
first to say that such editors really need to get off their control-freak
horses and calm down a bit, but you may wish to simply put the word count
just to appease them. (Personally, I'm not interested in dealing with
any editor who's that anal—but make your own judgments.)
- Copyright notice. List your
copyright notice, such as "Copyright ©
2010 David M. Fitzpatrick."
- The rights you offer (not necessary
since most publications specify the rights they are willing to purchase). For
example, "Offering First North American Serial Rights."
Your block of personal information might
look something like this:
John Q. Public
123 Conifer Way
Pineville, ME 12345
(207) 123-4567
JQPublic@domainname.com
5,900 words
Copyright © 2010
Offering First North American Serial Rights
#1: Write it!
- #2: Proofread it! - #3: Match
it! - #4: Format it! - #5: Introduce it! - #6: Send it!
- #7: Monitor it!
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