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If you’re like me, you end up wondering if your manuscript will be rejected because you put your address in the upper right corner instead of the left or somehow failed to accommodate some other ritual. If we share these phobias, then the following tips should help clarify the issue.
Ø Begin Articles and Short Stories about halfway down the page.
Ø Place your contact information (your name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) in the upper left corner of the manuscript, in a single-spaced block.
Ø The word-count of the article rounded to the nearest 10 (for small articles), or 50 (for longer pieces) should go in the upper right corner.
Ø Center document title on the page at the halfway point, in a larger font than the text (boldfacing is fine).
Ø Skip two lines, and center your byline (either your real name or your pen name) in a slightly smaller font.
Ø Skip another two lines and begin your article. A cover page is required for Novels and Nonfiction Books. This can be prepared in a variety of formats.
Ø Center your book title halfway down the page.
Ø Skip two lines, and center your name or byline.
Ø Skip another two or three lines, and center your contact information (real name, if different from your byline, address, phone, fax, etc.). If you are using an agent, you may wish to include the agent's name and information. Alternately, the agent may prepare a separate cover sheet with their contact information.
Ø Skip another two or three lines and include the total word count
Ø Begin each separate chapter of the book on its own page
Ø Each chapter should begin halfway down the page with the title of the chapter (or number, if the chapter has no title).
Ø Do not include your byline on each chapter, or any contact information.
In closing, be sure to put your contact information on your manuscript. The importance is that when you submit a manuscript, the document may become separated from the cover letter. Whether dealing with an agent or an editor at a publishing house, manuscripts may go in one file and cover letters in a completely different file. It may be six months or more before a manuscript makes it through the mill and is considered for publishing. By that time they (the agent or editor) may have no idea who wrote it. At the very least, include your name or your work will be lost and you won’t know why.
If you’re like me, you end up wondering if your manuscript will be rejected because you put your address in the upper right corner instead of the left or somehow failed to accommodate some other ritual. If we share these phobias, then the following tips should help clarify the issue.
Ø Begin Articles and Short Stories about halfway down the page.
Ø Place your contact information (your name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) in the upper left corner of the manuscript, in a single-spaced block.
Ø The word-count of the article rounded to the nearest 10 (for small articles), or 50 (for longer pieces) should go in the upper right corner.
Ø Center document title on the page at the halfway point, in a larger font than the text (boldfacing is fine).
Ø Skip two lines, and center your byline (either your real name or your pen name) in a slightly smaller font.
Ø Skip another two lines and begin your article. A cover page is required for Novels and Nonfiction Books. This can be prepared in a variety of formats.
Ø Center your book title halfway down the page.
Ø Skip two lines, and center your name or byline.
Ø Skip another two or three lines, and center your contact information (real name, if different from your byline, address, phone, fax, etc.). If you are using an agent, you may wish to include the agent's name and information. Alternately, the agent may prepare a separate cover sheet with their contact information.
Ø Skip another two or three lines and include the total word count
Ø Begin each separate chapter of the book on its own page
Ø Each chapter should begin halfway down the page with the title of the chapter (or number, if the chapter has no title).
Ø Do not include your byline on each chapter, or any contact information.
In closing, be sure to put your contact information on your manuscript. The importance is that when you submit a manuscript, the document may become separated from the cover letter. Whether dealing with an agent or an editor at a publishing house, manuscripts may go in one file and cover letters in a completely different file. It may be six months or more before a manuscript makes it through the mill and is considered for publishing. By that time they (the agent or editor) may have no idea who wrote it. At the very least, include your name or your work will be lost and you won’t know why.