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How to Submit
Articles and Short Stories to Editors
Updated:
It is essential that your manuscript be presented in a professional
manner, if you hope to make a place for yourself from writing
articles and short stories for hundreds of publications requiring
the services of the freelance writer. A well-produced manuscript
will immediately gain you an edge in the eyes of the busy editor; a
sloppy submission might well not even be read, though its content is
of exceptional value. First impressions are always vitally
important.
With the exception of readers' letters and some fillers, e.g.
reader's recipes and other items solicited from 'readers' who are
not necessarily expected to have access to sophisticated machinery,
your work must always be typed before sending it to an editor.
Whether you use a manual typewriter, or the more sophisticated
electrical models, or whether you can stretch to purchasing one of
those most wonderful of inventions - a word processor, is entirely
for you, and your finances, to decide. All I would say is, with word
processors now available for a few hundred pounds, many advantages
are immediately gained. Your work need never be completely
retyped for subsequent submissions and since all amendments can be
made to the original document whilst still in the machine's memory
banks. Nor is there need for typing errors to mar your
manuscript, since all changes can be made before the manuscript is
ever committed to paper. These advantages and many others can
greatly increase your actual turnout rate, and such a machine could
pay for itself in a very short time. But don't commit yourself
to one unless you are sure your future lies in writing.
Type your work on good quality A4 paper. About 70-80 gm weight
is adequate. Type on one side of the paper only. When your
ribbon provides less than a crisp black copy then discard it in
favour of a new one, or have the old ribbon re-inked, where
appropriate.
Margins should be approximately 2" on the left and 1" on the right.
On the first page of your manuscript, about one-third of the way
down the page, type your title, centrally, in capitals, and
underline it. About 5 lines down type 'by' again centrally,
and a similar number of lines further down type - centrally, your
real name or pen name. Only the title needs capital letters.
About half way down the page start your actual text. Indent each
paragraph by five spaces and type in double-spacing throughout.
Leave margins of approximately 25mm at the top and bottom of each
page.
Pages should be numbered and identified in the event of them coming
adrift. At the top of subsequent pages you should give your name, a
brief title, and the page number. Page two for my article on writing
articles might start as follows:
HARPER
ARTICLES
PAGE 2
A line should be left free before re-commencing text.
At the end of your article or story, leave a few lines and type,
centrally:
.............. END
At the bottom left-hand side of your last page type your name and
address in single spacing.
Manuscripts should preferably bear a cover sheet giving brief
details of your work. On your cover page approximately half
way down, the title of your manuscript is typed in capitals and
centred. A few lines further down type 'by' in lower case, and
a similar number of lines down in lower case lettering type your
real or pen name, i.e. the one you want to appear on your published
work. Then about an inch below type 'An article/short story with
approximately ... words' underlined and in lower case lettering.
If you are submitting illustrations, state a few lines further
down how many photographs/line drawings/illustrations there are.
Type your real name and address at the bottom left-hand side of the
page, in single spacing.
Always send a covering letter stating simply that you are enclosing
an article or short story for the editor's consideration, and
saying you hope it might be suitable for publication in his
magazine, newspaper, etc. Provide a suitable size Stamped Addressed
Envelope for return of unsuitable manuscripts. Then wait!
Don't bug an editor for an answer unless several weeks have passed
for a piece with limited time interest, such as an anniversary piece
for which the deadline is looming. Although some editors reply
very quickly, it is not unknown to have to wait several months for a
reply.
After submitting your manuscript, start on your next. Don't dwell
too long on the fate of the first!
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