|
Submitting Articles and Short Stories to Editors
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!
Good luck and happy writing!
|
|
How to Submit Articles and Short Stories to Editors |
|
Free
How to Be a Well-Paid Writer
When you join our mailing list for forthcoming free articles and eBook Updates |
| Join Our Mailing List |
