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The Basics - 7 Easy
Steps
So you've actually got a finished
story in your hands. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Congratulations! This is further than most would-be authors ever get.
But what to do with it now?
1) FIND A MARKET
This might seem elementary, but you can't do anything until you
identify where you want to try and get your story published. Short
fiction markets are plentiful, even for science fiction and fantasy.
Click here to see some market-search tools that
are quite valuable. You will need to check your intended market's
latest writers' guidelines to be sure you get the editor's name and the
market submission address correct when you reach Step 2.
2) PROPER SHORT STORY MANUSCRIPT
FORMAT
Whether you've got the story written on paper, or saved it as a file
to your computer, it's not ready for submission to a publisher before it's
properly formatted. If ever you've doubted or wondered, there are
two fairly definitive sources on this.
Vonda McIntyre's example, and the more recent but just as relevant
example
by William Shunn. Both are SF pros. Once you've taken your
story from its raw format and put it into this industry-standard format,
you'll never really have to make any changes. Just about any
magazine in North America takes this format. Hugo and Nebula winner
Robert J. Sawyer also recommends using a sufficiently dark Courier font,
like this one from HP, as opposed to the atrophied Courier New that
comes with Microsoft Windows. This is important because proper
manuscript format is all about the presentation. Editors like it
when you adhere to a standard that has been around for many decades, and
which won't strain their overworked eyes. They'll have plenty of
reasons to reject you, based on content. Don't give them an excuse
to reject you because you used the wrong paper, wrong font, wrong spacing
between lines, etc.
2) SHORT STORY COVER LETTERS
Having formatted your story into an actual manuscript, as directed by
McIntyre and Shunn, it's time for the cover sheet. Again, we're
talking about an industry standard. You might be a nobody, you might
have nothing to say other than, "Here is my story! Please publish me!"
But you'll still want to maintain professional decorum. And the
cover sheet is the first thing any editor will see, once they've opened
your manuscript. Having experimented with many variations over the
years, I asked author/editor Dean W. Smith about this, and he advised me
to KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Slash the extraneous wording. If
you've not got any professional credits, your cover letter should be
leaner than a starving whippet. Baen's Universe slush editor Sam
Hidaka confirms this. So, based on their combined feedback
here is an example. This is the look and feel of the beginner's
cover letter. No bullshit. Pay special attention to getting
the editor's name correct, as well as the editorial address. You
should have already identified these when you did Step 1.
3) PRINTING
Shunn and McIntrye largely cover this, but it's worth highlighting
again. Most of the major markets still expect a hardcopy manuscript,
and this hardcopy needs to come in a standard form. Once you have
your manuscript and cover letter formatted and saved on your computer, you
need to print them. Ink jet printing is OK in a pinch, but laser
printing or MFD copier printing are the best. Use standard white
printer or copier paper, no less than 20-pound bond. Glossy photo
paper, or overly thick, heavy-bond paper are a no-go. Colorful paper
or construction paper are also a no-go. Use black toner or ink only.
No colorful variations. Be sure none of the pages get smeared,
smudged, or crinkled on the way out of the printer.
4) ENVELOPES & PACKAGING
Many beginners think they must get the whole manuscript back if an
editor rejects it. Unless you want to spend double on postage, this
is not necessary. Any comments an editor might make on a rejected
manuscript, will be done on the rejection slip itself. Your
manuscript will remain untouched, barring crinkles or corner folds due to
handling during transit. Repeatedly sending the same manuscript
hardcopy to different markets is not advised, as a manuscript displaying
excessive wear and tear won't do you any favors. So save yourself
the extra postage and indicate in your cover letter and on the first page
of the manuscript that the manuscript is disposable, and enclose a
standard white paper business-size envelope with a single, standard
1st class stamp on it, and your return mailing address written or printed
in the middle on the front of the envelope. This is now your SASE;
the Self Addressed Stamped Envelope. Those outside of the U.S. can
use international reply coupons instead of a 1st class US Mail stamp.
Ditto for U.S. writers submitting abroad. Putting the publisher's
address in the top left corner is not necessary because they won't want
the thing back if you can't do your own address correctly. Put the
SASE on top of your cover letter, put the cover letter on top of the
manuscript, and stick it all into a
standard manila-paper business pouch envelope that can accommodate 8½"
x 11" pages. Do NOT fold any of the pages. Do not staple or
paperclip the pages. If the pouch envelope seems too small (because
your manuscript is thick) then go to the next size up. Specialty
tyvek-type envelopes or super-tough cardboard pouches are neither
required nor recommended. Editors want to be able to zip open your
submission and get down to business without having to fool around with
packing tape, duct tape, or other silliness. The front of the pouch
envelope should have the editorial address written neatly (or printed,
whichever) in large print in the middle, and your return address goes in
the upper left corner; also neatly written (or printed).
5) POSTAGE
Thin manuscripts can be stamped using ordinary postage stamps.
But it's not a bad idea to just walk the thing down to the post office and
use the nice postal worker at the desk. Or the machine in the lobby.
Most U.S. post offices now have computerized weighing machines that
operate 24/7 so you can get your manuscript stamped and drop it into the
box any time day or night. All you need is a credit or debit card.
An average manuscript of 4,000 to 6,000 words will generally cost you
$1.65 to mail first-class. Overnight is not necessary, unless some
editor has demanded an immediate re-write. Certified mail or other
options requiring the receiver to sign off on the manuscript at its
destination, are an absolute no-go. This is extra annoyance for the
editorial staff and might earn your story a rocket trip to the round file
(also known as the trash can, also known as the recycle bin!)
6) DROP IT INTO THE "OUT" SLOT
You're sweating. Your head hurts. Your eyes are blurring.
Your heart is pounding. Dear Lord, it's come down to this.
Time to take your story, which has endured a crucible up to this point,
and throw it out into the uncaring, cruel world. You might have
second thoughts. You might wonder if maybe you don't need to take it
home and do one more draft. Resist the temptation. Shove that
baby into the OUTGOING slot at the post office and then walk quickly out
the door and don't look back. Like a parent seeing his or her adult
child out the door for the final time, you've just gotta let go.
Trust that you did the best you could with the knowledge you had.
Your baby will do the rest. And if a rejection comes back to you
instead of that coveted first sale, see Heinlein's
Rules.
7) KEEP TRACK OF WHERE IT WENT
Put together some way of monitoring where your stories are sent, and
when. Nearly all short fiction markets won't take more than one
story from you at a time*, and nobody likes a simultaneous submission.
Keeping track of where things are, and how long they've been there, is
just as essential as getting them out the door. Use a notebook, a
binder, a database, a spreadsheet, whatever. Just make sure your
notes and dates are accurate and that you keep them updated!
OK, wasn't that easy? No?
Alright, here we go, one more time.
The condensed version.....
Print the properly-formatted
manuscript.
Then print the coversheet, taking
care to make sure the coversheet has the correct date, name of the editor, and data for
the market you want.
Take a letter-size white paper
business envelope and put your mailing address on it.
Put a stamp on the envelope.
This is now your SASE.
Put the envelope on top of the
cover sheet, and the cover sheet on top of the manuscript.
Now, take a 9" x 12" manila-paper
pouch envelope. Write neatly, and print your mailing address in the
top left corner. Also writing neatly, print the mailing address of
the market the story is going to, and do it in larger print in the middle
of the front of the pouch.
Slide your SASE, cover letter, and
manuscript into the pouch envelope. Lick, seal, and clip; if it has
a clip.
Take it down to the local USPS
office and get it metered. Even after hours, nearly all USPS centers
now have automated metering machines that can print first-class barcode
stickers for your manuscript.
Drop it in the OUTGOING mail slot.
Make a note as to where the story
went. And when.
That's it. No magic incantations
or special spells. No holy rites. You've completed the grand
cycle. And just because I know you've skimmed this article and
weren't paying attention like you were supposed to, let me recap some of
the no-go items:
DO NOT DO THESE THINGS
- Use colorful or unusual paper for anything.
- Be overly wordy in your cover letter.
- Use unusual packaging.
- Glue, staple, or paperclip anything.
- Deviate from standard manuscript format.
- Use special or cute fonts or colored inks/toner.
- Use certified mail or troublesome shipping.
- Submit more than one story to any given market at a time.*
- Submit the same story to multiple markets at once.
Now that you've passed through the
process, it might seem like an ideal time to kick back, crack open
something cool to drink, and rest. But don't rest too long.
Procrastination is the single deadliest of all writing sins. If
you're not doing Heinlein's Rules, that first
manuscript you just put into the mail might be your last!
* NOTE: some markets may occasionally
accept more than one manuscript from you at any given moment. As in all
things, check the market's guidelines before you assume anything!
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