Nick Pollotta, SFWA

123 Any Street

Somewhere Ville, State, Zip Code                                       Article

(123) 456-7890                                                     1,600 words







HOW TO SUBMIT FICTION

by Nick Pollotta


BASIC MANUSCRIPT FORMAT:

     If these guidelines are not followed exactly, the manuscript will be rejected

unread.  That's a rule of the business; whether it is a novel, short story or

article.

     Courier New font, 12 point, black ink on white paper (decent bond), double

spaced on one side with an inch border all around.  Send a good clean copy (not your

only copy of course).  Nine (9) pin dot matrix printing is absolutely unacceptable.

Twelve (12) pin is better, but 24 is the preferred level of letter-quality.  A high-

quality Ink Jet is even better, and a laser printer is the best.  If the editor has

to waste a single moment of their time struggling to read the manuscript, it's

automatically rejected.  Why?  Because they receive an average of 50 manuscripts a

day, but can only read a handful.  So they will reject your work for any infraction

of the rules.  To them, a sloppy submission means sloppy writing.


NOVELS:

Cover letter - (See below)

Cover page - blank.

Title sheet - Place your correct name, address and phone number at the upper left

hand corner.  The title of the work must go in the center of the page and be

underlined.  Beneath the title, place the name you wish to be published as, and

under that what type of work the material is: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Humor,

Horror, Western, Spy/Thriller, whatever.

     Each chapter heading should be in the middle of the page on the left side. 

     Aside from the title page, every page should have your last name, title and

page number in upper right hand corner.  Example:


Nicholas Pollotta, SFWA

123 Average St.

Hometown, State, 45678                           Article

(111) 222-3333                                   1,500 words

     At the end, jump a line and then in the center of the remaining space type the

word THE END in capital letters.  If there is enough space left, also type in your

name, address and phone number, on the lower left hand side.


ARTICLES/SHORT STORIES:

     Typed, black ink on white paper (decent bond), double spaced on one side with a

good inch border all around.  Place your legal name, address and phone number at the

upper left hand corner (the name you will use to cash the check).  In the upper

right hand corner place the type of work, and beneath that word length. (the average

is 200 words a page)  The title of the work must go in the center of the page and be

underlined.  Beneath the title, place the name you wish to be published as, then

jump four lines and start the work.

     At the end, jump a line and in the center of the remaining space type the word

THE END in capital letters.  If there is enough space left, also type in your name,

address and phone number, on the lower left hand side.

     Include a cover letter ONLY if you have been professionally published. (see

page 3)


MAILING THE MANUSCRIPT:

NOVELS - Send the loose, unbound manuscript in a typewriter paper box, or similar

type mailing box available at any stationary store. DO NOT SEAL THE BOX CLOSED!

(see the rule about annoying the editor)  Place the boxed manuscript, your cover

letter and a return manila envelope self addressed and stamped, in another manila

envelope and mail it off first class.  No overnight express.  No signed receipts.

No insurance.  None of that is necessary.

     If you wish, you can include a stamped self-addressed post card, that the

publisher can mail informing you that the novel has arrived safely.  They do

appreciate the polite (and time saving) gesture.


ARTICLES/SHORT STORIES

     Paper clip the work together and mail it in a manila envelope of appropriate

size with a SASE enclosed.


THE COVER LETTER:

     Your cover letter should be in proper business format, polite and short.

Editors read a dozen letters a day, they bore very easily and are always short on

time.  Be wise, don't annoy them.

     A single sheet, typed, black ink on white paper (decent bond), double spaced on

one side with a one inch border all around.  Your name, address and phone number,

upper right hand side, the publishing company name, address and name of the editor

it should go to beneath it on the left side.

     Your introductory sentence should identify yourself, and list your appropriate

credentials.  Example: its a history novel and you're a history professor/student,

its a humor novel and you're a stand-up comic, you've had a novel published already,

or a short story, article, whatever. (Fan publications and self published on-line do

not count.  Sorry.)  If you don't have any credentials, then speak briefly of your

intense interest and knowledge of the subject matter.


NOVELS ONLY:

     Then, in one sentence, describe the basic plot of your work.  This is extremely

difficult, but must be done.  Example: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN is an

adventure novel, in which a young boy and a runaway slave challenge the father of

all rivers and discover the true meaning of friendship. 

     If this is a mass submission (going to several publishers at the same time)

inform them of such.  If not, also inform them.

     Example: "Due to the slow response time inherent in our industry, I will be

submitting this manuscript to one, or two, other publishers."

     Something like that.  End with a 'Thank you' and 'Looking forward to hearing

from you soon', Cordially, your name.  Leave the cover letter loose inside the box,

on top of the manuscript. DO NOT STAPLE OR PAPER CLIP ANYTHING.  Use a rubber band.


WAITING:

     After about three months, (two months for articles or short stories) you can

give the publisher a call and (very politely!) inquire as to the status of your work

in their decision making process.  Do the same in the fifth month.  In the sixth

month, withdraw the manuscript from their consideration and send it elsewhere.  A

phone call or letter will do nicely.  Even then, be extremely polite and

business like.  You may have to re-submit the manuscript to the exact same person

you talked to at some future date.


Note: Articles and short stories may not be mass submissions!


HELPFUL HINTS

#1 - Proofread your novel, and then have a friend(s) do it again, as if a single

typo9graphical error or misspelling could cost you the sale.  It might.  Make the

editor's job as easy for them as possible.

#2 - As hard as this is, do not discuss the details of your novel with any

professional in the field until the book is sold, or better published.  Not all of

us are nice folks, and some steal ideas.

#3 - When you make your first book sale, contact a literary agent and have him/her

negotiate the contract for you.  There is nothing friendly or fannish about

publishing contracts.  If you agree to a deal, and then can't fulfill your part of

the bargain, the publisher will nail you to the wall.  Remember, this is business.

A contract is SOP for articles, or short stories, for any respectable magazine.

NEVER place a copyright notice on your work as it serves no useful function.  Ninety

nine percent of all the editors in the field are honest and the implied discourtesy

will only annoy them.  Plus, it would merely amuse - and not deter - a crooked

editor.

#4 - Beware of repetitive words, and phrases, and words.

#5 - Avoid clichés like the plague! (get the idea?)

#6 - Build a fire under the reader that is only extinguished with the words: The

End.

#7 - K.I.S.S. - Keep It Short and Sweet. (for short stories only)

#8 - The first line defines the basic thrust of the work.

#9 - Don't use words you are unfamiliar with.

#10 - Take your time.  Have patience.  Write!


BASIC REFERENCE WORKS

Strunk & White - "The Elements of Style"

Any good dictionary

Roget's Thesaurus

Any decent encyclopedia to get your facts straight.

     Please note that editors change companies faster than we do socks, so just

before sending off your novel, call the company and ask for the name of the editor

in charge of their Science Fiction line.  Then ask for their assistant's name.  The

assistant is the person who will - almost definitely - actually read the novel.

Send it attention to the assistant editor, or the editor, by name.   This saves

time, and earns you valuable brownie points.


As always, good luck!


-THE END-