ellen_datlow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ellen_datlow) wrote2008-08-20 05:11 pm
ellen_datlow) wrote2008-08-20 05:11 pm
Entry tags:
A rant on proper manuscript formatting
Recent reading and editing has brought to my attention the fact that some writers have suddenly (well, since using computers and email) decided that the usual rules of mss preparation are no longer necessary.
Three examples:
1) I have received print submissions without PAGE NUMBERS (not often, but still, this should never happen).
2) I have increasingly been the recipient of manuscripts that don't underline words meant to be italicized in the story's final, printed form. The reason editors/copy editors/and whoever does the production on a mss need to see underlines is that some typefaces don't show italics very well, and even if they did--it's quicker to "see" underline than italics
3)I have been receiving mss without anything indicating space breaks. What happened to ###? I'm in the middle of reading a printout that seemed to be missing at least two pages because there were no transitions...When I checked the efile, lo and behold, the sentence breaks were in different places so I could actually see that there were supposed to be space breaks. Writers--new and pro--please please show your space breaks by putting in hash marks.
4) Paragraphing--before online publishing, paragraphing was shown by indenting margins...Guess what, folks? Most publishing (especially of books) is still print, which means that paragraphs are indented.
Rant over
Three examples:
1) I have received print submissions without PAGE NUMBERS (not often, but still, this should never happen).
2) I have increasingly been the recipient of manuscripts that don't underline words meant to be italicized in the story's final, printed form. The reason editors/copy editors/and whoever does the production on a mss need to see underlines is that some typefaces don't show italics very well, and even if they did--it's quicker to "see" underline than italics
3)I have been receiving mss without anything indicating space breaks. What happened to ###? I'm in the middle of reading a printout that seemed to be missing at least two pages because there were no transitions...When I checked the efile, lo and behold, the sentence breaks were in different places so I could actually see that there were supposed to be space breaks. Writers--new and pro--please please show your space breaks by putting in hash marks.
4) Paragraphing--before online publishing, paragraphing was shown by indenting margins...Guess what, folks? Most publishing (especially of books) is still print, which means that paragraphs are indented.
Rant over
no subject
Even with electronic deliveries (I don't take electronic submissions at all), no matter how it's formatted when it comes in, I do a global reformat into 12 pt. Courier, double spaced. All your fancy formatting decisions, they are gone into the aether in a moment.
As for the Times new roman vs. courier debate, it's no debate. TNR is a proportional font. We do not want proportional fonts; they make it impossible to get an accurate cast-off.
no subject
Thank you! This is the first time I have heard the TNR issue explained. However, not knowing this didn't keep me from following the rules. Yes, I'm a blind rule follower when it comes to mss submissions. ;-)
Courier vs time roman for novels vs stories