A rant on proper manuscript formatting

[ellen_datlow]

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

Comments

[ericmarin.livejournal.com]

I see a lot of strangely formatted work, despite the fact that my guidelines require standard manuscript formatting. I think many new writers don't know how to format their manuscripts and skim right past that requirement when it shows up in publication guidelines.

[samhenderson.livejournal.com]

You mean you don't like the 7-point light pink Lucinda with lipstick kisses on the 3rd page?
*SOB*

[ericmarin.livejournal.com]

*grin*

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Well, I kind of like the lipstick kisses. They make me feel wanted, you know?

[samhenderson.livejournal.com]

The only problem is adequately conveying lipstick kisses on e-mail submissions.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

See? That's why print submissions are sooo much better ;-)

[samhenderson.livejournal.com]

Well yes I suppose you do kind of have a point there...mmm...lovely paper...NO! Back, fiend! Not my beautiful gmail account!

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

That's what the smileys are for: ;*

[sacredchao23.livejournal.com]

As a "new writer" I don't think ignorance is much of an excuse. Years ago, when I started submitting I made a point to learn what manuscript format was and what it meant. The most basic rules of submitting writing: follow the submission guidelines.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I can understand when new writers make mistakes. It's the professionals who don't format correctly that drive me nuts.

[ericmarin.livejournal.com]

That's definitely understandable.