Manuscript Formatting

[dr_mabeuse]

I'm just wondering what format you use when you submit stories to Lit. I'm assuming most peope use either MSWord or MSNotepad or some other word-processor application to write their stories. Do you just use the default format ("Normal" in MSWord) or do you use special line spacing and margins and all?

I ask because I have my own format I use for writing. It's converted to the usual Lit format for stories I submit here, but lately I've been shopping some stuff around on the web, and different publishers have different format requirements.

---dr.M.

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm just wondering what format you use when you submit stories to Lit. I'm assuming most peope use either MSWord or MSNotepad or some other word-processor application to write their stories. Do you just use the default format ("Normal" in MSWord) or do you use special line spacing and margins and all?

I ask because I have my own format I use for writing. It's converted to the usual Lit format for stories I submit here, but lately I've been shopping some stuff around on the web, and different publishers have different format requirements.

---dr.M.

I use MS Word 97 to write my stories, using a specially modified Plain Text style and with 'autocorrect while you type" and "smart quotes" turned off to avoid the special characters Word uses for quotes dashes and ellispses.

I submit via C&P into the submissions form with any HTML tags inserted for Italics and Bold.

The Default "Normal" style in MS Word is set up for printing your work, and includes a lot of functions that don't convert to HTML with a C&P or conversion to ASCII Text reliably.

 

[TheEarl]

I use MS Word Times New Roman 10 poitns for the body text. I don't indent paragraphs; I put a linespace between them. Titles are written in Bold Arial and Author's notes in italics.

I actually very rarely read my stories when they're up on Lit, so I'm not 100% sure of the formatting.

The Earl

 

[pop_54]

Lo mate

Word 2000 with defaults set as they came, just bash it off and C&P, I never bother with italics or bold, any authors notes or special instuctions just get bracketed if I feel like it.

I sometimes use 602 text WP which is fully word compatible but has a few useful tools, as standard, that MS word doesn't.

I find the simpler you make it, the less likely it is to cock up in transfer to a web site copy board.

 

[CharleyH]

Good Dr. I cut and paste - hmmm - how appropriate. LOL

Really - MS word gets all screwed over in the transfer, so cut paste in email. But then I find the use of italics kind of - overused, and doen't really transfer in the scenario speaking unless you actually tell Laurel - I think - could be off base though. Yet, I'm not such a plain jane I just like what I post to be read the intended way.

I cut, paste and my Times New Roman turns into arial or courier here - not sure why.

Nonetheless.

Publishers and editors, in my field, prefer an easyily read serif style - times new roman works for many? At least in Canada. It's harder to read sans serif. As is the format here.

My take.

Congrats again friend . . . PUBLISH! PUBLISH!
and flowers

I'm just wondering what format you use when you submit stories to Lit. I'm assuming most peope use either MSWord or MSNotepad or some other word-processor application to write their stories. Do you just use the default format ("Normal" in MSWord) or do you use special line spacing and margins and all?

I ask because I have my own format I use for writing. It's converted to the usual Lit format for stories I submit here, but lately I've been shopping some stuff around on the web, and different publishers have different format requirements.

---dr.M.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

For font I use Times New Roman, 11 point. Not ten, not twelve. Don't know why. It just looks right to me.

I'm surprised you all cut and paste. I've never submitted like that; all mine have been uploaded. IS there an advantage to C&P?

---dr.M.

 

[Icingsugar]

I write in Word 2000 or RoughDraft, but submit via C&P. Paragraphs are double line breaks. Any additional formatting (bolds and italics) I do with HTML in the submision field.

The advantage of this is that I figured that would be by far the easiest way for the administration (Laurel et al) to get it up on the site, since it's then formatted exactly as on the page. No font info, no hidden MSWord muck.

My first story got sumbitted as a word file. I don't know if that was why, but it took much longer to get published.

/Ice

 

[Guest]

Well, if you read the little notes on the submission page it actually says that if you upload a document that it actually takes longer for it to be posted then if you just paste it into the little white box for them.

 

[kellycummings]

I use MS Word every time. I keep it set to defaults mostly except for a few personal touches here and there. I also C&P when I post so in the end it doesn't make that much difference on this site, it's mostly for my own benefit when writing.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

My turn,

I work with Bookman Old Style 14 pt. (on account of how it's easier for an old fart to see) but I save in a standard Word file with "normal" format, and 12 point Dark Courier. note: anyone still using 12 point Courier New for paper submissions should be beaten long, hard, and often. DC works exactly like CN but prints much darker, similar to TNR. It's a free download from the HP and MS sites, among others.

Even with sites such as Lit, which can take Word files, I've found the safest way to submit is to save the story to a text (txt) file, single space, no indentations, with a space between each paragrapsh. I submit that version using a cut and paste. Folks needing a lot of fomatting (italics, underlines, etc.) should stick to Word files. However, I'd still go with single space, no indentation, and a space between paragraphs.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm surprised you all cut and paste. I've never submitted like that; all mine have been uploaded. IS there an advantage to C&P?

C&P or uploading a Text file through the submission page allows the submission scripts to format the submission for Lit immediately so you can preview it. That removes at least one step required for Laurel to approve and post the story.

FWIW, Lit uses the Verdana True-Type font, so using that for your stories in MS Word (or other Word Processer) will give yu a better feel for how the storywill look when posted.