So many times, with "how to" Land for sale writers are told basically what to and what not to do. However, they are really never hearing an explanation why. This article will take ten basic things to do when submitting your work for publication and explain why you should do them.
1. Write and request guidelines before submitting work:
We have all been guilty of this at one time or another. Anxiously trying to submit work to a Land for sale market that you know absolutely nothing about. A case in point would be the sending your superbly written romance story to Broken Hearts, only to find out the publication only publishes work belonging to the horror genre. It's important for us as writers to request guidelines for markets that we're interested in submitting. Guidelines not only give the submission preparation requirements, but they also give the writer a glimpse into the philosophy of the publication, therefore giving the writer a peek into the philosophy of the editor as well.
Be patient with the editor in waiting for a response:
This little rule of thumb may be a little scary for some writers. Through our excitement, we tend to forget that a manuscript we thought was sent out six weeks ago actually went out three days ago. Try to give the editor a little time to get back to you on the status of your manuscript. If after four weeks you hear nothing, drop a friendly little postcard and ask about the status of your work. Editors understand 2.
Study the market(s) you're trying to break into:
Writing for guidelines is just the first step in getting ready for submitting a manuscript. Taking the time to study your target publication is the next. Invest in a sample copy of the publication. You'll be surprised at what the guidelines will be able to tell you. It [the sample publication you purchased] tells you what the editor is more likely to accept. It gives you a glimpse into the length of the material that's selected. Not paying attention to your target market is like trying to fish without a fishing pole. You are less likely—though I am not saying you can't be published without purchasing a sample issue—to land a sale without doing so.
Submit your work in the standard manuscript format:
Let's face it—writing for possible publication is a profession and editors expect you to act in a professional manner. This includes preparing your manuscripts in a professional manner. Your manuscripts should be prepared in standard manuscript format. For more information on the proper way to submit your work, check the latest editions of the Novel and Short Market, for short stories and the Poet's Market, for poetry. Both of these great treasures can be found in local bookstores and are published by Writer's Digest Books.
That you want to give your manuscript the best chance to be published and are happy to inform you on the whereabouts of your manuscript. Remember, some editors receive hundreds of submissions daily, so as hard as it may be, try to be a little patient.
5. Enclose a self address stamped envelope with your submission
Make sure the SASE has adequate postage to cover the return of your manuscript. If the manuscript is disposable, send a thirty-two-cent stamped envelope to cover the cost of having your response sent back to you. Magazine publishers incur a lot of cost when producing a periodical, paying for the return of your manuscript shouldn't be one of them.
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