Okay, with so many different editors and so many different guidelines, we need ONE "Standardized Submission Guidlines" posted. Once this is posted ALL editors/compilers will follow it. ALL writers submitting stories will follow it.
I want all of my editors/compilers to get together and write this up. I know it's a pain in the ass, but it's badly needed.
Every Anthology/Novel will need to follow these guidelines.
I want to see them once y'all have come up with them.
The guidelines will be posted in "Library of the Living Dead Press", "Library of Horror Press" and "Library of Science Fiction & Fantasy Press".
Sorry for the extra work, but we need this.
If you need information from me, just ask.
Doc
I agree. very good idea.
Happy to compile in all of my incredible amounts of free time.
Where to start?
Shunn + RTF for format?
Sorry guys and gals, but if you want to play you have to play by the same rules.
If I have to do it I will. I'm incredibly busy just now trying to get out 7 books. That's right SEVEN. But this needs to be done ASAP.
I don't ask for much, but I am asking that we get on this.
Doc
This is an excellent idea, Doc, and an entirely reasonable requirement for any publishing venture. Other publishing companies won't even look at submissions that aren't in the proper format.
It's really the very least that prospective authors can do to make the publisher's life easier.
And isn't that the name of the game?
Kudos, Doc.
Yeah definately a good idea.
I don't know how you stay on top of it all anyway doc-but life would be a whole lot easier, I'm guessing, if everything was submitted and formated that same.
Actually, there is a guide to the industry standard located here: http://libraryofthelivingdead.lefora.com/2009/07/18/anthologies-submission-guidelines-please-sticky/page1/#post14146301
and copied in the Library of Horror thread as well.
Isn't this what you're asking for? Or am I smoking crack?
<cut and pasted from thread>
General submission guidelines:
RTF format (no other formats accepted)
Place name of anthology you are submitting to in the subject line of your email
Include contact information, your real name, and pen name (if applicable) in your cover letter
Your cover letter should include any of your previous writing credits, a brief explanation of who you are, and a very brief synopsis of your story including the including the title. Also, tell us where you heard about the anthology.
For a clear guideline on how your story should be formatted for submission, please check out this link:
http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html
I've pretty much always followed the Shunn format unless an editor requests variations. I like the Shunn format, but alot of the subs I've recieved for Through the Eyes of the Undead ignore many of the items Chris mentioned above like underlining italics, headers etc. I'll just have to format the whole book when I have gathered 100K words worth of wonderful stories.
Personally, I think Rhiannon's general guidelines are very good. I should have copied them when I listed the guidelines for my anthology. A link to the Shunn format seems like a good idea to me.
I wonder how many have actually read the entire Shunn paper? He talks about putting two spaces after punctuation always... but are we still doing that? Just saying, if you haven't read it you might want to, to make sure there isn't confusion there. I just got done reading it and I'm like, wow, so many people calling for this format, yet so many don't want two spaces after a period, so many don't want headers and footers, so many don't want you to underline for italics....
-chrisbartholomew
Yeah! Shunn makes sense apart from the two spaces bit. This is an antiquated piece of advice (from the typewriter era) and only serves to date the author - not that editors might be ageist, but .......
DW
If you look at Doc's books, he tries to format them for readability. There is a larger font, 1.5 line spacing and yes, double spaces between sentences. Whether or not this dates us or not, it does make text a lot easier to read. Doc's books are a lot easier on the
The reason why I posted the guidelines I did was because they fit what Doc is already doing with his books. If everyone submits in the guidelines posted, it is a helluvalot easier to format the entire manuscript without dealing with any funkiness.
Perhaps the Editors/Compilers and I need to get together and put up a complete guideline. Some of the stuff that is in Shunn I don't like. The new novels are being printed as justified and single spaced. They look more professional. 12 point Microsoft Sans Serif is now what I'm using. It just looks more professional and it is easier to read.
I don't want anything "embedded" in the submissions. No weird fonts, no headers, no weird line breaks.
We need to get together.
Perhaps the Editors/Compilers and I need to get together and put up a complete guideline. Some of the stuff that is in Shunn I don't like. The new novels are being printed as justified and single spaced. They look more professional. 12 point Microsoft Sans Serif is now what I'm using. It just looks more professional and it is easier to read.
I don't want anything "embedded" in the submissions. No weird fonts, no headers, no weird line breaks.
We need to get together.
-dr-pus
Skype chat maybe?
I also want a Guideline for the Editors and Compilers. How to accept. How to reject. How to ask for rewrite. How to help with the author's submission .... etc.
SKYPE would be fine, but I want all of this written down.
Sorry to be so anal about this, but this publishing stuff has grown so big, so fast, that I want everything to run smoothly, professionally and respectfully.
Doc
I understand the need for this. I'm older-fashioned, I like the 2 line spacings, don't mind the footers in case I lose a page when printed, etc. I think shunn looks similiar to the standards I've always been taught. BUT, when it comes to how LOTD actually prints the novels/anthologies and that format, we do need to be on the same page. If we do a skype typed chat, it might be easier to transcribe and have it allin writing.
(I also like the idea of uniform ways to accept, reject, and ask for rewrites. Each editor does have their own style but submitters should know, in general, what to expect).
Skype chat maybe?
-rhiannonfrater
I will be there if you think my input will be of use.
Doc, I have no problem writing up the sub guidelines once they are agreed upon. Also, I have a buttload of suggestions on how to accept submissions, etc. I know I'm a pain in the ass, but I think I got some solid ideas on how to make things cleaner and, hopefully, easier for the editors/compilers and those submitting their work.I also want a Guideline for the Editors and Compilers. How to accept. How to reject. How to ask for rewrite. How to help with the author's submission .... etc.
SKYPE would be fine, but I want all of this written down.
Sorry to be so anal about this, but this publishing stuff has grown so big, so fast, that I want everything to run smoothly, professionally and respectfully.
Doc-dr-pus
Should we meet up on Saturday to talk on Skype?
I've pretty much always followed the Shunn format unless an editor requests variations.
-robertessig
Me too, including the two spaces after a period, which I think is the way God intended humans to type, and I will only let go of it when/if an editor specifically orders me to do so.
I do depart from Shunn in only a couple of places in which I am even more old-fashioned -- I always put my title in all caps, and I always put 'End' centered at the end. I didn't do those before I had to be an editor, but I found submissions felt much more complete that way. It usually doesn't offend anyone, and some expect it.
Plus it feels good to type 'End' when I am done. :)
Me too, including the two spaces after a period, which I think is the way God intended humans to type, and I will only let go of it when/if an editor specifically orders me to do so.
I do depart from Shunn in only a couple of places in which I am even more old-fashioned -- I always put my title in all caps, and I always put 'End' centered at the end. I didn't do those before I had to be an editor, but I found submissions felt much more complete that way. It usually doesn't offend anyone, and some expect it.
Plus it feels good to type 'End' when I am done. :)-michaelclea
I do the same with the title and the end.
