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Writers with a professional attitude decide on a market and THEN write a piece to suit it, not vice versa.

Linda Acaster

WRITER, TUTOR, COACH

TIPS & LINKS

§ Tips on presentation

§ Links to keep you in touch

Tips on presentation:

It shouldn’t need to be repeated, but here we go again. Writers do themselves no favours if they don’t stick to the industry standard when approaching markets. Ensure your typescript has:

double spacing
wide left/right margins 4 cm / 1.5 inches; top/bottom 2.5 cm/1 inch is fine
consecutively numbered pages (yes, honest!)
a 12 point clear script
printed in Normal, not Draft mode
indented paragraphing without a space between paragraphs
a word count – computer counted is usual for short fiction and articles; for novels check whether your intended market uses a computer count or white space count. There could be up to a 20% difference.
Do not bind. Paperclip short work. Long work can be secured with elastic bands
SAE for short work, return postage for long – or you’ll never hear from it again

Links to keep you in touch:

Don’t work in isolation. A local group can offer support and information you won’t get from the silent walls in your draughty garret. If you live in the UK try locating your nearest at: www.author.co.uk

Writers’ magazines also keep you in touch with what’s going on. Writers’ Forum (monthly) www.writers-forum.com and Writing Magazine (bi-monthly) www.writersnews.co.uk are available from newsagents in the UK as well as by subscription worldwide. There is a plethora of magazines available by subscription only. Search them out to see which suit you.

Competitions offer a first line market for many new writers. The monthly magazines carry competition information and, if they are any good, local groups should be on mailing lists.