Down to Details

I hope that you’ve done some ‘fun’ writing lately.  I know, all writing is fun, it’s the editing that can be a pain in the rear.  At least, that’s how it is for me.  While I was at the Willamette Writer’s conference, I was extremely lucky to be able to sit down at a table with Charlotte Cook, one of the agents and presenters at the conference.  She graciously allowed anyone who wanted to meet her one morning to sit and chat.  This was in follow up to her workshop: An acquisition editor polishes your first pages.  I wasn’t able to stay for the whole thing because I had to go pitch, but it was incredibly nice of her to do and it was helpful.  Something she talked about it something that you’ve probably already heard about.  Spacing, margins, font.  I know that getting that detailed seems silly, but it’s important to remember that editors and agents do care about and look at those things.  Don’t change your margins to cram in more words. Don’t use times new roman font (unless submission guidelines say to), it’s harder on the eyes.  Read the submission guidelines.  Simple things.  If you don’t already have a ‘formatting’ book I recommend Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon.  Great book; lots of good advice.  Reading something like this if not this book will help save you from some of the sillier mistakes that can be made.  Such as putting two spaces after a period.  I’m not that old but that is how I learned how to type.  I think I’ve started rambling so I’m going to sign off for today.

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