Writers--Follow Submission Guidelines Carefully

Looking for Guidelines

Since yesterday's post addressed finding Calls for Submissions, I thought it prudent to talk about Writer's Guidelines today. In order of importance, they should rate 4 or 5 stars. At least, that is my opinion.

They are just what the word tells you--a 'guide' to what you must do in order to submit to a publisher. You need to know how to send your submission and more. Some of the things to look for in Guidelines are:

• how to send--email, submittable, or snail mail
• attach the submission to the email or must it be pasted in the body of the email
• maximum number of words; sometimes a minimum number, as well
• send reprints or only unpublished work
• only certain groups can submit; like women, those never published, LGBT, people of color, certain age groups and more
• story needs to be true
• story must be your experience, not as told to
• deadline dates
• fiction only, memoir only, horror only
• specific topic
• format
• your personal information--name, address, phone, email
• possible short bio including publication history
• payment

I have often suggested that writers not only 'read' the guidelines but actually 'study' them. When you're ready to submit, go back to the Guidelines and check each item stated to be sure you've done everything correctly. If you ignore a few items, all the time and effort you've put into the writing, finding a place to submit to, and reading the Guidelines, will be for nothing. Your submission will probably be tossed out with yesterday's take-out leftovers. You may or may not get a rejection notice. Dark silence for many weeks is the only notice you'll receive.

Another part of the Guidelines topic is the kind of Guidelines a publication offers. 

• Some are very extensive
• Some are minimal
• Some give none

When a publication offers extensive Guidelines, they mean what they say. They also want to help the writers to know what kind of story, poem etc they are looking for. In other words, these publishers are being as helpful as possible. 

The ones whose Guidelines are minimal will usually be pretty flexible with what you send them, how you send it, and more.

Those that have no guidelines at all are open to pretty much anything you send, any way you send it, 20 words or 2000. 

Regarding Guidelines, my advice is to read and study them carefully, then follow in the same manner. It will be to your advantage to do so.