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Guidelines – The Portal to Publication

Imagine a fantasy adventure where the heroine works through a maze of dangers and snares to reach a portal that opens to a land she’s searched for her entire life. She holds a key in her trembling hand. Writing on the wall tells her what she must do to make the key work, but it’s taken her so long to get here that she impatiently slips the key into the slot without completely reading the instructions. The portal rejects the key. Our heroine crumples to the floor crying and throws the key across the room, blaming it for the portal’s failure when in reality it was failure to read the instructions that left her quest unfulfilled.

Whether you’re a freelance writer, novelist, ghostwriter or poet, the common element to getting published requires following guidelines. A finished manuscript or query is the key. Guidelines offer the details to open the portal to publication. The creative art of writing carries the writer through a labyrinth of hard work requiring the polishing of manuscripts until they engage the reader and are error-free. Once you dot that last “i” and edit that final word, what’s the next step?

You stand at the threshold with your manuscript in hand. Yes, the writing process is work, but the submission procedure requires effort as well. Your writing is the key that can open to a land of publishing opportunities, but if you don’t read the instructions provided, chances of publication diminish.

You can approach guidelines two ways, before or after you write your piece. If you check markets before writing a story or article, guidelines provide a template to custom-fit topic, genre, word count and other specifics to what the publisher seeks in a manuscript. It’s like possessing a treasure map to guide your way.

However, writers are inspired souls and at times the creative bug bites and words pour onto the page without a clue as to where to submit the work. No matter which way you enter the writing process, the final step requires following the guidelines.

Searching for the right publisher after a work is complete generates a bit of a puzzle. Does the publisher accept the genre or topic represented in your manuscript? Does your word count fall within the parameters accepted? Following detailed procedures listed within guidelines works to get a proverbial foot through the publishing portal. It’s not a guarantee of publication; that depends on the submission, but following writer’s guidelines opens the door for your manuscript to be considered.

Genre or Topics
Look for magazines or publishers seeking work on the topic, theme or genre in which your manuscript is written. If guidelines give specifics like “no religious” or “no romance,” and your submission fits that scenario, don’t send it to that specific publisher.

In the guidelines set forth by this publication, writers who write fiction, poetry, or non-fiction about the craft of writing are invited to send manuscripts. Additional information is provided. When researching markets, once you find one that fits your genre read the guidelines thoroughly. For example, T-Zero: The Writer's E-Zine accepts non-fiction, but if you sent a historical piece on the early settlers in southern Illinois, it would not meet the guidelines. Non-fiction accepted by this publication is specified. “Non-fiction should be related to the craft of writing or be good resource material for writers. Accuracy and originality are vital. No reprints.”

If the writer has a great non-fiction article on the craft of writing that was published two years ago, according to the guidelines it will not be accepted. “No reprints,” means that if the article has been published elsewhere, it will not be considered.

Word Count
Guidelines include word count for a reason. Publishers know their readership and what they want. Editorial staff is expected to read every manuscript and finish edits in the lead-time stipulated by the publisher.

Available space is another factor. Putting together a magazine or newspaper works like a puzzle. When writers stay within specified word counts, pieces can be moved to fit around advertising and fillers because they fall within the word count limit.

Electronic or Snail Mail
In this day of electronic mail, many publishers accept e-mail submissions. Check guidelines to learn particulars. Do they accept attachments? If so, what format is required?

• Rich Text Format – rtf
• Word Document – doc

• Courier or Times New Roman – font size 12 (unless guidelines state differently)
• Paragraph indentation 5 spaces (1/2 inch)
• Indicate scene breaks with three centered asterisks or pound signs (also known as number signs)
• Allow one inch margins all around, including top and bottom
• At the top of each page (except the title page) include the name of your manuscript, your name and the word “page” followed by the page number (each separated by a slash). If the title is long, choose part of the title. For example instead of “Guidelines – The Portal to Publication / Sundblad / Page 1,” I’d shorten the title in the header to read “Portal to Publication / Sundblad./ Page 1.” This information on each page provides easy identification in the event pages become separated.
• Include a SASE with the appropriate amount of postage if you want your manuscript returned.

• All Rights – Electronic rights are included with first rights, with indefinite archiving of articles, making it possible for publishers to infinitely re-use a writer's work without further compensation.
• First Rights – Right to be the first publisher of the work.
• First Electronic Rights – Right to be the first publisher of the work electronically.
• First North American Rights – Right to be the first publisher of the work in North America for a specified amount of time.
• Reprint Rights – Free to reprint the work with or without further compensation based on terms of contract.