Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript

by The Writer's Digest, Cynthia Laufenberg

Find all of the ANSWERS you need to create NOTABLE submissions!

Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript provides the comprehensive information you need to create an effective submission that gets noticed. This fully updated 2nd edition features both good and bad sample submissions for:

Manuscripts

Query Letters

Proposals

Cover Letters

Outlines

Synopses

And more!



Each selection uses callouts to clearly identify and explain critical elements. In addition, you'll find new information on specific genres, electronic submissions, and more.

With sound advice from the most trusted name in writing, this is your definitive guide to crafting a successful manuscript and getting published.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Design

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1999

Reviews

[Chad Schimke · Rating 5 out of 5]

FORMATTING AND SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT - Nobody ever said writing was easy. The fact is this: good fiction is partly due to following structured rules, allowing creative brainstorms and utilizing sound business practices. If you write for publication, then you need to understand submissions, that’s the topic of this post. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino is a good addition to your writing reference library. Why is that? Because, this book covers all of the basics in an abbreviated sort of way, with callouts to identify/ explain important elements. That includes query letters, novel synopses, book proposals, manuscript pages, etc. There are rules to follow so that you come across as professional, polished and publishable. The book provides examples so you will have a good grasp of what works and what doesn’t. If you have read any of my review posts on writing reference, you will know that I don’t recommend a lot of writing reference books. That’s because beginning writers need relevant information and don’t have any time to waste. You’re probably going to spend a hundred hours on a novel length manuscript.

My suggestion is to focus on the three most important writing reference books, see below for my short list. If you’ve always wanted to try writing I encourage you to give it a try. Good luck!
1. Book in a Month (BIAM) by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
2. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King
3. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE this book! Not so much as reading material but more of a good reference on what not to do when querying and formatting letters/sample chapters/manuscripts.

There are many formatting expectations in the industry that many of us aspiring authors may be clueless about when querying or submitting material. This book will help you be as professional as possible and help you open doors, not shut them without so much as a glance at your material. I pull this book out each and every time I want to email/query or send ANYTHING to anyone professionally. A must for your shelf if you're a writer...in my opinion.

[Katherine Cowley]

Note to self: this book is at the library.

[Ethan Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect guide to formatting your manuscript. It certainly helped me put mine in order.

[Lyn Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After many years of searching, I've finally found a book about formatting for writers that includes detailed advice about how to format e-mail and use other tools of the Internet age. Unfortunately this ed. was pub. in '04 and so its discussions are about the technology available at that time. There has been considerable improvement in the technology since then, but the formatting advice should still be relevant.

[Heidi Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this formatting is still used for publishing today.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this didnt tell me anything I didnt already know

[Rick Ludwig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book useful and actually followed the format suggested for my first MS submission. I will withhold my final evaluation until I see how my manuscript is received. Seriously though, I found the information clear, logical and and helpful. I noticed that this was one of the books on sale in the bookstore at the Hawaii Writers Conference so somebody else must think it is relevant, too. I will be interested in seeing other reviews of this, especially any by published authors.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ultimate reference for everyone who wants to publish their poetry, nonfiction articles, short stories and novels. It has tips on how to format your work and how to make it professional with tips. Everyone should take notes for future reference.

[Ilana Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE definitive guide to, well, exactly what the title says! A must-own for all serious writers. Following the instructions herein will make your manuscript look polished, professional, and (one hopes) ready for publication. Recommended to me by a professional editor.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book h helped take some of the guess work out of formatting and query letters. Without it, I'd still be deciding on which website to believe for formatting my manuscripts. I'd be clueless as to what was needed for submitting to agents, publishes, etc.

Highly recommend!

[Cynthia Sims]

A friend just gave me a boatload of encouraging writing books. I could cry. Ask if you want to borrow any. I need the updated version, I guess.

[Chris Dorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, clear resource, especially for writers who are new to the business side of publishing.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valuable reference book to guide you through presenting your essays, articles, books, short stories and children's books. There is a wealth of information in this book.

[Corinne Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit out of date with some things, but overall extremely helpful. Every writer who is looking to submit their manuscript for publishing should utilize this text!