These are the thirteenth and fourteenth in a series on Getting Published by Patricia Wellingham-Jones.
Tips for Email Submissions
by Patricia Wellingham-Jones
Although some editors require hard copy submissions complete with SASE, many print journals – and all online journals - accept email submissions. By making the editor’s life easier, you enhance your chances of being published.
1) Address Line: Send to the specific editor, if known. Otherwise, send to the general address of the journal.
2) Subject Line: Follow the guidelines for exactly what the editor wants or, if not stated, put something like this – Poetry Submission Wellingham-Jones. This tells the editor instantly what she's got and later, as submissions mount up, helps her go straight to the one she wants. Subject lines are very important in piquing interest, stating your case, saving hassle, being clear.
3) Cover Letter: Always write a few lines to the editor. Be polite. Although email is informal, submitting your work is important and should be treated as such. Include your full mailing address with your signature.
4) Biography: Unless the editor does not want a bio, send a brief one. It can be tossed out, but will save steps if your work is accepted. The bio can be included in the cover letter or with the poems or text you submit.
5) Titles on work: Use all caps or bold for titles of poems/stories/articles. This sets them apart in a sequence, saves confusion on the other end.
6) Formatting: To avoid double spacing and other strange things email does to poems, Select (highlight) the whole block of poems, text, or bio, click on Format, then Style, then make sure Normal has the dot in front of it blackened. That sends the poems in their original form instead of distorted through various programs.
7) End: Put END at the bottom of the submission.
8) Attachments: Only send attachments if the guidelines ask for them or if you clear it with the editor first. Many people will not open attachments for fear of viruses and may simply discard the whole submission.
Writing a Book Review
by Patricia Wellingham-Jones
Published in Writers’ Forum, July 2002
Although most book reviews tend to be flexible in style, certain elements are required. The following hints will make sure you’ve covered the key points the next time you are asked to review a friend’s or colleague’s new publication.
Top of the review:
- Full title of the book, including subtitle
- Author/editor’s full name
- Publisher’s full name and the ISBN
- Original copyright date (not date of the edition in your hands)
Body of the review:
- Stay within the required word length. If in doubt, 250-300 words give plenty of
opportunity to say enough yet still be concise (a plus for editors).
- Spend one paragraph each on subjects such as:
Author/editor (experience, reason for writing, etc.)
Main character
Basic plot (don’t give too much away – and never the ending)
What you liked about the story/book; or what you didn’t like (but remember, your words are frozen in print forever, so be careful)
How the book relates to others in the series
How the book compares or relates to similar books or stories
Final touch:
- Edit for spelling, grammar, clarity of language (you can be sure the editor will)
Patricia Wellingham-Jones
PWJ Publishing
