First page question...

whimsical rabbit · Oct 17, 2010

Okay, erm... if this has been asked 3,456 times please be kind with me, cause it's like past midnight here, and, erm, my eyes may not be functioning all that well while browsing the threads.

Here's my question in any case:

When submitting, what is included in the first page of the actual manuscript? I mean, with my name and the title all in the header, and my page numbers in the footer, do I just start with the first paragraph or do I include a centre justified titled in bold or something? Or should the title be there but in left-justified like the actual narrative?

:gone:

alleycat · Oct 17, 2010

I'm not sure where you're submitting, but this example is good enough for anything submitted in the US:

http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html

whimsical rabbit · Oct 17, 2010

alleycat said:
I'm not sure where you're submitting, but this example is good enough for anything submitted in the US:

http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html

Mainly UK, but will be submitting in the US soon.

Thanks, alleycat. I actually have Shunn's format bookmarked, but for some reason I thought it was just for novel submissions, not shorts. I don't know where I got that idea from though. :Shrug:

ETA: ... especially when it clearly states it's for short story submissions in the title...

alleycat · Oct 17, 2010

There's also an example for novels on Shunn's website.

There are some distinct differences in the way things are done in the US and the UK. Shunn's example might not be the best example for you.

whimsical rabbit · Oct 17, 2010

alleycat said:
There's also an example for novels on Shunn's website.

There are some distinct differences in the way things are done in the US and the UK. Shunn's example might not be the best example for you.

Okay. thanks for clarifying that. I guess I'll just google 'UK submission format' unless you have somewhere to refer me to? It seems that the formatting standards are more or less the same everywhere, it's just the first page thing I can't find! Urgh.

whimsical rabbit · Oct 17, 2010

Well, since I did start this thread:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scriptsmart/shortstory.pdf

Kate Thornton · Oct 17, 2010

If you are submitting a short story, your market's guidelines are usually pretty specific about what they want to see in formatting, particularly if they are accepting electronic submissions. And you can always ask them if it is ambiguous. At least, that's been my experience.
Kate

Stijn Hommes · Oct 20, 2010

If you're submitting a short story, then you don't need anything but the title and the start of the story on page 1. (Placing your name and the title and page number in the header or footer is a good idea, though)

If you're subbing a novel, I recommend doing the same, but read the market's guidelines. You want the reader to get into your sample pages or full ms as soon as possible.

astonwest · Oct 20, 2010

Like Kate mentioned, most of the formatting guidelines will be listed by the outlet for online submissions...especially in terms of submissions sent in the body of an e-mail, what you have on the first page is going to be irrelevant.

whimsical rabbit · Oct 20, 2010

astonwest said:
Like Kate mentioned, most of the formatting guidelines will be listed by the outlet for online submissions...especially in terms of submissions sent in the body of an e-mail, what you have on the first page is going to be irrelevant.

Thanks. I do know that, but there are quite a few magazines out there that don't list specifics. That's why I'm asking whether there is a standard kind of format.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 22, 2010

Shunn works everywhere, U.S. U.K., and everywhere else I've sold fiction.

Name, contact information, and word count on page one. No page number on the first page, but one word from the title, your last name, and page number in the HEADER on every subsequent page.

It can also save time if you put your social security number, or equivalent, on page one. They'll need it, if they buy the story, and already having it can make the pay come faster.

You do need these things on page one with any and all print submissions. E-submissions should follow and specific guidelines, but it's always good to have this contact information right up front. It never hurts.

whimsical rabbit · Oct 22, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
Shunn works everywhere, U.S. U.K., and everywhere else I've sold fiction.

Name, contact information, and word count on page one. No page number on the first page, but one word from the title, your last name, and page number in the HEADER on every subsequent page.

It can also save time if you put your social security number, or equivalent, on page one. They'll need it, if they buy the story, and already having it can make the pay come faster.

You do need these things on page one with any and all print submissions. E-submissions should follow and specific guidelines, but it's always good to have this contact information right up front. It never hurts.

Thank you so very much.

pdr · Oct 23, 2010

Actually...

the UK and Commonwealth standard submission for a short story used to require a cover sheet with your details and the story details on it. Then the first page of the story started with a centred title at the top of the page and your name, title and page number in a header on every page. And some UK mags still require that format.

However most magazines do state their preference for formatting in their guidelines. If it's the UK you are submitting to do check. The British market books usually have details of how to format.

Truth and Fiction · Oct 25, 2010

The Shunn example is right, at least for submitting here in the U.S. (I personally don't put "by Author Name" under the title, though.) You do need to put your contact information on the top of page one. But not your social security number! Yegads. If your story gets accepted and they need your SS# for payment purposes, then okay...but don't go throwing that number around. If my biggest problem was making sure all these high-paying lit mags got my social security number fast enough to cut me all my fat checks, well....I probably wouldn't be posting here right now because I'd be drunk on a beach somewhere.

Simple is best...no need to bold the title or try to do anything fancy.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 25, 2010

Truth and Fiction said:
The Shunn example is right, at least for submitting here in the U.S. (I personally don't put "by Author Name" under the title, though.) You do need to put your contact information on the top of page one. But not your social security number! Yegads. If your story gets accepted and they need your SS# for payment purposes, then okay...but don't go throwing that number around. If my biggest problem was making sure all these high-paying lit mags got my social security number fast enough to cut me all my fat checks, well....I probably wouldn't be posting here right now because I'd be drunk on a beach somewhere.

Simple is best...no need to bold the title or try to do anything fancy.

The reason you put By Author's Name under the title is because this is where editors and typesetters look to see what name to actually publish the story under, which is very often not the same as the name in the contact info. This is, for example, always where a pseudonym goes, or any variation of your full name, such as initials, that goes in the contact section.

But it's good to have your name there, simply because it avoids confusion, saves time, is the proper format, and is where typesetters automatically look.

As for your SSN, you can spread it everywhere. There's much confusion about it, but an SSN is not legal ID. Haven't you seen the commercials where the guy displays his SSN on the side of a truck in downtown NYC?

I've been putting my SSN on stories for thirty years, and it's never done any harm, has saved a lot of time in receiving checks, and, for that matter, you SSN takes about two minutes to find on Google, if you know how to search for it. Believe me, anyone wishing to do you harm knows how to search for it.

First page question...

whimsical rabbit

Bunned

alleycat

Still around

whimsical rabbit

Bunned

alleycat

Still around

whimsical rabbit

Bunned

whimsical rabbit

Bunned

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

astonwest

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

whimsical rabbit

Bunned

Jamesaritchie

whimsical rabbit

Bunned

pdr

Truth and Fiction

On the tip of my tongue

Jamesaritchie