Why would my MS have been stapled?

Dollywagon · May 17, 2006

I've just had a short story returned to me as a rejection, but noticed that the pages had obviously been stapled and then the staple removed.
It just seems quite odd, since it's driven into writers not to submit anything with staples in it.

Anybody got any ideas?

...and yes, I have updated my rejection pledge - boo hoo

Sassenach · May 17, 2006

Someone stapled it by mistake, then removed the staples.

Signed,

Master Detective

Dollywagon · May 17, 2006

I've always admired your positive and encouraging attitude Sas!

I bet your detective stories are superb

awaitingthemuse · May 17, 2006

How do you all know about not stapling things. I have guidelines from a number of UK weeklies and there is no mention of not using staples. I only found out about the no staples thing because I am reading Stephen King's 'On Writing'.

arrowqueen · May 17, 2006

Just depends on the particular editor's preference. I use paper clips, but get the occasional one back, stapled instead.

Birol · May 17, 2006

Right. And it could've been the particular individual who was reading it stapled it because he had a bunch of things he was carrying and didn't want the papers mixed and thought the paperclips would come off or maybe the editor had a new intern who didn't know better or.... Seems like a relatively minor thing to take time puzzling over.

Jamesaritchie · May 17, 2006

awaitingthemuse said:
How do you all know about not stapling things. I have guidelines from a number of UK weeklies and there is no mention of not using staples. I only found out about the no staples thing because I am reading Stephen King's 'On Writing'.

I've seen "no staples" in probably three or four hundred sets of guidelines in my lif. Maybe more. Not to mention on who knows how many websites.

reph · May 17, 2006

Your ms. came back with staple holes? We'll have to look into that. Mine only get teeth marks.

AlienEeeter · May 17, 2006

reph said:
Your ms. came back with staple holes? We'll have to look into that. Mine only get teeth marks.

lol

My professors have drilled the 'no staples' into my head, so that I don't even staple the manuscripts in my personal files, let alone any I send out.

Dollywagon · May 17, 2006

I was more upset about the fact that somebody had blown their nose on it actually

I also found out about the staples thing originally from SK, Muse, but have since read loads of stuff about never using staples including in the Artists Yearbook. Quite a lot of the site links in there, for UK publishers, also say never to use staples.

Not to worry, I got a cheque for an acceptance in the same delivery so it softened the blow!

pdr · May 17, 2006

staples versus paper clips

Read the guidelines.

There are editors who ask for your submitted story to be stapled.
There are some editors who say don't staple and don't paper clip!
Just read the guidelines and keep the editor happy.

Jamesaritchie · May 17, 2006

pdr said:
Read the guidelines.

There are editors who ask for your submitted story to be stapled.
There are some editors who say don't staple and don't paper clip!
Just read the guidelines and keep the editor happy.

There may be some such editors, but in twenty-five years, I've yet to find an editor who wants staples, and have never read a single guideline that asks for staples. And as an editor, I'd rip up a manuscript that came in with staples. The things are a nightmare.

Why would my MS have been stapled?

Dollywagon

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

Dollywagon

awaitingthemuse

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom

Birol

Around and About

Jamesaritchie

reph

Fig of authority

AlienEeeter

Dollywagon

pdr

Jamesaritchie