The Envelope

MightyScribbler · Mar 27, 2007

When submitting query + synopsis + chapters, what envelope do you use? The 8 x 11 brown with the little metal thing to close it? The 9 x 12 brown with the little metal thing? The 8 x 11 or 9 x 12 white Tyvek envelopes with the little removal self-adhesive strips? And I'm talking first contact here, not solicited materials, but materials requested as part of the agency's submission guidelines.

Maybe it doesn't matter, but I heard that anything less than 20 pound paper is bad, and that you should only use a #10 envelope for query-only snail mail submissions. So I can't help but obsess over the big envelope question.

Also, does it look better to include only a #10 SASE for their reply when submitting the query + synopsis + chapters? Or is it better to include a big envelope with enough postage to get all materials back? Which is smarter, more professional, more acceptable, and more convenient for the agent?

Thanks so much.

maestrowork · Mar 27, 2007

I use 9x12 tyvek. It's waterproof and it looks good.

Use a #10 SASE and make everything "disposable."

scarletpeaches · Mar 27, 2007

Don't know what #10 is, but I just sent my book proposal in slightly-bigger-than-A4 sized envelope, so I could get all 30 pages in comfortably and not have to fold anything. I backed it with a sheet of card to stop it rolling up when I bound it with two rubber bands. I used the same size envelope for the SAE - they were self-adhesive with the peel off strip and not bubble-wrap envelopes, just ordinary manilla.

Marlys · Mar 27, 2007

MightyScribbler said:
When submitting query + synopsis + chapters, what envelope do you use? The 8 x 11 brown with the little metal thing to close it? The 9 x 12 brown with the little metal thing? The 8 x 11 or 9 x 12 white Tyvek envelopes with the little removal self-adhesive strips? And I'm talking first contact here, not solicited materials, but materials requested as part of the agency's submission guidelines.

Maybe it doesn't matter, but I heard that anything less than 20 pound paper is bad, and that you should only use a #10 envelope for query-only snail mail submissions. So I can't help but obsess over the big envelope question.

Also, does it look better to include only a #10 SASE for their reply when submitting the query + synopsis + chapters? Or is it better to include a big envelope with enough postage to get all materials back? Which is smarter, more professional, more acceptable, and more convenient for the agent?

Thanks so much.

As long as it all fits comfortably, I don't think it matters which envelope you use to send material (as long as you're not trying to fold up chapters and cram them into a #10--they should be lying flat). The more you're sending, the stronger the envelope should be, of course. As far as SASE, I'd send a #10 for the reply and request that they recycle the pages. Less hassle all around.

As always, check individual guidelines--some agencies make it clear that they prefer to recycle submissions, so even if you want pages back, they might not send them.

Best of luck with your submissions!

scribbler1382 · Mar 27, 2007

maestrowork said:
I use 9x12 tyvek. It's waterproof and it looks good.

Use a #10 SASE and make everything "disposable."

Ditto.

Funny story: DO NOT try to put a Tyvek envelope through a laser printer. Years ago, when I first started using them I tried this...the tyvek material MELTED onto the printer's fuser. I had to pull the thing apart and scrape envelope carcass off the thing. Had a permanent mark on everything I printed after that until I finally gave up and bought a new printer a few months later. Funny now -- cried then.

scarletpeaches · Mar 27, 2007

Oh.

I hand-write the envelopes as they won't fit through my printer.

I'm not doing anything terribly superbad, am I?

citymouse · Mar 27, 2007

As a former analytical science practitioner, I can tell you that Tyvek is very environmentally unfriendly. Yes, it's strong, pretty (it comes in colors!), and it's waterproof. Tyvek envelopes can be recycled (DuPont collects as much of their product and does this) but if they end up in land fill--oh well!
The yellow/brown/orange A4s are biodegradable and come from a renewable source. The adhesive however, is not so good.
kinda makes you want to hand deliver the manuscript, eh?
C

scribbler1382 · Mar 27, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Oh.

I hand-write the envelopes as they won't fit through my printer.

I'm not doing anything terribly superbad, am I?

Not "wrong", you're just running a slightly larger risk that the post awful will lose your sub. I use labels and put my #10's straight through the printer. Still no guaranty it won't get crushed, mutilated or spindled, but you lower the odds.

BTW, a #10 envelope is equivalent to a DL envelope for you, I believe (A4 page folded in thirds)

Spiny Norman · Mar 27, 2007

I'm about to gear up a new salvo of snail-mail queries. ...I guess folding the envelopes to fit inside is a no-no?

I'm going to have to write down all these crazy envelope names. I didn't know that the mail system had calibers when it came to correspondence.

maestrowork · Mar 27, 2007

For queries, folding an envelope (in 3s) inside a #10 is fine and accepted.

For partials, use a large envelope so you don't have to fold anything.

scribbler1382 · Mar 27, 2007

fyi, for those in North America, a #9 envelope fits inside a #10 envelope without folding. Standard lettersized paper fits into #9 envelopes as well. It's a nice, clean solution for those of us anal enough to bother.

herdon · Mar 27, 2007

Hey now, I'm not anal in the least and I use a #9 inside of a #10. Just cuz I'm a slob don't mean I don't want my query presentation to be crisp 8)

MightyScribbler · Mar 27, 2007

Are Tyveks really the way to go? I always thought they look kind of cheap and we're a bit of pain to open. I thought the brown 9 x 12 or 8 x 11 with the little metal clippy thing would be the way to go.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 27, 2007

Envelopes

I never use a #9 for anything, and I always hated it when someone sent me one. They may fit inside a #10 nicely, but most of the stuff I wanted to put inside the #9 for the return trip had to be folded, bent, and crammed. For SASE with a #10, another #10, folded in thirds, works wonderfully.

I also have the 9x12s with a metal clasp. Those clasps are dangerous. Can't tell you how many times I've managed to jam one under a thumb nail when I tried getting the envelope open. The post office hates them, too.

The best are the plain white with a green zig-zag line and no clasp. That green line tells everyone at the post office that it's first class, and it won't accidentally get thrown in with all the lower class envelopes.

scarletpeaches · Mar 27, 2007

I handwrite my envelopes, but print the addresses and don't use joined-up writing or lower case, to make it impossible to mis-read or deliver to the wrong address.

Don't want to give the Royal Mail any more excuses than their own illiterate incompetence, do I?

Also, I use the same size envelope for my SAE, folded once and stick that in with the proposal.

blacbird · Mar 27, 2007

Ditto JAR on the metal clasps and white envelopes. Don't use the former, do get the latter. They even look more professional.

Now, it hasn't done me any good, mind you, but at least . . .

caw

MightyScribbler · Mar 27, 2007

scribbler1382 said:
Ditto.

Funny story: DO NOT try to put a Tyvek envelope through a laser printer. Years ago, when I first started using them I tried this...the tyvek material MELTED onto the printer's fuser. I had to pull the thing apart and scrape envelope carcass off the thing. Had a permanent mark on everything I printed after that until I finally gave up and bought a new printer a few months later. Funny now -- cried then.

Thanks for the warning, that was my plan. Mine's an ink jet though, will that work? Maybe I shouldn't risk it. I hate printing the peel off labels. But what are my other options?

scribbler1382 · Mar 27, 2007

I think an inkjet (assuming the paper path was large enough) would be fine. It was the heat of the laser that did me in. Only other option would be to get one of those Dymo label printers. The ones that connect to the computer and use fax technology to print out nothing but labels.

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 27, 2007

Do ya'll use sealable envelopes or lickable? The only reason I ask is because I just ran across an agent who only wants sealable envelopes for SASEs.

I've always used lickable.

maestrowork · Mar 27, 2007

Sealable. "Lickable" are gross.

Then again, since they will be sending you a rejection in that SASE, do you really care?

scarletpeaches · Mar 27, 2007

Lace it with rat poison.

citymouse · Mar 27, 2007

DuPont spent a lot of money looking for an ink that wouldn't run or fade on Tyvek. Your best bet is to make address lables. After all the contents are are more valuable than the envelope. The only thing Tyvek does is insure a waterproof delivery.
C

MightyScribbler said:
Thanks for the warning, that was my plan. Mine's an ink jet though, will that work? Maybe I shouldn't risk it. I hate printing the peel off labels. But what are my other options?

maestrowork · Mar 27, 2007

Labels are your friends. I have a Word template to quickly print out labels.

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 27, 2007

maestrowork said:
Sealable. "Lickable" are gross. Then again, since they will be sending you a rejection in that SASE, do you really care?

No, I hope they got a paper cut on their tongue!

And I have their DNA. I can then clone them. Kill the real one, substitute the clone agent and have them accept my work.

Bwahahahaha!

Croque Madame · Mar 27, 2007

I never would have thought about the potential problems of those pesky little claps had it not been for this forum.

For SASEs, I like the ones with the peel-off adhesive strips. I've had too many lickable envelopes not want to stay closed.

The Envelope

MightyScribbler

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scarletpeaches

Marlys

Resist. Love. Go outside.

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

scarletpeaches

citymouse

fantasy dweller

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

Spiny Norman

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

herdon

What's up?

MightyScribbler

Jamesaritchie

scarletpeaches

blacbird

MightyScribbler

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scarletpeaches

citymouse

fantasy dweller

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Croque Madame