A submission question

lostgirl · May 23, 2007

This could very well be the dumbest question you've ever been asked but I'm curious. Do you think it hurts your submissions if you hand write your envelopes; both the main one and the SASE?

Now my handwriting is not horrible and is definitely legible and I began to wonder as I wrote out my envelopes to mail out my snail mail queries if agencies take a look at that and write it off right away.

Thanks for any input you might have.

--Lisa

scarletpeaches · May 23, 2007

God, I hope it doesn't put them off. I've always handwritten my envelopes; printed capitals. I'll keep an eye on this thread. I'm not a children's writer but it would apply to all genres I think.

seaaircarol · May 23, 2007

I handwrite mine, too.

lostgirl · May 23, 2007

Well we might not know if it matters but it definitely makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one

eric11210 · May 23, 2007

I always type, but that's not because I'm worried about the hand-writing. It's because I have horrendous handwriting.

.

For my return envelope, I use a return address label. . .I don't know. I think here you get almost into the superstitious, like baseball players who believe you jinx their work because you made a comment or something (I happen to be watching the Yankees/Red Sox game right now which is why I thought of that comment).

The only time I imagine it could hurt is if you have really horrible handwriting, like I do. . .

Oh, an aside, what I like to do is use paypal shipping for mailing my stuff. It looks professional and I get tracking thrown in for a few cents. . .you can find it here:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

Eric

Jamesaritchie · May 23, 2007

Writing

I think it's a horrible idea to write longhand on a #10 envelope, and I know it hurts with at least a some agents and editors.

But with an 8.5x11, I don't think it matters with much of anyone.

I would say, however, that it's a bad idea for another reason. I don't care how good your handwriting is, the post office machines can't read it, and some of the workers may not get it right, either.

And, really, if you have a printer, there's no logical reason not to print on #10s, or use labels on larger envelopes.

It's cheap, it's quick, it's easy, and it really is a case of why in the world would you take even a remote chance of making a bad first impression, or of having a manuscript lost or shredded because someone misread a single digit in the zip code.

Dancre · May 23, 2007

lostgirl said:
This could very well be the dumbest question you've ever been asked but I'm curious. Do you think it hurts your submissions if you hand write your envelopes; both the main one and the SASE?

Now my handwriting is not horrible and is definitely legible and I began to wonder as I wrote out my envelopes to mail out my snail mail queries if agencies take a look at that and write it off right away.

Thanks for any input you might have.

--Lisa

Well, I'm a baby boomer, so I still believe in the old fashion way of doing things, I say type the addys on both no matter how the big, small, long ect the envelope is. It looks more professional imo. Hand written looks amaturish, imo. Plus, I'm an admin assist and my boss would break my fingers if I sent a handwritten addressed envel to a client. Again, it looks more professional if typed. I for one would never send a publisher anything that was handwritten including the envelope.

kim

benbradley · May 23, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
God, I hope it doesn't put them off. I've always handwritten my envelopes; printed capitals.
You mean like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Daschle_letter.jpg
Surely very few people do that. I'm wondering if I should PM a mod ...

scarletpeaches said:
I'll keep an eye on this thread. I'm not a children's writer but it would apply to all genres I think.

Dancre · May 23, 2007

I always wondered about Scarlet. Just kidding!!!!

kim

Cassidy · May 23, 2007

i handwrite my envelopes too. i have had no problems so far-- in the past year i've had two short stories published and got three YA novel contracts-- and no one has ever said a word about the envelopes. to be honest, it had never even occurred to me to do anything but handwrite them. i'm embarassed to admit it but i don't even know how one makes lables or prints on enevlopes. can you do that with a regular (rather old) printer? someone enlighten me! i do agree that it would look more professional.

Tish Davidson · May 23, 2007

I figure some lowly intern is going to open the envelope anyway, so it really doesn't matter. it's what inside that counts.

lostgirl · May 23, 2007

Tish Davidson said:
I figure some lowly intern is going to open the envelope anyway, so it really doesn't matter. it's what inside that counts.

Oooh good thought. I'm definitely going to hold on to that one. I forget about the lowly interns. Hurray for Tish!!!

moondance · May 24, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
I think it's a horrible idea to write longhand on a #10 envelope, and I know it hurts with at least a some agents and editors.

Really?! Who?
I have never heard a publisher or agent express any opinion on this whatsoever (and I have an extremely reputable agent and have worked directly with four traditional publishers now). I have always handwritten my envelopes, simply because it's quicker.

Dollywagon · May 24, 2007

I've always handwritten mine and if I've ever been rejected because of it ... well, if we've sunk to that depth to establish whether you can write, God help us.

I mean, let's go the whole hog and have printed signatures.

Jimmer · May 24, 2007

Well of course it's what's inside that matters BUT....

Let's think about it....

what's better, to seem professional or to seem amateurish?

What's more professional, to write with crayons or write with ink?

What's better, to write in cursive ink or to print in ink?

What's better, to hand print or to electronically print?

Finally, would you ever consider hand writing a short story submission?

Why not?

Amateurish.

Of course it's what's inside that matters the most, but every little thing reflects on you and your approach. How many people see the hand written envelope, think (even subconsciously) doesn't this person know how many of these things I have to sift through every day and doesn't this person understand how much more difficult my job might be if I had to decipher what the writer thinks is perfectly acceptable handwriting but it total gibberish to me? Why can't this writer be consderate enough and professional enough to just print up a proper envelope? Is it possible then that the editor might read your first few lines with those negative thoughts in mind?

The real question is, why would you take that chance?

90% of the time it probably doesn't matter. The odds against you and your submission are bad enough, why would you take a chance on losing the other 10%?

Seems like a no brainer to me.

Pat~ · May 24, 2007

I always print mine out with the printer. Basically because I'm lazy, but also because it's more professional. It's really simple; go to the top of your word processing page after you're done with your letter. Click on "tools" and it'll say 'envelopes and mailings' and prompt you from there. It'll put the address that's at the top of your query automatically on the envelope (unless you want to make changes, and then you can follow the prompts). Then just insert your envelope into the printer with the front facing you, and opening on the left, and print. It'll also do your return address, saving you the need for labels.

myscribe · May 24, 2007

I can't say that I've heard or read anything about how the envelope is physically addressed (other than to get the names correct, etc.).

I've heard not to do weird stuff with the envelope or write it in crayon. Every editor that I've met hasn't mentioned this either -- they always talk about the letter/manuscript. I'd say for the most part that it doesn't matter. I doubt the majority even looks at the envelope or ever sees it (i.e. loses it).

Personally, I do use my printer on my return SASE (#10) for my convenience. Depending on the size of the submission envelope, I either handwrite or print. I have very nice and clear handwriting when I want it (print, not cursive).

Julie Worth · May 24, 2007

Going up the food chain, writer to agent, agent to editor, computer printed makes a better impression. Going the other way, longhand is better.

Dollywagon · May 24, 2007

I can see where you are coming from when you say it makes you look more professional - and of course, just like every other sub that comes in. All exactly the same.

But as for an agent or publisher refusing to look at what's inside if it's hand written - ... it's, it's ... anal.

As an aside, it may interest you to know, that I know for sure one publisher picks mine out of the slush and reads it first (Because she knows it's from me.) I once sent her a sub on a Friday and got her response the following Tuesday - with hand written comments.

Jeez - I also use brown (BROWN) recycled envelopes.
I'll rot in slush hell.

Jamesaritchie · May 24, 2007

Dollywagon said:
I can see where you are coming from when you say it makes you look more professional - and of course, just like every other sub that comes in. All exactly the same.

But as for an agent or publisher refusing to look at what's inside if it's hand written - ... it's, it's ... anal.

As an aside, it may interest you to know, that I know for sure one publisher picks mine out of the slush and reads it first (Because she knows it's from me.) I once sent her a sub on a Friday and got her response the following Tuesday - with hand written comments.

Jeez - I also use brown (BROWN) recycled envelopes.
I'll rot in slush hell.

I didn't say agents or editors will not look inside, I said it affects many of them, and it does. It would affect you the same way, or you'd be buried under so much work there wouldn't be enough time in the day to do half of it.

You receive a thousand envelopes a month. Sometimes far more than this. You can't give each and every one equal attention. If you did, you'd have to work twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. And when you wade through enough of these, you soon learn that at least four times out of five, unprofessional/cheap outside probably means unprofessional, cheap, and bad inside.

It's no more anal than judging a job applicant by what she wears to the interview. And probably no more anal than you would be under the same circumstances. Time is extremely limited, and unless you know the writer, it only makes sense to reach for the most professional looking envelopes first, and to give them the most attention..

And if judging by outside appearance is anal, then not caring enough to make your work look professional outside and in is certainly lazy, cheap, and unproductive.

Dollywagon · May 24, 2007

You're right, James. To promote an image of professionalism every one should look exactly the same.

Do you think sticking gold stars onto mine will be damaging in any way? I mean, I don't want to look lazy, cheap and unproductive anymore than you want to look anal.

And I did think they would be looking inside my envelope, otherwise how could they get to the sase to post me the rejection? Hopefully by the time they have read my letter and ms they will actually have thrown the original envelope away, or do they save them as a deciding factor as to whether my work is professional enough?

spike · May 24, 2007

lostgirl said:
This could very well be the dumbest question you've ever been asked but I'm curious. Do you think it hurts your submissions if you hand write your envelopes; both the main one and the SASE?

Now my handwriting is not horrible and is definitely legible and I began to wonder as I wrote out my envelopes to mail out my snail mail queries if agencies take a look at that and write it off right away.

Thanks for any input you might have.

--Lisa

FWIW, I attended a writers' con last month and one of the speakers said that at publications that get a unmanageable amount of queries, hand written envelopes are automatically rejected. His point was, why take a chance?

Dollywagon · May 24, 2007

Why take a chance on missing a brilliant ms (and losing your company money) by being so pedantic. If it was my business I would slap him round the head.

Where was it anyway - so all us handwriters know where not to sub to?

Toothpaste · May 24, 2007

Oh whatever, I handwrote the addresses, didn't do any harm. As long as what is in the envelope is good . . .

scarletpeaches · May 24, 2007

If I'm sending a query, I only need an A5 envelope, which fits in my printer, so I do it that way. With proposals which take a slightly-bigger-than-A4 envelope, I handwrite, because they don't fit through the printer but I suppose I could look for a shop that sells labels.

A submission question

lostgirl

Always Watching

scarletpeaches

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

lostgirl

Always Watching

eric11210

Jamesaritchie

Dancre

Just have fun.

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

Dancre

Just have fun.

Cassidy

writing for kids and teens

Tish Davidson

lostgirl

Always Watching

moondance

Dollywagon

Jimmer

Pat~

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

myscribe

Who's the ninja now?!?

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

Dollywagon

Jamesaritchie

Dollywagon

spike

Mostly Ignored

Dollywagon

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

scarletpeaches