Small (and probably stupid) question

seun · Sep 18, 2007

If an agent says they don't want the submission bound, do they mean by nothing at all? I have to ask because I've always known the best thing to do is bind the submission with treasury tags.

ETA: I think I just answered my own question.

http://www.carolinesheldon.co.uk/submissions/pethates

Calla Lily · Sep 18, 2007

When I sent to agents, I put the ms. in an 8.5 x 11 box, unbound. I've hears several agents speak at conferences in the US, and they all said: unbound. And then they'd roll their eyes and remind everyone to put running heads on the pages.

seun · Sep 18, 2007

Thanks for the reply. I'm going for unbound.

Manat · Sep 18, 2007

I use those large thick elastic bands. Unbound, but holds things nicely together.

seun · Sep 18, 2007

Manat said:
I use those large thick elastic bands. Unbound, but holds things nicely together.

I thought about that in this case but the site does specify unbound which seems strange to me, but looks like it's the way to go here.

Jamesaritchie · Sep 18, 2007

unbound

I've never known an agent or editor who thought of elastic bands as being bound. Unbound means no brads or binders, as screenplays use.

I've always used rubber bands. It largely depends on how you're mailing the thing. If the envelope is large enough for the pages to slip around, a rubber band is a good idea.

seun · Sep 19, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
I've never known an agent or editor who thought of elastic bands as being bound. Unbound means no brads or binders, as screenplays use.

I've always used rubber bands. It largely depends on how you're mailing the thing. If the envelope is large enough for the pages to slip around, a rubber band is a good idea.

It's going in an A4 envelope; the sample fits in nicely. I was going to leave it completely unbound. Would you suggest an elastic band for a two page synopsis and fifteen page sample?

Calla Lily · Sep 19, 2007

Large paper clip or small butterfly clip would work.

dantem42 · Sep 20, 2007

seun said:
I thought about that in this case but the site does specify unbound which seems strange to me, but looks like it's the way to go here.

Most agents find unbound much easier to read sitting at a desk, especially rather than a binding where you sort of have to twist your neck to read close to where the paper meets the binding. And if the agent accepts the ms, they may want to jot things down on various pages, much easier to do if unbound.

seun · Sep 20, 2007

I posted it yesterday. Fingers crossed.

scarletpeaches · Sep 20, 2007

If it's a proposal (letter, synopsis, three chapters) I usually back it with a piece of thick card and secure it with a couple of bulldog clips. Or maybe a couple of rubber bands, but if the proposal's not that big, rubber bands make it bunch up inside the envelope.

KTC · Sep 20, 2007

There are no small and stupid questions...only small and stupid people.

Leigh Walker · Sep 20, 2007

hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but I had the same question, just in more detail.

When sending query, synopsis, three chapters (for example), do you secure them as one (e.g. backed with thick card and bulldog clip on the entire package) or should you clip each seperately? I am assuming no staples. three paperclips? one bigger clip? Am I just finding ways to procrastinate sending them out?

Leigh

Small (and probably stupid) question

seun

Horror Man

Calla Lily

On hiatus

seun

Horror Man

Manat

seun

Horror Man

Jamesaritchie

seun

Horror Man

Calla Lily

On hiatus

dantem42

seun

Horror Man

scarletpeaches

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Leigh Walker

Where are we going?