Okay - A Weird Question

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Cindyh2k

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I hope that the answer is not somewhere and I missed it - I did look, I promise! When submitting manuscripts to publishers, should I use a regular ball point pen on the envelope or do I use a fine point sharpie?

Thanks!

Cindy
 

maddythemad

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I can't imagine that it matters. However, I personally use a ball point pen, and so far, no one has complained. :D

(It should be noted that I'm submitting to agents, not publishers, though.)
 

Cindyh2k

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Thanks, guys! I think I am just excited because I am finally taking this step - and I am worrying about stupid things that probably won't matter in the end - so, sorry for the weird question!

Hmmm....... I wonder - it is a children's book.....maybe crayons would work! Just kidding!!

Anyway - sorry I took up space - now off to stop sweating the small stuff!

Cindy
 

kristie911

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I print labels just because I think it looks more professional...but that's just me. The others are right...as long as the story is good, it's not going to matter much.
 

Jamesaritchie

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Labels

If it's at all possible, use printed labels. If nothing else, the post office will love you for it, and your editor won't have to buy new glasses.
 

Siddow

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I use labels, too. They're just so much cleaner and neater than anything I could hand-write.
 

Azure Skye

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I print labels just because I think it looks more professional...but that's just me. The others are right...as long as the story is good, it's not going to matter much.

I was thinking about this yesterday as I printed the addresses of agents on my envelopes. My printing is nice and all but I do believe a printed label would look much better.
 
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I handwrite envelopes, but I print in capitals and I ALWAYS use a black pen. Biro for small envelopes, marker pen for the big submissions.
 

JohnB1988

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Fancy-pants labels on the cheap.

A pack of Avery # 05444 has 100 2X4 labels. On their web site they’ll give you a free template that works just like a regular word document. You can do all sorts of overly clever things with it and then print one-off in your regular printer to stick on an envelope
 

Cindyh2k

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And I almost bought a package of labels at WalMart yesterday! Hmmm...guess I could go back and get them!

Cindy
 

Sean D. Schaffer

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Also, you can use labels in your typewriter, if you prefer such equipment.

But in any case, I agree you should use printed labels of some sort, because like others have already said, they do look much more professional than does handwriting on the envelope. Plus, if your envelope is one of those big gold-colored (manila) envelopes, having a white printed label will make the printing stand out more than a ball-point or sharpie on the envelope itself will.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your submissions.

:)
 

AnnieColleen

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You can also use Word to print the address directly onto the envelope.
 

Chumplet

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You can also use Word to print the address directly onto the envelope.

Watch out for a jamming printer, though.

For the first year or so I dutifully used labels, but found it to be wasteful if I didn't use the whole sheet in one pass. If I tried to use only a few labels at a time, the heat from the lazer printer made the labels semi-transparent on the second pass, and sometimes I had a hard time lining everything up.

I stopped submitting for a while - just using email, and then when I decided to pump out a few more hard queries, I couldn't find my label sheets.

So, when I received a request for a partial, I sucked it up and hand printed the envelope. Black ink, fine point Sharpie, obsessing over my penmanship.

We sure do obsess a lot, don't we? :)
 

WerenCole

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I have other people write the addresses for me. Nobody wants to try and read my handwriting.
 

Cindyh2k

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That was the whole idea for the question - because I am using manila envelopes - and I was afraid the ball-point pen would not show up - but then, I thought the Sharpie might scream, I am desperate - Look at me!

I am going to try printing from word, but I have a cheap printer at the moment - and with the way my luck goes, the first one will jam in the printer!

Obsessing, Obsessing, Obsessing!!!!

Cindy
 

Popeyesays

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I was thinking about this yesterday as I printed the addresses of agents on my envelopes. My printing is nice and all but I do believe a printed label would look much better.

I have a business envelope template on Publisher I just plug the addresses in and pre-print the envelopes. That's for SASE's. I use transparent address labels for big envelopes.

Regards,
Scott
 

PeeDee

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Because I can't always afford labels (hello! Poor writer!) I pitifully ask my wife to write the stuff on the envelope, because she has very lovely handwriting. :D
 

Sage

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A tiny bit OT, but when you're doing the address on a query submission envelope, do you address it to the agent there, or just the agency? It's probably a really nitpicky point that doesn't matter, but I just wanted to see what everyone suggested.
 

Maryn

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Sage, if a particular agent within an agency is the right one for your query, that's who you'd address both the envelope and the query letter to.

For instance, many agencies kind of divide up the pie. A does history and how-to, B does YA and how-to, C does erotica and coffee table books, D does graphic novels and mystery, etc. If your book is a YA, of course you want your envelope to be set in B's In basket.

What's hard sometimes is the agency whose guidelines say to send to the right agent but have two or more who rep your genre. If your book is a how-to, you need to do further research to know whether to send it to A or B.

Maryn, who'll cross that bridge yada-yada-yada
 

Soccer Mom

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I print labels. I do the ones with my address (for SASE) in big sheets and just keep a stack of them in the drawer. It doesn't cost that much honestly and it isn't that much trouble.

Then again, I don't suppose they really care as long as the address is correct.
 
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