I’m halfway through formatting a requested manuscript to a publisher’s specifications. My eyes are literally crossing, so I decided to take a break. Remember back in the old days when you just typed up the manuscript and mailed it in? And the typesetters worried about formatting? It still works that way with a lot of publishers, but more and more publishers are asking writers to submit their manuscripts pre-formatted to their specs. Not “just” epublishers, either. Because I’m a Capricorn and prone to paying attention to details (when I feel like it), formatting a manuscript is something I don’t take lightly. If an editor is seriously considering two manuscripts, and one is wonderfully, perfectly formatted while the other is chock-full of mistakes, which do you think she’s more likely to acquire? I fool myself into thinking it would be mine.
So, what are my writer buddies up to? Any submission tales to recount? Can you identify with my formatting issues? Or is it something you don’t even consider when you submit a manu?
I haven’t totally familiarized myself with Windows 7. Formatting and submitting the manuscript has to take precedence. Now that I finally have all my old programs loaded (and it appears that all will work in Windows 7, although one or two might be tad glitchy), it was time to take a break from playing with the new operating system and get back to work. I’ve charged my new netbook, but I’m a long way from checking her out.
Oh, I have to buy a new scanner. Mine is too old for any Windows OS since XP. I’m giving it to My Liege…for his office (I like to call it his “hovel”)…in the crawl space. Yes, indeedy, my husband’s home office is in the crawl space. That’s where I worked between computers. It’s really quiet in there, but you can’t stand up straight. And the dog always wanted me to lift her in. Which of course I did. She laid at my feet beneath M.L.’s desk as I worked on his docked laptop.
Don’t ask my why his office is in the crawlspace. It’s not like I forced him to work there. Okay, maybe I did.
Once I get this manuscript off and have played with Windows 7 to my satisfaction, I’ll take some pictures of the hovel and post them for your enjoyment. I think I already have a picture or two somewhere in my files, but the eyes remain too crossed to go look for them.
I’m anal about formatting — and I’m a Libra. I have a bit of good news. Nice, but not spectacular. But I can’t share it yet. LOL
Oooh, how exciting. Can’t wait to hear. The news about your CP was super exciting!
I’m glad I’m not the only one particular about formatting. In this day and age, it pays, I believe.
Consider getting an all in one…. Printer/scanner/fax. Cover all bases on one footprint.
Um, I’m not sure you understand just how much printing I do! I don’t like all-in-ones. I think they’re fine for students, casual users and small businesses, but I’d have to buy a pretty darn expensive all-in-one for the printer portion to stand up to my demands. I usually kill a printer in about 3 years. And these are pretty good printers, too. In fact, I think my current printer is about 3 years old, so I better start whispering sweet nothings in its ink wells.
Scanning, however, I’m a casual user. Maybe twice a week at MOST. So to me it makes more sense to stay with getting good printers and inexpensive scanners.