Writing can be a competitive sport. If you write just to share your words with your followers, then there are not many rules to follow. If you write with the intention of getting your work into books, magazines, and shared on social media pages, you must take the time and patience to scrutinize your work. One little mistake may cause your submission to be thrown out the door. Some publishers may be more lenient than others, but it is not a chance you want to take if you want to succeed and get your name out there.

Here are a few tips to help when submitting:

1. Proofread. – Read your work over and over until your eyes are tired. It is possible that you will scan over the simplest error even after looking at it several times. If you must, put it away and look at it again later on or the next day. You can even ask a few others for some help so that it seen with a fresh set of eyes. Most publishers don’t have the time to edit your work, so having the proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation is entirely up to you.
2. Formatting. – Don’t get fancy with the fonts and sizes. Though you may think your way looks more appeasing to the eyes, if the publisher does not ask you to be creative with it – they mean it. Make sure you find out exactly how they want it submitted. If they are not specific and you are not sure, 12 point Times New Roman or Arial is the norm.
3. Keep to the theme. – If a publisher is asking for a specific theme, then stick with it. Don’t assume they are going to accept your political poem when they are asking for uplifting words of love. In some cases, thinking outside of the box will get your work thrown in the trash.
4. Author Bio. – If a publisher asks for an author bio, they usually don’t mean to list everything you published unless they specifically ask. They may want something a bit more intimate along with a few important accomplishments. Follow the rules they give and if they don’t have any, keep it simple. Read a few author bios from the inside or back of a book to get an idea.
5. Timing. – Don’t ever wait till the last minute to submit your work. You are more susceptible to make mistakes when you rush and not catch them before turning in a submission. You can get it completed early and wait till you are absolutely positive it is near perfection to submit. As tip #1 explains – proofreading is key!
6. Never give up. – So you didn’t make it on the contest winner list and want to know why. Unfortunately you just have to deal with the disappointment. If publishers contacted everyone who entered to explain why they didn’t win, it would take up a lot of their time. Don’t go in expecting them to contact you for receiving or not choosing your work. Each publisher has their own rules and you must abide by them. But never give up and put those hard feelings aside. Just keep writing and trying if you are determined and passionate about it.
7. Rules in general. – Just follow the rules given. You have to understand how many entries a publisher will receive for just one contest and if they have a specific deadline, timing is essential. Not only do they have to read every single entry, but then they have the task of choosing who to publish, and then put the entire project together. Make it easier for them by doing what they ask and you will have a better chance at winning.

Written by: Donna J. Sanders

Donna is a freelance writer and blogger in West Palm Beach, FL. She is the author of Ataraxia – a poetry collection about the struggles we face, the state of the world and how to see beauty in the simplest things, and Cardboard Signs – poems to bring awareness about homelessness, mental illness, self-esteem and the injustices many face.

Find out more about her here:

https://theraven6825.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/DonnaJSanders6825

http://www.ctupublishinggroup.com/donna-j.-sanders.html

 

#‎WritingTip

http://www.facebook.com/Creativetalentsunleashed

Sign up for our emails on writing tips at:

https://rajasinsight.com

 

Photo Credit: © Donna J. Sanders