Wednesdays with Joanne - "Rules of Engagement"

Hi Romance Lovers, one and all!

However tempting it is here, to lament the rules of engagement in love and marriage, I'm referring to the rules set down on how and how not to write a romance novel. I'm talking about the rules set down on how and how not to submit a romance novel to editors. I'm talking about how to succeed with editors ... hooking them, rather than annoying them ... because you didn't obey their rules of engagement.

When most of us consider submitting to a publisher, we focus primarily on what we're writing and not especially how we're writing. We pay attention to format to a point, making sure our font is 12-point and that we're in Courier or Times New Roman. Right guys? We're focused (as well we should be) on just who we should submit to; when we should submit; should we submit to more than one editor; and which houses want what? This is all important but ... so is format!

The importance of this was brought home again this morning, when I tuned into an exchange on an author loop between authors and editors. While the editors are usually very nice about reformatting manuscripts themselves, they'd prefer not to have to do this. A writer's chances for sale are much, much better if the formatting for their manuscript is correct in the first place. We authors need to (in addition to all of the aforementioned) find out the specific template and format for each house to whom we wish to submit. In doing so, in submitting a manuscript that's already in the house's acceptable format--a manuscript that obeys their Rules of Engagement--we're giving our manuscript the extra boost that just might make all the difference in sales.

Let's go get`em, guys!

Jo(anne)

Next from Five Star:
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
A...My Name's Amelia, LP coming
http://www.joannesundell.com/
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