Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino

Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Writer's Digest Books
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

FORMATTING AND SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT - Nobody ever said writing was easy. The fact is this: good fiction is partly due to following structured rules, allowing creative brainstorms and utilizing sound business practices. If you write for publication, then you need to understand submissions, that’s the topic of this post. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino is a good addition to your writing reference library. Why is that? Because, this book covers all of the basics in an abbreviated sort of way, with callouts to identify/ explain important elements. That includes query letters, novel synopses, book proposals, manuscript pages, etc. There are rules to follow so that you come across as professional, polished and publishable. The book provides examples so you will have a good grasp of what works and what doesn’t. If you have read any of my review posts on writing reference, you will know that I don’t recommend a lot of writing reference books. That’s because beginning writers need relevant information and don’t have any time to waste. You’re probably going to spend a hundred hours on a novel length manuscript.

My suggestion is to focus on the three most important writing reference books, see below for my short list. If you’ve always wanted to try writing I encourage you to give it a try. Good luck!
1. Book in a Month (BIAM) by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
2. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King
3. Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino

View all my reviews

Buy this book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/158297571X

THE WRITE PLAN (TO DRAFT YOUR NOVEL, IN ONE MONTH)

THE WRITE PLAN (TO DRAFT YOUR NOVEL, IN ONE MONTH) - Plan on writing a novel in one month? It’s easy to dream, and much harder to achieve. My suggestion: go into this with a goal and a plan. Maybe you want to participate in NaNoWriMo. Or maybe you have a vacation, a chunk of free time, and want to finally write that book. Fine, but how? Before I wrote my first novel, I had no clue where to start, and had only ever written short stories up until then. I dreamed about writing a book. There was a goal, but no plan. Need structure? No matter where you’re starting today, follow these tips. Your writing will be the better for it. I recommend considering 2 important factors, before jumping into a fiction project: 1. Set an end goal, and 2. Develop a plan. 

Set an end goal - NaNoWriMo begins on November 1st, with a target of 50,000 words. This can be a good approach, but can also be scaled up, or scaled down. Only have one week? Shoot for an average length short story of 7,000 words. Don’t have a lot of writing experience? Start with smaller incremental goals, and build up stamina over time. 

Develop a plan - In a “pantser” approach, writers draft freely, without a clear goal where the story is headed. But if your time is limited, consider not wasting that valuable asset. Have a system, and there is no need to invent one. Years ago I stumbled on Book in a Month by Victoria Schmidt quite by accident. I go back to it time and time again. Start with the section on creating an outline. Create scenes, character maps, turning points, generate backstory and identify potholes. Write the whole damn first draft, or as much as you can muster, straight through from the opening sentence to the last line. Don’t write and edit at the same time! If you aim to reach the full 50K word count goal, I recommend setting up the outlines, characters and plot points in October — ahead of time. 

The limitations - No, you won’t end the month with a complete novel. It won’t be ready to “hit send” to agents or publishers. You might pull that off with a short story, but probably not if it’s your first time. What will you have? A first draft; which must be shared with critique partners, and rewritten based on their feedback. Perhaps by that point it will be ready to self-publish or submit to publishers. Don’t skip professional editing if you’re going to independently publish. 

It’s not easy to write a fully complete novel, but it can be done. Who knows? If you have a good hook, well-paced plot, and put in the work, it might even be a great novel. You’ll never know until you try. Want to do more? Please consider donating to the organization that brings this event to life.

This post was first published on Medium in November 2020: 

https://medium.com/nanowrimo/the-write-plan-to-draft-your-novel-in-one-month-4967f46a6085

THE WRITE PLATFORM

THE WRITE PLATFORM – With the diminishing influence of the Big 5, up against almighty Amazon, authors need platforms. Why is that, you might ask? I’m a writer. Do I really need to bother with publicity? Yes. Do both, write material and engage in marketing. Some of these are costly, and some are free, so start somewhere based on your resources. See below for tips and highlights. 

Blog - This is the most important aspect. Write on a regular (weekly or monthly) schedule, since you’re going for repeat visitors, not the one time click. Email - Create a footer signature with all your platform links. Start collecting other’s emails to send out info when new releases come out. Every message you send should share your platform information. Website - Think of it as a landing page to house your platform links. Decide whether to use your real name or penname. Make sure the website address isn’t overly complicated. Newsletter - Add a newsletter signup to your blog. Whatever you do, don’t spam your list. Keep it brief, interesting and valuable in terms of the information presented. Social Media - Be interesting and add value. Your Facebook should link to your Twitter which should link back to your Pinterest and so on.  Giveaways - Consider handing out a freebie to increase exposure or grow your list. Some writers have perfected the first-one-is-free serial. Local events - Go to book signings, writers groups, book stores, interview panels, book readings, conferences, book fairs, etc. Multimedia - Each story should have a book trailer available to spread the message about your work. Familiarize yourself with video, image and sound editing software. Handselling – Ask your local bookstore if they will sell your book? Oftentimes they will accept a few of them and send you a commission. Tell them you’re a local writer! Online - Groups, clubs and associations support writers for free or for a price.  Facebook alone has hundreds of groups dedicated to writer’s support. Branding – Make your selections with uniformity--fonts, cover images, topics and themes--with a critical eye. Style is crucial in a visual medium and your customer should instantly know what you’re all about. Author page - Amazon offers a central place for all of your books and reposting of all your blog posts. Interviews - Once you’ve established credibility as a writer, ask about appearances on podcasts and radio shows. 

A lot of platforms are started and abandoned. What’s the point of that? Now it’s time to get busy with your writing platform.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/get-published-sell-my-work/how-to-build-your-author-platform

READ THE ARTICLES

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/build-a-platform-start-blogging/building-a-writers-platform

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/3-common-author-platform-mistakes-plus-how-to-fix-them

https://tutorials.writersdigest.com/courses/build-your-author-platform-through-blogging

THE WRITE MARKET

THE WRITE MARKET - There can be no mention of the craft of writing without considering fiction genres. Why? You must know the rules in order to break them. So let’s talk about genre. Many industry types say there are solidly established fiction genres. I’m not so sure about that. Look at all the subgenres and how many stories pick up elements of one genre versus another. I’m not going to include all fiction genres since that’s not what inspires me. Here are my favorites. 

Crime – It features a detective or criminal as the main character, with elements of crime and punishment critical to the story. Horror -  A scary tale of the paranormal, monster, supernatural and or slasher variety. If you can create a feeling of fear or a gross out, then horror is working for you. Thriller - An action packed story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This can definitely incorporate elements of crime and mystery. Mystery – Similar to crime but several possible culprits must be presented, with the true villian’s identity revealed in the end. Historical – Usually a costume drama set in a time long ago with historical events that are critically important to the story. Romance – If you can remove the romance from the story and still have something to tell, it’s not a true romance. The central theme is development of the relationship such as falling in or out of love. Science Fiction – This is a story set in the future or in an alternate reality of an imagined future. Extrapolated scientific inventions are used to advance the plot and character development. Fantasy – This genre can involve wizards and dragons, but can also be broader in context. Such as a fantastical world populated by strange non-human characters. It can also include magical realism and urban fantasy. LGBT – Stories that feature lesbians, gays, bisexuals or trans persons as major characters. These are often but not always erotic, coming of age and or romance stories. Literary – Just another genre despite what elitists say. For short stories, you should have read widely in The New Yorker. Literary can be anything from small moments to quirky to experimental. 

Haven’t read widely in The New Yorker? Haven’t read widely in a variety of genres? You really shouldn’t be calling yourself a writer. So get busy with the genre reading. What are you waiting for? 

CLICK ON THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/Essential_Elements.pdf

http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/Horror-Categories-Extended-Short-Story-Workshop.pdf

READ THE ARTICLES

http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-all-articles/qp7-migration-fiction/genredefinitions

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-genre/young-adult-childrens/the_popular_fiction_report

http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-all-articles/all_i_used_to_need_was_love

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/why_i_write_horror

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/writing_small

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/creating_new_worlds

THE WRITE CONCEPT

THE WRITE CONCEPT - Every great story begins the same way. What if? The term high concept is often used incorrectly. It’s not a simplistic concept, explained in a minimum of words. Continue to read a bit more about the elements of high concept fiction. 

A great hook – A character trait or inciting incident grabs the reader’s attention and carries them through to the end of the novel. Entertainment value – Think of a blockbuster film or your favorite novel, in your preferred genre. Does your concept measure up?  Original ideas – The same way clichés are to be avoided, so are recycled concepts. Do you really think you can do it better? Mass appeal – Returning to your favorite blockbuster, does this concept have wide appeal? Think multiple demographics and marketability. Visual appeal – There is an obvious connection between crafting a novel and screenplay writing. Sure, most of your story will be about the character’s transformational arc. But how can you enhance this visually? How to punch up tension with exciting backgrounds and locales? Emotional resonance – If all of the above elements are portrayed correctly, you will naturally end up with an intense novel with a sense of immediacy. High concept – Here’s how all of this comes together. High concept has a unique, fresh idea, with enough tension to maintain interest and an eye toward the cinematic/ dramatic. 

Not sure if high concept is right for you? Try to develop several one page length synopses. I refer to these as treatments, one of which is sure to stick in your head. That’s the treatment you should be developing into a short story or novel! What are you waiting for? Get to writing!

CLICK ON THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

http://www.iausdj.ac.ir/ostad/DocLib71/Writing%20from%20Start%20to%20Finish.pdf

http://dev.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/12_Cohesion-Checklist.pdf

READ THE ARTICLES

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/write-better-the-7-qualities-of-high-concept-stories

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/9-practical-tricks-for-writing-your-first-novel

http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-books/story-engineering-excerpt

High Concept in any Genre PDF

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

High Concept in any Genre

Characters, Scene by Scene PDF

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

Characters, Scene by Scene

Character Sketch Worksheets PDF

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

Character Sketch Worksheets

THE WRITE CHARACTERS

THE WRITE CHARACTERS - So you’ve had your characters do things (plot) and feel things (emotion). But that’s not all there is to writing. Nope. Writing a fully realized character that transforms is critical to crafting good fiction. How does your character react to what’s happening? How is your character different than anyone else? Is your wooden character predictable? Answer these questions, since that’s what drives the story forward. Here are some important points to consider. Physical appearance – Do this first. Fix an image in your mind and fill out a description thumbnail sketch. Writing indistinguishable characters is one of the worst mistakes a writer can make. Begin scenes with sparing description and devote more detail to major characters. Main characters - The strongest characters are at least somewhat based on a real person. Tap into their qualities, get behind their motivations and analyze their quirks. Dissect the psychology of why they do what they do. Also, all characters (at least somewhat) fall into a type or archetype. Minor characters - You are going to have more and less important characters as you go along. Sometimes it won’t be immediately clear. But as you write, your story will reveal itself to you. Bit parts should have less detail. Always provide a line of description and name characters except for the most insignificant. Character archetypes - Be wary of stereotypes such as making your character too heroic or too villainous. Avoid stock characters that come across as cliché. Know the examples (protagonist, antagonist, hero, villain, mentor, love interest, sidekick, stock characters, jock, princess, nerd, outcast, rebel, etc.) so you know when to break them. Character names - Pick a name that evokes feeling or ties back into the story arc thematically. Select each name beginning with a different hard consonant. Name characters with vowels sparingly or not at all. Character arc – This point is the most important and won’t be done until you’ve reached the end. The constellation of secondary characters are there to support the main character’s change in outlook. This isn’t accomplished on a page or within a chapter. Your main character has to undergo some type of transformation.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

https://www.kmweiland.com/wp-content/uploads/crafting-unforgettable-characters.pdf

http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/Introducing-Your-Main-Character-1.pdf

http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/CraftingNovelsEXCLUSIVE.pdf

http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Bullies_Glossary.pdf

http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/RCLP-Character-Archetypes.pdf

READ THE ARTICLES

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/hooked-on-a-feeling

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/11-secrets-to-writing-effective-character-description

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/character-cornerstone

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/writing-the-unlikable-character-and-why-you-should

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/how-to-find-the-perfect-names-for-your-characters

http://www.writersdigest.com/tip-of-the-day/how-to-find-the-moment-of-truth-for-your-main-character

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/8-%C2%BD-character-archetypes-writing/#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stock_characters

http://www.ewriterscoach.com/the-big-bold-list-of-52-character-archetypes/

http://www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html

Write Your Novel in 30 Days PDF

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

Write Your Novel in 30 Days

THE WRITE PLOT

THE WRITE PLOT - A good writer strikes the proper balance. The story is original but conventional enough to be read easily. It has a plot that isn’t too complicated or overly action packed. But by all means, something interesting has to happen! Make sure to avoid the opposite problem, such as weak plots, and stories lacking in tension. Are you a pantser or a plotter? Do you just start writing, hoping to be lucky enough to develop a well-organized story? Do you spend lots of time outlining and researching, consequently not getting much writing done? Or do you carefully stick to the outline but end up with something trite and predictable? Balance is key, so you have to do all of the above. A writer who understands the rules also knows when to break them. Aristotle gave us the beginning, middle and end. Freytag gave us the pyramid. Campbell gave us the hero. Vogler gave us the Writer’s Journey. OK, what does all of this mean to me as a writer, you might ask? Do ponder before you write. Daydream and don’t forget to jot down your most unusual ideas. Do outline before you write. Avoid time wasting and writing yourself into dead ends. Think of a great concept and decide what you need to show (not tell) to convey the idea. And by all means, take your reader somewhere they never knew they wanted to go.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

http://d3k9gxxxyh3lif.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BIAM_Worksheets.pdf

https://doispontostravessao.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/158297294x.pdf

READ THE ARTICLES

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/novel-in-30-days-2011

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/rescue-your-story-from-plot-pitfalls

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/how-to-let-plot-guide-your-short-story

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-genre/mystery-thriller/getting_your_acts_together

http://www.writersdigest.com/tip-of-the-day/the-narrative-arc

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-genre/mystery-thriller/getting_your_acts_together

http://www.thewritersjourney.com/hero's_journey.htm

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-map-out-your-heros-adventure-in-your-manuscript

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/create-structure-in-your-fiction-using-index-cards

THE WRITE EMOTION

THE WRITE EMOTION - A writer has done a good job when the reader feels a certain type of way after finishing a piece of fiction. It’s easy to say, but not so easy to do, because the potential pitfalls are many. Here’s some examples. Tell the reader how your character feels. Nope, because a writer should show, not tell. Use short cuts to commonly used emotions. Bad idea, because clichés are to be avoided. Go big with over the top emotions. Yeah, no. Because melodrama should be saved for soap operas, not your writing. What to do instead, you might ask? A lot of this depends on your character’s point of view. If you’re writing first person or third person limited, you’re only allowed to pluck thoughts directly out of your main character’s head. Here are some examples of show, don’t tell. A character in trouble creates tension, because without tension, there is no plot. Reveal character’s physical movements; such as beats, facial expressions and physical actions. Use pacing, foreshadowing, action and suspense effectively. Narrative summary skips parts that drag but are necessary. This places greater emphasis on character’s emotional state when compared to plot driven story elements. Writing characters that transform emotionally allows readers to identify with them, which in turn creates compelling fiction.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

https://doispontostravessao.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/158297294x.pdf

http://dl.finebook.ir/book/7b/15979.pdf

read the articles

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-write-a-character-from-start-to-finish

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/creating-emotional-frustration-in-your-characters

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/amp-up-dialogue-with-emotional-beats

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/how-to-balance-action-narrative-and-dialogue-in-your-novel