by A. E. Jackson @aejacksonmktg

The process of submitting your manuscript can be daunting. First, there is the fear of being vulnerable to your critique group – no matter how close the friendship. Next, the rigid formatting requirements many editors and publishers impose on submissions. Finally, the time-consuming process of migrating your manuscript from your beloved writing software to a standard Word Doc format ready for submission.

Eliminate much of the frustration by drafting your manuscript in the Shunn Classic Manuscript Format. In 1995, Bill Shunn introduced fiction writers to a manuscript preparation guide called “Proper Manuscript Format.” The guide was based on Damon Knight’s earlier work. Countless publications rely on it as the de facto standard for their submission guidelines. Many writers simply refer to the style as “Shunn format.” (Reference: shunn.net )

Download a template from Shunn.net and begin writing your draft in the simple format style. You’ll save the step of reformatting your work each time you share the work for critique or submission.

Before sending your manuscript for critique, be sure to add page and line numbers. When engrossed in a story, editorial marks on lines and notes in the margin are done with little regard to where the reader is within the body of the work. Trying to explain where the author should revise their manuscript is more difficult without proper reference points. Reduce confusion when you provide the simple guide-stars – page and line numbers. This can be achieved in Microsoft Word with a few easy steps.

Follow this guide for Microsoft Word to add Line Numbers.

Follow this guide for Microsoft Word to add Page Numbers.

No longer vulnerable to befuddled critique partners searching for the page and line they spotted a dangling participle. Ready to submit without worry you’ll sail past the slush pile into the waste bin because you failed to follow simple instructions. Start your document with a Shunn formatted template, add page and line numbers, and submit faster and fearless to every open call!