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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1455-.html
Mystery: December 27, 2006 Issue [#1455]

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Mystery


 This week:
  Edited by: darkin
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter


Welcome to the Mystery Newsletter. Why are mysteries so popular? Because mysteries make you think. You follow every clue, examine the crime scenes and remember what each suspect said, until you solve the crime. A good mystery can keep you interested until the end. A great mystery will keep you guessing until the last page...when it makes you slap your forehead in surprise!


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 0997970618
Amazon's Price: $ 14.99


Letter from the editor


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Getting your manuscript there in one piece


You have worked hard writing your novel. Months or years of painstaking work, all culminating into a polish piece of prose. You sent out your query letters, complete with synopsis and sample chapters. Finally, one of the editors you sent your masterpiece to wants to see the entire book.

Now what?

Well, now's the time you get your novel ready to send to the editor so they can read it and decide if they will buy it. But how do I do that, you ask?

First off never ever under any circumstances send the only copy of your novel. This should be common sense, but you'd be amazed at how many new novelists send the only copy of their work out only to have it get lost in the mail or at the editor's office. You should always print out a fresh, clean copy or make a clean photocopy to send to the editor.

When you send out your submission you should have the following items for your mailer: cover letter, manuscript, any supporting information, return postage or a return envelope with postage. Always pay for first class postage. This is not a place to pinch pennies.

Pick a package that matches the kind of manuscript you are sending. For a short story, you can fold it in thirds and mail it in a white #10 business envelope. For a longer piece, mail it flat in a 9" x 12" or 10" x 13" envelope. For a novel, mail it in a manuscript box. No matter which way you go, be sure to send a proper return mailer back, or indicate in your cover letter they can destroy the copy if they don't want it.

Be sure when you mail it out there is enough postage for it to get to the editor's desk. Nothing annoys an editor more than to have a postage due package. Likewise, don't don't bother with a return receipt for your manuscript. Some publishers won't even accept them if they have a return receipt on them and your novel could end up never making it to the editor's desk.

If you really want to know if they got it, enclose a postcard with postage and a request they place the date on the card and mail it back to you. I do this all the time and have never had an editor refuse my request.

Some editors ask for the manuscript to be on a computer disk instead of a hard copy. If your editor asks for this, be sure you send them the manuscript in the format they want. Don't send a WordPerfect file if they ask for Microsoft Word. Make sure you save the file with an easy to understand file name. A good choice would be the novel's title and your name, separated by a hyphen. Also, don't have anything unnecessary on the disk. The editor doesn't have time wade through the extra files you forgot to take off the disk to find the manuscript's file. Use a brand-new, never used disk and you can't go wrong.

Getting the request for the complete manuscript is every writer's dream. Take the extra care when mailing it out and you will make your potential editor's day.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!

darkin


Editor's Picks


Here are some items I have found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!

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Minkah's First Case Open in new Window. (13+)
A Mystery Tale set in Ancient Egypt.
#808822 by Fictiøn Ðiva the Wørd Weava Author IconMail Icon


 The Deep Open in new Window. (E)
"Through The Windowpane"
#1074254 by T.L.Finch Author IconMail Icon


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#405142 by Not Available.


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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer


There is a belief in some circles of writers that all mysteries must have clues and a solution. That unless there is a crime to solve, it isn't a true mystery.

What do you think? Can a mystery be about something other than a murder, theft, or other such crime? Can the discovery of something non-criminal also be a mystery? Let me know what you think about this, about what you feel is a mystery.

And now, here is some reader feedback. Thank you all for your kind words*Bigsmile*

SHERRI GIBSON Author Icon
Excellent newsletter, Darkin. I love a good mystery, but without a good twist and good character definition, the story is bland and unreadable in my opinion.
Sherri

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Diana Lumina Author Icon
Hello. I learned a lot of important techniques from this newsletter. Thank you for everything you've done in this newsletter. It has changed my prospective in many ways on writing, mainly the reasons for a plot change.

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SmokeyMtn Author Icon
Really excellent and informative newsletter. I've saved this one to my file on plotting tips.

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