Is it acceptable to ignore the rules for the lay out? - Writers Forum

Unknown · 09-19-2005, 03:50 PM

This might be a stupid question but does it really matter how your manuscript looks like?
I know the guidelines of how it should be (meaning, I've read them somewhere on every single writing forum I have ever been and I've got them somewhere on paper) but on the other hand doesn't it strike attention if your manuscript has something more personal. Can't you combine making it look professional and original on the same moment? Wouldn't it have a positive effect if you somehow made it somewhat different than the rules describe, and with that prove your creativity?
(I have no clue how exactly I see it though.)

+ It seems like the whole publishing world wants to make writing people waste time on working on the lay out of their story. I agree lay out matters when you're reading something but should it always be entirely the same? Can different not have something better?

And as for editors throwing manuscripts who do not strictly follow the rules away, I'm not so sure about that either. I've send a story of mine to an editor ones. I was eleven, so imagine how it looked like. For an eleven year old the story was quite good (meaning I don't hate it when I reread it now, which I do with most of my old writings, but it is childish). They actually took the time to read a part of it and one of the editors even responded with a list of things I should work on. The guidelines he gave me, proved he read at least a small part of the story (they were not just common critiques, they were directly adressed to my story with quotes from it to make it clearer for me).
If an editor reads THAT (horrible thing) that didn't even look like a story, with no lay out or anything, maybe they'd take the time to have a small look at a non-guideline-approved manuscript? If it's good, he might accept it anyway. If it's bad, less time wasted? More time for another try?

Now: prove me wrong (I'm sure you will, just want to know how and why).

Julianne · 09-19-2005, 06:18 PM

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Wouldn't it have a positive effect if you somehow made it somewhat different than the rules describe, and with that prove your creativity?

No. You prove your creativity through your writing, not through the formatting.

mammamaia · 09-20-2005, 10:09 AM

...for starters, julianne's right...

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This might be a stupid question but does it really matter how your manuscript looks like?

...YES!...

Quote:

I know the guidelines of how it should be (meaning, I've read them somewhere on every single writing forum I have ever been and I've got them somewhere on paper) but on the other hand doesn't it strike attention if your manuscript has something more personal. Can't you combine making it look professional and original on the same moment?

...NO!...

Quote:

Wouldn't it have a positive effect if you somehow made it somewhat different than the rules describe, and with that prove your creativity?
(I have no clue how exactly I see it though.)

...absolutely NOT... all it would prove is the abysmal arrogance and stupidity of the writer, for ignoring industry standards that have good reason to be standards...

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+It seems like the whole publishing world wants to make writing people waste time on working on the lay out of their story.

...wrong... they want to make their job easier, so they can concentrate on the quality of the "writing people's" [= "writers"] writing , and not have to plow through a plethora of fancy fonts, type sizes, colors and suchlike amateurish conceits, that will have them losing their eyesight and minds in no time flat...

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I agree lay out matters when you're reading something but should it always be entirely the same?

...YES!... and it's not the 'lay out' which means something else entirely... it's the 'format'... so, first of all, you'd best learn the proper terminology...

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Can different not have something better?

...sorry, that sentence/question makes no sense, so i can't answer it...

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And as for editors throwing manuscripts who do not strictly follow the rules away, I'm not so sure about that either. I've send a story of mine to an editor ones.

... 'ones' = 'once'?...

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I was eleven, so imagine how it looked like. For an eleven year old the story was quite good (meaning I don't hate it when I reread it now, which I do with most of my old writings, but it is childish). They actually took the time to read a part of it and one of the editors even responded with a list of things I should work on. The guidelines he gave me, proved he read at least a small part of the story (they were not just common critiques, they were directly adressed to my story with quotes from it to make it clearer for me).
If an editor reads THAT (horrible thing) that didn't even look like a story, with no lay out or anything, maybe they'd take the time to have a small look at a non-guideline-approved manuscript?

...it's clear to me the editor was merely being kind to a child... i'm sure the same editor would not have been that kind if you were not so obviously a child, and were seriously submitting a mess for publication...

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If it's good, he might accept it anyway. If it's bad, less time wasted? More time for another try?

...believe me, if such a mess is submitted by an adult, for serious consideration, it will not be looked at long enough to tell if the story is any good or not...

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Now: prove me wrong (I'm sure you will, just want to know how and why).

...no one can prove a negative... all i can do is tell you from over a half century's worth of knowledge and experience, that following standard ms format is de rigueur for a writer... it's part of the writer's job... and that editors won't pay equal attention to non-standard submissions... they'll pay less to none!...

...you can disbelieve that if you want... but try sending out that old ms you wrote at 11, or anything in fancy font, color, arrangement, telling those you submit it to that you are an adult who wants to be a published writer, and see how many acceptances you get... or anything other than form letter rejections...

love and hugs, maia

Unknown · 09-20-2005, 12:58 PM

Okay, that was very clear Mammamaia.
I won't try the sending-old-ms-in-thing, I'll take your word for it.

I didn't mean to look silly (which I obviously did) but I have the annoying habit to question everything everyone knows.

I'm sorry for my errors too (there were quite alot of them. Note to self: Never make long posts again + buy a decent Dutch-English dictionary)

But thanks for answering my stupid question anyway, I shall never doubt it again now.

mammamaia · 09-21-2005, 12:05 PM

honeybun, no question is stupid, if the asker doesn't know the answer... only people are stupid, if they don't bother asking about what they need to know...

and your english is much better than my dutch!

hugs, m

Nickie · 09-21-2005, 05:29 PM

Didn't know you knew Dutch, Maia! That's a surprise to me!

Nickie

mammamaia · 09-21-2005, 05:39 PM

didn't actually say i did, nickie!

... i managed to make it through schipol to the train, and had a couple of dutch mentees for a while... but really don't know more than a few words that are enough like english or deutsch that i can figure them out, when i see 'em...