Write-Ideas

SUBMITTING YOUR WRITING FOR REVIEW
POETRY

Guidelines for magazines and books, fiction and nonfiction are changing per the gifts that are available in various computer programs. So much formatting is automatic these days, and what's automatic is being determined less by editors and publishers than by software designers and capabilities. Therefore I encourage you to check the styles and guidelines offered by the newspaper, magazine, publisher, editor and/or agent with whom you wish to work. I also suggest you look at books such as 2005 Poet's Market published by Writers Digest Press, among other books on this subject.

As for me and this class, my guidelines are determined by what I've learned is acceptable (and "acceptable" is the operative word here) through my work with various industry people and what was considered correct in my graduate writing program. Along with that, I'm influenced by what I can read easily. So the list that follows is what I expect from students and participants in my writing classes and workshops, plus private clients. Those of you who chose to be creative with my guidelines should know that I will not read any submission that does not respect my needs.

Great Expectations:

Please format and proof your work, using the Manuscript Formatting Criteria listed below. Using these guideline and suggestions is not optional. If you do not follow these guidelines, your submission will not be read. If you need help using these guidelines prior to a submission, please contact me. The alternative, again, is that your work will not be read.

If you have a special request or circumstance, call or email me well in advance of class so we can discuss your concern. That includes if your piece runs over the page limitations or you want to make an additional submission. I usually allow special requests, but don't operate on that assumption. While I don't mind change, I do mind surprises.

Also you may make one (1) submission per semester for my eyes only. But, please be aware that first claim to my time goes to those who are submitting to the class. I also give preferential treatment to those who submit less frequently so that all people get adequate, personal attention during a class semester.

Always bring enough copies of your submission for everyone in the class. If the copying load seems great, talk with me about options to have your piece copied and distributed. There's always an option for those who ask.

Those submitting via email should make sure that the attachment is formatted as outlined here and is sent as either an attachment to be opened in Microsoft Word or as a PDF file for Acrobat Reader. If your on-line provider is AOL, sending attachments may be difficult if not impossible. Then you should fax or drop off copies of your submission.

What to Submit:

Your submission can be (1) the result of an exercise, (2) a complete piece, or (3) a self-contained part of a longer work. You can make five (5) submissions over a nine-week class, one at a time, including rewrites. No submission should be longer than eight (8) pages.

Be sure to ask for the page and submissions expectations particular for your class, as this is subject to change.

The Manuscript Formatting Criteria:

Print on one side of the paper only. If you worry about saving trees, use recycled paper, which I hope you are using for drafts anyway.

Use a plain font (such as Courier New, Helvetica, Palatino, etc.) in 12 point. Absolutely nothing small, narrow, big or fancy. The beauty of your font choice can make a nice piece of writing go unnoticed.

Set margins of 1.25 inch all around.

Number the pages . . . by hand if necessary.

Your first and last name should be at the top, left margin, the next line should be your address, the next line should be your city/state/zip, the next line should be your phone, the next line should be your email address. Six lines below that should be the title of your poem either flush left or centered. One line below that should be blank, the line below that should be the first line of your poem.

Laura LeHew
PO Box 50638
Eugene, OR 97405
(541) 683-8680
laura@deer-run.com

The Guy With The Wandering Eye

She knew he had one. ...

For longer poems the first line of the second and each subsequent page should be your name, a comma, the name of the poem, a comma, followed by either "continue stanza" or "new stanza"-flush left:
LeHew, The Guy With The Wandering Eye, continue stanza

His blue blue eyes would shine on her and he would listen.
The above is how MOST publications require poems be submitted for publication. ALWAYS double check with publishers guidelines as rules may vary.

Spell check. Spell check. Spell check.

Secure the pages with a paper clip or a staple. I prefer a paper clip.

Suggestions:

Think about periods, commas, question marks, quotation marks (single and double, as required), and an occasional long dash.

Italics and underlining are usually not good tools for creating rhythm or emphasis in your writing.
Exclamation marks usually don't do anything for your writing.

Think about capitalization - should you or should you not uniformly capitalize the words in your poem?

Think about the white space(s) surrounding your poem. Line space your poem accordingly.

Avoid words that aren't within the normal range of your vocabulary. If you have to look up a word, use the definition rather than a synonym. Here's an example where the definition has more punch than a synonym. This is also a way in which to address technical vocabulary and jargon unfamiliar to some of your readers.

But denial-as we now call that repudiation of the obvious-can only last so long.

Avoid adverbs as they serve to weaken strong verbs or camouflage weak ones. Adverbs generally end in ly and are thought to modify verbs or adjectives.

Suddenly the door opened slowly.

Look for repetition of the same word. The echo of such a word disrupts the reader's attention. Instead consider being more observant and then find other words that work to expand the world you are creating with your word choices. For example, here's how echoes can make for melodrama instead of good writing:

He found the crackling of the fire disturbing. The fire crackled again.

Avoid the pronoun "it" when used outside of dialogue. "It" is an indefinite pronoun. Writing is not about the indefinite.

Avoid what I call "leading dependent clauses" or LDC's. That means you should start your sentences with the subject rather than an introductory, transitional, prepositional or participial phrase. That includes dependent clauses. These are phrases offset by a comma and are not the subject of the sentence. Also make sure your modifying dependent clauses are next to the subject described.

Nicked and dinged, Paul recognized the desk as the old public school variety.

Remember that formatting and grammar are an essential indicator to a publisher and an editor that you are a serious writer seeking publication. Don't undervalue learning simple formatting, punctuation and grammar rules-especially the ones that apply to you.

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