Setting Boundaries

I've been absent for a few days to devote all my efforts to the final rewrite of my novel. This morning I completed editing and ran the spell check!
The next step I'll take is to revise my margins. During the writing process I condense the margins all around to half an inch in order not to waste paper. To submit a manuscript the standard margin settings appear to be one inch all the way around the double-spaced page.
Earlier I selected several literary agents from the 2009 Writer's Market Deluxe Edition. In choosing potential agents I ensured they accepted horror genre works. Also, I reviewed entries for their acceptance percentages, such as what percent of nonpublished submissions they review.
Finally, each agency has their own submission packet requirements. If you wondered about the importance of illustrating your hook at the beginning of your work, it's important to know that most agents want the first chapter or first fifty pages of your work. Some only want to review the first two pages. You will also send a single-spaced cover letter. The instructions will specify whether you will add a paragraph summarizing your work in the cover letter or if a second 1 to 2 page summary is required.
Think of the summary as the description of your work as it will appear on the book jacket. This sounds easy, after all you've devoted yourself to the project for months or years, it should be a simple matter to compose your summary. However, I found this the most difficult part. My suggestion is that you go through your work and review each chapter. At the end of each chapter write a 2 - 3 sentence description of what just took place. Put your chapter notes together and you have a summary.
- bethany moran

Foreword, Preface, Epilogue

When I searched agents and submission packet requirements I came across an interesting notation more than once. It goes without saying we must spell check religiously before submitting any material for publication but the notation I refer to use the use of the word Foreword. This important word, the first word seen when reviewing your manuscript is often misspelled. Many writers use the word "forward" in its place.
Foreword is defined as a preface or introductory note as for a book, especially by someone other than the writer.
Preface is defined as the introduction to or an opening statement of a literary work.
Epilogue is defined as the final section of a story or novel providing comment or conclusion of what happened in the story. The epilogue ties up loose knots and may contain the denouement.
Denouement is not often used but is an important term nonetheless. Similar to the epilogue it addresses the final outcome or dramatic complication in a literary work, especially the outcome of a complex sequence of event.
After the final chapter of my novel I use an epilogue to surmise a main character's point of view and give a glimpse into the future of the geographic area involved in the story. My epilogue is less than a page long. Since the thrust of the epilogue is a wrap up of events I felt it was an important tool to use instead of labeling it as another chapter.
These parts that make up your work may not consist of many pages, but are vial tools to the telling of your story.
Take care.
bethany moran

Slash and Burn

Editing continues at a steady pace on my novel. The red pen flies across the page slashing and burning wordiness. My first submission to an agent contained 92,000 words! What nerve I had to think an agent or publisher would consider a novel of such length by a newcomer. Stephen King can get away with a tome of such length but I doubt many newcomers break in the market this way. I've chopped the word count to around 64,000. Still a large figure, but as editing goes on more words will fall by the wayside. I'm finding that I give an idea, present a related sentence or two, then restate the idea once again.
It's a good idea to have someone outside your circle review your manuscript. Mothers and friends tend to tell you what they think you want to hear. There are no writer's groups in my area for a fresh set of eyes to review the work. However, there are universities nearby and Plan B is to seek a professor of English or creative writing to hire to review it for me if when I shop it out this time I don't meet with success. The other possibility is to seek out the services of an editor for hire. For a predetermined fee, usually by the page, the editor gives a thorough critique of the work complete with suggestions for change.
There are many options for the potentially published. So far on the road to seeing my name in print I've written a rough manuscript which I've since edited twice. I submitted, prematurely, to an agent and was rejected. And I've rewritten the manuscript again, for what I believe is the last go around, and am giving what I plan to be the final edit at this time. Editing should wrap in a week or so. I don't go "back and forth," that is, edit a chapter at a time then make those changes alone. I'm more productive editing the entire work before making changes. By the end of the month I should be ready to shop the manuscript out again. Maybe the second time is a charm.
- bethany moran