raw manuscripts

[edd]

i was reading The Impatient Writer’s Guide to Getting Published by philip overby.

Is it ever a good idea to send editors a raw manuscript or is it meant to be funny?

in Ignore the guidelines part.

The Impatient Writer's Guide to Getting Published

 

[Ireth]

This is definitely meant to be read as a joke. Manuscripts you send to publishers should be as polished as you can get them. You shouldn't leave everything to your editor; their job is to catch the mistakes you still legitimately miss after a few dozen revisions.

 

[gavintonks]

It is a how not to get published / cloaked as how to get published because so many people do these things

 

[Kelise]

All of the article was a joke. Read the comments on the post.

 

[edd]

i did find it funny but it can be misleading to new writers as its at the front page of your website, i was half asleep when i was reading it i must admit lol.

 

[Devor]

I only caught it on re-read, but he mentions a collection of stories called "Stories which begin in inns." Brings back D&D memories.

 

[Shockley]

Moving past the joke content. No, it's never a good idea. Always bad.

And honestly, if your first go-round is in anyway coherent I don't understand how you operate.

 

[Christopher Wright]

The danger of satire is it can be mistaken for serious advice.

 

[Penpilot]

Well, i have to admit, I had a moment where I thought it was serious, and I was thinking what the hell is this dude talking about? That's all wrong, wrong, wrong... Oh... it's satire... hhaha.

 

[ArielFingolfin]

That's right, they haven't read my story about zebra unicorns! By golly, I'll just scribble it in chocolate on some toilet paper and leave it in y publisher's mailbox along with a basket of kittens I scooped up from the alley behind my apartment!

 

[Steerpike]

That's right, they haven't read my story about zebra unicorns! By golly, I'll just scribble it in chocolate on some toilet paper and leave it in y publisher's mailbox along with a basket of kittens I scooped up from the alley behind my apartment!

Well, it is Caturday, so it would be timely.

 

[Christopher Wright]

There's always that one old guy who smokes a cigar a day, drinks half a bottle of whiskey by noon, eats nothing but bacon, red meat, and lard, and lives to be 98. Which means you'll probably run across someone who sends in a raw manuscript that's so effing brilliant he or she gets signed and makes a million dollars. And someone will read about that person and decide "well, that's the way to do it then."[1]

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[1]And will then die of a heart attack because he's been doing nothing but smoking cigars, drinking whiskey, and eating bacon, red meat, and lard.

 

[edd]

LOL you all crack me up with your comments =P