I am aware of standard manuscript format with the all your details on the first sheet. The actual story starts half-way down.
Fot WOTF they want a cover sheet with all those details on but the story to start seperately on the next page without the authors name attached. Does this mean you start the story right at the top of the page (with or without the story title placed centrally) or do you centre the story title and place it halway down the page and then commence the story.
What do you do?
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
Personally, I start the story halfway down the page as normally done. In the word processer, I white out my name and address, as well as the byline and my name in the header. I print.
I copy the story to another file, restore my name & address info, and delete my story. Then I print that page, which displays everything up to the byline.
[This message has been edited by ChrisOwens (edited March 03, 2008).]
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Thanks Chris that is exactly what I needed to know. By the way and its obviously an irrelevancy as I have no chance of winning, but if you do win and they have this fancy award ceremony do they pay for you to attend...or are they careful to pick winners who can attend? Obviously if you win and you are UK based it would cost a fortune to attend (more than the prize you get for winning!).
Anyone know?
Completely unrelated question: does anyone know if OSC ever looks in this forum? I would assume he does but if he comments he MUST use a pen name. Who do you reckon it is?
Posted by jasonbeauchene (Member # 7823) on :
I heard his pen-name is Skadder.
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
I don't think he does. I think he has way too many other things to do.
Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :
I read that the travel and housing costs are paid as are the costs of the workshop.
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
Yes, it's all expenses paid.
And about OSC, the official word is that he doesn't. But I know if I had a forum in my name, I might not be able to resist the tempation of lurking.
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Were it true and I was OSC I would definitely do a little lurking...after all it only takes a minute, babe.
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
Skadder, I do mine differently than Chris Owens. I haven't been disqualified for doing so, so here's what I do:
Standard cover page, author info upper left, approx word count upper right Middle of cover page, centered, Title Beneath title, my name as I'd like to be credited (I use a middle initial, others use pen names and would indicate that here.)
Next page, top line, story starts. Upper right header has story title/page#. Normally my standard MS format has story title/mylastname/page#, but I omit the middle bit since the WOTF contest is judged anonymously.
I put it into MS format pretty near the end, because I really prefer reading and writing in Arial 10 pt single-spaced instead of Courier 12 pt double-spaced. When I do this final formatting, I do save_as my working document to give it another name (often something as inventive as Storytitle_FINAL, LOL.) Sometimes if I'm feeling there's something wrong with the file, I will copy the story text in my word processor, open a new blank file, and paste-special, text only. Sometimes, particularly when I am working on something a long time or have saved many many many versions of it, the file size starts to creep up and something just seems off. Copying the plain text into a new file solves this issue. Sorry for the random technology commentary.
Posted by luapc (Member # 2878) on :
I do mine like KayTi's except I write the original in Times New Roman single spaced, then convert to Courier New double spaced. I also make my entire document Bold because of the way Courier New 12 comes out faded in my opinion. My semifinalist story was in that format.
WOTF is pretty flexible with entries, but Kathy has said she likes to see submissions in a professional format, which is what Chris does. The only difference between what KayTi and I do from Chris's is starting at the top on the first story page rather than half way down. I would suggest looking as professional as possible, so Chis's way is probably the best.
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
I write in standard format (like Chris), always. It took me a while, and some friendly pointers (thanks Chris), to get my MSWord formatted correctly...now I do it out of habit. I wanted to get into the habit of doing everything properly, so I didn't have to worry about remembering anything. Now, it's just a step in the writing process--what I consider getting into "writing mode".
I much prefer the look of the Bookman Antiqua font, but I am very comfortable in Courier New, also. I figured if I adjusted early on, I wouldn't have to reset my habits. It has worked well for me...so far.
As far as making the font bold, I didn't--it looked fine when it printed out on my printer--but I may next time. After all, we all know how much I like bold.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
I just put the title on the top and started a few lines below that. They didn't throw it away so it must have been all right with them. On a seperate note, a few other fellow rackers felt my use of underlining my italisized text to be wrong. I have been told that when you submit a story you are supposed to do that way, so it is easier for them to see that it is supposed to italisized. Am I wrong?
quote:Completely unrelated question: does anyone know if OSC ever looks in this forum? I would assume he does but if he comments he MUST use a pen name. Who do you reckon it is?
Wouldn't you all be shocked if I was Orson in disguise.
Of course, the last link is on SFWA's website, which is the horse's mouth.
Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :
quote:Completely unrelated question: does anyone know if OSC ever looks in this forum? I would assume he does but if he comments he MUST use a pen name. Who do you reckon it is?
Hmmm... well, based purely on writing style and voice the only possibility is Rommel Fenrir Wolf II.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
Snapper, what people are saying, I would think, is that not to underline your italicised text, just to underline it without italicising it first. Does that make any sence?
Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :
Right. Underline REPLACES italics. Don't do both.
Also, Courier New tends to look pale on lots of laser printers. Ink jets don't print quite as sharp, and it generally seems okay there. The solution is to use Courier 10 BT. If you don't have it on your computer, tell me and I'll email it to you.
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
D'oh! Now with a night's sleep, I see that "Underlining italics is correct" is not exactly clear. Taken by the literal word, that could be truly misleading. My apologies. Fatigue and multitasking and typing don't mix.
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Well, its in the envelope and ready to go. I haven't done a cover letter (blurb about me and the story etc.), just the cover sheet (My name, address, email, etc., word count, byline and title). They don't ask for one.
Any thoughts?
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
No cover letter needed for WOTF.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
Thanx on the whole underlining/italisize fromat thing everybody.
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
“Hmmm... well, based purely on writing style and voice the only possibility is Rommel Fenrir Wolf II. “
