Since I am that intern, I'll be honest with the authors: I don't read your emails except to see whether the submission is on time, and on parameters. It's like Forged In Fire. If you're super close but not perfect on format I'll do you a solid - the first time and highlight where to fix it for the future.
Since I did not see these questions answered in your open call/submission instructions or this article:
1. Can you submit a story you've submitted to another anthology with a different publisher?
2. If you've previously published a story that looks to be a perfect fit for one of your anthologies, what is the gap difference, if any between last publication and consideration?
3. If the other company accepts to publish a double submitted story, would it need to be withdrawn from submission to your anthology?
I think I speak for all blind authors when I state that steps 6, 9, and 11 aren't at all helpful. For example, my screen reader announces step 6 as "82d6ff4a-dac7-49e3-a2f8-61f8d33fb2a3_1231x603.webp link." What I would expect is ALT text that describes the prefered format for manuscripts, such as font, font size, margins, line spacing, header/footer, whether to include contact information on the first page, and whether you want a word count (and if so, should I round it to the nearest 100). At the risk of having you automatically route my submission to the reject pile, I'll further state that most authors who fail to follow submission guidelines are often labeled lazy, which makes me wonder what I should call a publisher who provides submission guidelines only via an inaccessible image that lacks ALT text? Kind regards.
This post was written in jest, but your response comes off as entitled and rude. Do you want a response in the same vein?
Below is the content of the image:
Nothing in the header or footer.
Approximate word count follows next line, right alignment.
Author's legal name in the next line, left alignment.
Email address, next line, left alignment. Especially important if you want your contract should your story get accepted for an anthology if you want to get paid.
Next line: Story Title (format as Heading 1 Style), middle alignment.
Next line: Penname (name you would like to appear in print, (format as Heading 2 Style), middle alignment.
Blank space in next line.
Body of the story should be typed in 12-point font, Times New Roman, Georgia or other legible font. Save your document as a .docx file and if you cannot do this, query before submission. Line spacing should be 2, and paragraph first line indentation should be done as layout format. NEVER USE THE TAB KEY. Paragraph first line indentation is exactly as it sounds and can be found on the paragraph menu.
Finally, indicate scene breaks with three asterisks.
The above is too long for ALT text, Mr. Martz. Next time, just ask politely.
Instead of remarking on the actual call for submissions you made a comment on a post that was clearly written as a joke. And if you were being genuine, you might have reached out for clarification, but instead you attempt to ability shame the publisher? Makes me wonder what I should call an author who does that kind of thing. Kindest regards.
Oh, ouch! Thank you for putting us blindies in our place. That ought to teach us to ask for equal access. Even more, thank you for providing your requirements in the same written words that your industry works with every day.
Late to this discussion, as we're off at a convention this weekend. We provide clear and concise *written* instructions for our open calls on our Open Calls page, right at the top, which was linked at the top, in this story. We *also* provide *graphic* information for those who learn best visually. So one article, which has references to our written instructions, as well as graphics for our visual learners (because we have sighted as well as visually impaired authors who work with us) was designed to serve the widest variety of people. We have done our due diligence here.
My word processor (LibreOffice) shows "Space after" in inches, instead of points. Since one point is .0138888889 inches, I'm assuming that my .11" setting is close enough to 8 pts to pass muster.
Since I am that intern, I'll be honest with the authors: I don't read your emails except to see whether the submission is on time, and on parameters. It's like Forged In Fire. If you're super close but not perfect on format I'll do you a solid - the first time and highlight where to fix it for the future.
It fills my inner editor with joy to see your requested format using Styles.
You mean it's NOT a problem if I *don't* use Times New Roman? Bookman may make the book? Woohoo!
I'm kind of surprised that you don't want headers or even page numbers.
Then I remember that I am an Olde Farte and y'all probably don't even print these out where someone could drop them and mix two or more stories up.
What about ... ? Should it be spaced like this: . . . ?
Since I did not see these questions answered in your open call/submission instructions or this article:
1. Can you submit a story you've submitted to another anthology with a different publisher?
2. If you've previously published a story that looks to be a perfect fit for one of your anthologies, what is the gap difference, if any between last publication and consideration?
3. If the other company accepts to publish a double submitted story, would it need to be withdrawn from submission to your anthology?
Thanks for the clarification!
1. You can, we'd rather you didn't, but if you do and the other company bites first we ask you withdraw the story from our open call.
2. The rights need to have reverted to you from the earlier publisher before we will accept it.
3. Yes, see 1.
I think I speak for all blind authors when I state that steps 6, 9, and 11 aren't at all helpful. For example, my screen reader announces step 6 as "82d6ff4a-dac7-49e3-a2f8-61f8d33fb2a3_1231x603.webp link." What I would expect is ALT text that describes the prefered format for manuscripts, such as font, font size, margins, line spacing, header/footer, whether to include contact information on the first page, and whether you want a word count (and if so, should I round it to the nearest 100). At the risk of having you automatically route my submission to the reject pile, I'll further state that most authors who fail to follow submission guidelines are often labeled lazy, which makes me wonder what I should call a publisher who provides submission guidelines only via an inaccessible image that lacks ALT text? Kind regards.
Bruh, do NOT speak for whole groups of people.
This post was written in jest, but your response comes off as entitled and rude. Do you want a response in the same vein?
Below is the content of the image:
Nothing in the header or footer.
Approximate word count follows next line, right alignment.
Author's legal name in the next line, left alignment.
Email address, next line, left alignment. Especially important if you want your contract should your story get accepted for an anthology if you want to get paid.
Next line: Story Title (format as Heading 1 Style), middle alignment.
Next line: Penname (name you would like to appear in print, (format as Heading 2 Style), middle alignment.
Blank space in next line.
Body of the story should be typed in 12-point font, Times New Roman, Georgia or other legible font. Save your document as a .docx file and if you cannot do this, query before submission. Line spacing should be 2, and paragraph first line indentation should be done as layout format. NEVER USE THE TAB KEY. Paragraph first line indentation is exactly as it sounds and can be found on the paragraph menu.
Finally, indicate scene breaks with three asterisks.
The above is too long for ALT text, Mr. Martz. Next time, just ask politely.
Instead of remarking on the actual call for submissions you made a comment on a post that was clearly written as a joke. And if you were being genuine, you might have reached out for clarification, but instead you attempt to ability shame the publisher? Makes me wonder what I should call an author who does that kind of thing. Kindest regards.
"I speak for all blind authors."
Really. I see Homer couldn't be reached for comment.
Oh, ouch! Thank you for putting us blindies in our place. That ought to teach us to ask for equal access. Even more, thank you for providing your requirements in the same written words that your industry works with every day.
Late to this discussion, as we're off at a convention this weekend. We provide clear and concise *written* instructions for our open calls on our Open Calls page, right at the top, which was linked at the top, in this story. We *also* provide *graphic* information for those who learn best visually. So one article, which has references to our written instructions, as well as graphics for our visual learners (because we have sighted as well as visually impaired authors who work with us) was designed to serve the widest variety of people. We have done our due diligence here.
Still looking for the "us" part to show up. Did they not get the memo?
My word processor (LibreOffice) shows "Space after" in inches, instead of points. Since one point is .0138888889 inches, I'm assuming that my .11" setting is close enough to 8 pts to pass muster.
I'm having similar issues matching up the styles. The settings input is just different enough to be a little confusing.