6/4/2023 0 Comments Whats a manuscriptAuthors should summarize and cite previous research relevant to the current study and highlight the gap in knowledge being filled by the present research. The introduction should explain the rationale behind the current study, placing the research topic and study within the context of the current research landscape. The Statement of Relevance should be on a separate page and no longer than 150 words. It should make clear why the questions that motivated the study and the findings that bear on them matter beyond psychology laboratories and college and university campuses. The aim of the Statement of Relevance is to broaden the impact of the science reported in the journal and make it easier for interested readers to appreciate and understand our efforts. The Statement of Relevance should explain why the research reported in the submission is of interest and significance beyond the specific sub-area in which it is situated and, ideally, to the public at large. Five to seven relevant keywords should be listed directly under the abstract on the same page. The abstract should be on a separate page and be no longer than 150 words. The structure described here applies to all articles other than Commentaries. Authors for whom English is not their first language or who have limited experience with APA style are advised to seek input from a skilled and knowledgeable English reader familiar with APA style. Other considerations regarding elements of Psychological Science submissions can be found below. Manuscripts must be submitted in the style of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, with the exception that figures and tables should be embedded within the main text near to where they are discussed rather than at the end of the manuscript. In other words, it’s the literary equivalent of not turning up to your job interview in a messy t-shirt, but in this case the crisp ironed shirt is an error-free and carefully proofread manuscript.Manuscript Structure, Style, and Content Guidelines It demonstrates that you know what you’re doingĪnd finally, formatting your manuscript correctly shows that you respect and understand the industry standards, suggesting that you’ll be professional and easy to work with. That way, you can save agents and publishers from combing through email threads or meeting notes to get the information they want. The standard professional manuscript will also have a cover page that includes your book’s title, genre, word count, and contact details. They will have all the information that agents and editors need Some may also prefer to read hard copies of manuscripts, and if so they’ll appreciate having the page number and references to the title at the top of every page: if they find random sheets on their desk, they’ll know which manuscript it belongs to. They’re easy to read and manageĪt the most basic level, agents and editors find it easiest to read manuscripts in standard format - if it looks the way they’re used to, they won’t be distracted. But when it’s time to share your book with agents and publishers - whose first impressions could make or break your career - you need to ensure your manuscript doesn’t stand out for the wrong reasons, like unprofessional formatting. You can even write your manuscript on a legal pad if you like (and some authors do). When you’re writing a first draft that’s for your eyes only, there’s no “wrong” manuscript format. While manuscripts were once printed and unbound stacks of paper, these days, they’re usually digital files.įun fact: The word comes from Latin for “handwritten.” Why must authors use a standard manuscript format? Requirements don’t often vary much between agents, but it’s always worth checking their website for anything specific or unique. It also includes a title page and page headers, and will be formatted according to the guidelines set out by the agent you’re submitting to (single- or double-spaced, font, font size, etc). The manuscript you’ll send to literary agents and publishers is more than just a document with your rough draft, though. Or, to put it another way, it’s your book before it gets published. What is a book manuscript?Ī manuscript is an early draft of a novel, nonfiction work, or short story collection. Here’s a quick look at manuscripts and why they should look they way they look. So before you start querying editors or literary agents, you need to make sure your manuscript looks like like the work of someone who understands the industry. Everyone in the publishing industry will expect you to format your manuscript in a very specific way.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |