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Craft of Writing

Ann Armstrong

Back to Basics

As with any occupation, writing has its own jargon. Some terms are easy to decipher while others confuse the new writer. In this article, we will be looking at some of the basic terminology and how it applies to the writer.

FNASR: First North American Serial Rights. When you sell these rights, you are selling the right to a magazine (or serial publication) to be the first place where your article or story can be read. While it is permissible to resell the article, it is not okay to sell it to a market where it will be published before it appears in the first magazine or to post it in its entirety to your website.

Reprint Rights: These are the rights that you sell after you have sold FNASR. Congratulations!

SASE: Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope. Editors will use this to respond to your request. Often a #10, business-sized envelope is used (see below).

Disposable Manuscript:  The manuscript can be thrown away instead of returned. This saves the writer an enormous amount on postage as a #10 envelope can be used with only one stamp (in the United States). In the age of home computers and laser printers, this is often more cost effective.

IRC: International Reply Coupon. If submitting to a foreign country, supply the editor/agent with IRCs in place of a SASE.

Unsolicited Manuscripts: complete manuscripts (short story, article or book) that have not been requested in their entirety by the editor/agent.

Slush Pile: Where all the unsolicited manuscripts languish. Don’t despair; many books have been picked from obscurity in the pile and made it to a bookstore near you.

Left Justify: A word processing function, this lines up everything on the left margin, leaving the right margin jagged. A good example of left justify is the format of this article.

Genre: What type of story you are telling. Some standard genres include: inspiration, romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, military.

Query: What the writer uses to sell his/her novel idea to an editor or agent. Comprised of a cover letter, outline, synopsis and sample chapters.

Cover Letter: Short introduction of who you are and what you write. Include any publishing credits if you have them.

Outline: Often written in the present tense, it tells what happens in your story and why. Note: This is not the sort of outline you were required to write in school. It is often told in prose form.

Synopsis: About three paragraphs of what the story is about. Think of what is on the back cover of your favorite novel, and you’ll have an idea of what the editor is looking for.

Sample Chapters: Most often the first three chapters or a predefined number of pages. Check the writer guidelines to see which is preferred. Sample chapters must always start with chapter one and go consecutively.

Simultaneous Submissions: When you send out a query or manuscript to more than one publisher or agent at a time. While some do not mind this, others do. Make sure to check the guidelines where you are submitting.