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Q&A Page count conversion from single to double-space for submissions

Asking for a certain number of pages, along with particular formatting, can seem like a holdover from a pre-computer age. They forgot to update their requirements! And sometimes it is. But anot...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:40:44Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44951
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T11:49:03Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44951
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T11:49:03Z (almost 5 years ago)
Asking for a certain number of pages, along with particular formatting, can seem like a holdover from a pre-computer age. _They forgot to update their requirements!_ And sometimes it is.

But another way to look at it is to imagine that the publisher will be printing it out. Many probably do. Others may only print out ones that make a final cut. And some may have those huge gorgeous monitors that show an entire easy-to-read page at once.

Whatever the physical machinations they do, consider that they don't want to read 50 pages like it was an email. Or that they want to imagine what your submission would look like in print.

So, format your submission in the standard ways you would use for a printed version. With whatever specifications they choose. Double-spacing is not what they'd use in a book of course, but it is standard for manuscripts so there's room to write notes and corrections. And to be easy on the eye.

The page count they're asking for is _after_ you've done the required formatting. Good luck with it!

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-05-04T16:41:09Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 5