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OFF CAMPUS WRITERS' WORKSHOP:  MANUSCRIPT GUIDELINES
 
 
 
New Manuscript Guidelines

MEMBERS who pay for the entire term (all sessions led by one instructor) may submit manuscripts (ms.) to be critiqued. The fee for every single manuscript, no matter how short, is $15 (plus one-time membership fee and the term fee).

The ms. must fit the term topic (adult fiction, juvenile, adult non-fiction, poetry, screen writing, mystery, for example. Each ms. will be returned with a written critique from the instructor.  Some mss. will be read aloud in class, anonymously, and critiqued by the group as well, at the discretion of the instructor. If you do not want your ms. read aloud, clip a note to the ms., within the envelope -- not on the submission slip. Also, please inform the instructor if your ms. has been read in a previous class. If your ms. is read aloud, you will be asked if you wish to identify yourself after the group discussion. The group discussion often is as valuable as the written critique, and is conducted in a helpful, not disparaging, way.


MAXIMUMS - Total number of pages a writer may submit in a term, whether in 1, 2 or 3 mss., is 20. Please note: Not 20 pg. per ms. if submitting more than one. A double-spaced page generally is 25 lines or 250 words. Noting the total page limit, you may submit up to 3 mss. for a 3 or 4 session term, 1 or 2 mss. for a 2-session term, 1 ms. for a 1-session term. An instructor may, for personal reasons, limit the number of submissions.  Such restrictions will be announced or posted in the Bulletin.

EXCEPTIONS -
Poetry:  up to 6 poems is one poetry ms. Each poem should be on a separate page.
Query letters (if that is the term topic): up to 3 letters, no more than 2 pages each, is one query ms.

FORMAT - Mss. must be double spaced on 8-1/2 x 11 inch white paper. Leave wide margins for instructor's notes. Prepare as if submitting to an editor or publisher.

Top left corner of page 1, your name, instructor's name, OCWW and word count. Each page thereafter, include your last name, page number, "slug" or key word from title. For further reference, see Writer's Market.

PROCEDURE: Up to 1 week before first session of each term, you may mail ms. to instructor. DO NOT MAIL MONEY to instructor. Make checks for manuscript critiques payable to the speaker, not to OCWW. We collect the payment and forward it to the speaker. Don't send any money directly to speaker. Addresses and any further information will be in Bulletin. First session of term, fill out Submission Slip and pay fees at Registration Desk. If you bring a ms., attach Submission Slip to OUTSIDE of envelope with payment, and give to Ms. Chair or Treasurer at Registration Desk. No mss. on last day of term. You are strongly urged to be at the session following your submission.
 
Enclose ms. in large manila envelope (1 ms. per envelope). Always include your name, "OCWW," instructor's name on outside.

PLEASE NOTE - Our instructors kindly offer a  reduced rate for critiques during sessions only.  If you enter into any agreement for a ms. critique with the instructor after OCWW sessions have been completed, OCWW is not responsible for either the negotiated fee or any matters that may arise regarding the manuscript(s).

 

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