by judyatlarge

Created on: August 19, 2008

Shipping manuscripts (mss)need not be a bothersome task. Most post offices sell padded envelopes in many different sizes as well as sturdy manila envelopes for smaller mss. If yours does not, try a good office supply or stationery store. Choose the shipping container that best fits your manuscript.*

1. A manuscript (ms) of 50 pages or less will usually fit into a manila envelope with a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) inside.

2. 50-150 will fit nicely in a number 5 padded envelope.

3. 150 300 pages can travel well in a number 6 or 7 padded envelope.

4. 300 450 are best shipped in a number 8 padded envelope or a ms box.

5. No matter what the size of your ms, if shipping in a padded bag or manila envelope, lay your pages flat and add a sheet of thin cardboard exactly the same size to both top and bottom of the stack. Then, slide an elastic band around the bundle on the 8 side, then another, slightly larger, the around the 11" length. This will keep the pages from slipping around within the bag and helps prevent bending of the corners and, in the case of the manila envelope, the entire ms.

6. Address the package in legible block letters to the publisher. If you have queried an editor/agent and he or she has asked to see the full manuscript, print "requested material" on the outside. Have the post office weigh the manuscript in the first bag along with another of equal size. Place sufficient postage on it the one containing the ms. Print your own address on the second bag along with sufficient postage for its return. Fold the SASE return bag in half end-to-end, gently slide it into the original envelope and send it.

7. If you're sending your work to a foreign country, you can use International Reply Coupons to have your material returned, but bear in mind, each one buys only one first class postage stamp in the country to which you are sending. That will, of course not be sufficient to return your ms., but only for a letter. In this case, your cover letter should state that you do not expect return of the pages and ask that they be recycled. Regardless of where or to whom you are sending your ms, it's always best to include a business-size SASE

8. If you are sending your ms by courier, the courier company often prefers you to use their envelopes, which are tough and light. Most I have dealt with will also give you a second envelope to put inside for prepaid return of your work if you desire. But again, please note #4 when preparing the ms for shipping. For those smaller mss, courier companies provide free cardboard envelopes for this purpose along with prepaid return envelopes.

A manuscript over 450 pages should be shipped in a manuscript box so it will arrive in better condition. Manuscript boxes come in a variety of sizes and are usually sold in sets, a slightly smaller one that fits into the larger one. Again, address the smaller one to yourself and put on sufficient postage for its return. Set it inside the larger one, address it to the publishing house and add the postage. Manuscript boxes are available at some post offices, as well as stores such as Office Depot and Staples. Again, choose the correct size for your manuscript to fit into, affix your address to the inner box, place that one in the larger box and address it to the publisher, always remembering to put sufficient return postage on the inner box so the publisher can return your manuscript if it does not suit the company's needs.

*Standard, 8 " by 11" pages of 20 lb. bond paper

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