GSG Ltd

How to submit

What is an Editor?

Submission Guidelines

Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Word Use

Where to send your work (AFTER reading the above two sections)

We also provide a free e-book for writers who are interested in knowing how to write professionally.

Download it here

This is a zip file containing two pdf files - a read-only version and a print-only version, which will print as a book on letter-sized paper, and must then be folded in half.

What is an Editor?

The role of editors has changed over the past decades. In today’s magazines and newspapers, an editor no long edits anything – except perhaps their own editorial comment column.

Today, editors are spokesmen for the publisher. They are part of the management structure and are tasked with ensuring a publication has an identity that will attract advertising and sell copies. Written content is far down their list of prioritiies. As in the past, it is just something which fills the space between advertisements. In this era of info-tainment, even this purpose has been further diminished.

In respectable publications, there used to be proofreaders. These people acted as ground-level editors – checking all written material for grammar, word and syntax errors and making corrections. This system has been computerized since the late 1980s and software spell checkers have always been part of that system. However, in an era of downsizing and consolidation, proofreaders are all but extinct except in large book publishing houses.

Today, journalists and authors alike are expected to be able to proofread their own material. This is impossible. NO writer can effectively proofread or edit their own writing. They are too familiar with it and will inevitably miss mistakes that a professional reader will spot immediately. Spelling and grammar checkers will not find many obvious errors.

The extent of the errors to be found in every printed publication indicates that proofreaders are still desperately needed.

At GSG Ltd, we have both editors and proofreaders. We believe these are essential to any serious publisher, however small. ALL writing we accept is edited and proofread. To do anything less would be to do half a job.

We work with our writers to ensure that any changes we make reflect their style. We will NOT re-write anything.

Submission Guidelines

GSG Ltd will accept written material for evaluation, from both aspiring and experienced writers.

This is a free service. However, all material is read critically.

Rejection of submitted material is one of the hazards of being a writer. Even bestselling authors have experienced this rejection. However, they did not quit at the first rejection. Neither should you. Develop a thick skin – or give up writing.

The following guidelines are provided as a service to writers. Similar rules apply in every publishing house – but we want writers to be aware of them.

We do not send out rejection form letters.

If your work is returned, it is because it fails in one or more of the following categories – and we will tell you which areas need more work.

However, if your work shows promise, we will tell you so, whatever errors it may contain.

Written material must be original and written by the person(s) submitting it, or a legal representative.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

Submissions accepted for publishing will be edited, but not re-written.

Authors who do not wish their work to be edited should not submit it to GSG Ltd.

Writing is not a simple process. Good writing takes time and requires skill and organization. Don’t rush it. Be sure your work is ready before you send it to us.

If you know you are weak in grammar or spelling, ask a teacher, clergyman or journalist to look your work over for you. Do not be surprised if they refuse. Proofing is a long, tedious job.

All writers improve with practice. Write often. Spend time in a library. Read books, lots of them, including classics.

All writers need constructive criticism in order to improve.

Serious writers know the value of a good editor. An editor’s comments are intended to assist, not discourage, a writer.

There is no excuse for really bad grammar or incorrect spelling. Use a dictionary. Homonyms are not recognized by software spell checkers. Spell checkers will also not tell you if a word is being used incorrectly. Grammar checkers will not find all grammar errors. Consult a grammar reference.

Any submissions requiring extensive changes – to grammar, spelling or syntax - will be returned to the author. We will not proof rough work - unless paid for it.

When works are deemed "unpublishable", it is because the writer’s work is not ready to be exposed to the public eye. It is no favour to an author if a published work invites ridicule. Feel free to submit it elsewhere.

Editors do not edit style. Every writer’s style is individual. That said, the style must be understandable to the editor, or it will not be understandable to other readers.

Editors are not gods. They cannot turn a bad story into a good one.

No submission will be examined if received with fancy fonts and/or clipart. It will be returned forthwith.

Files should be sent in .rtf or plain text with paragraph spacing only. All word processing software can convert material via the "Save As" option. No extra spaces after periods. No indents. Chapter headings should be clearly separated within the body of the document.

Drawings/illustrations may accompany submissions, but should be sent separately.

Either American or Canadian/English spelling is acceptable - but the writer must state which they prefer. Either one or the other - not both.

Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Word Use

It's, its: It's is a contraction for "it is". There is NO other use for this form of the word. The possessive form of the neutral pronoun is exactly like "his" and "hers". They don't have an apostrophe - neither does "its".

"All right", "alright". There is no such word as "alright". It should be spelled as two words, not one. However, "alright" may be acceptable in dialogue where the speaker has a sloppy or imprecise speech pattern. Be sure a character fits this description before using it.

Lazy spelling, such as "nite" for "night", including text message short forms, chat language, "smilies" or other non-standard oddities, will not be accepted. These annoy your editor. You DO NOT want to annoy your editor.

Where acronyms are used, each must be spelled out in full when first used.

Dialogue: Unless a piece of dialogue is followed by a period, the next word is NOT capitalized (unless it is a proper name). This rule applies to ALL other punctuation, including question marks and exclamation marks.
i.e. "Let's go to the movies," he said.
Do not use a period after a piece of dialogue unless a new thought follows it. Read it out loud to be sure.
i.e. "I'm going to the movies." She watched him leave without looking back.
Where dialogue is split by a clause, the following word is NOT capitalized.
ie. "I think I'd like to go to the movies," he said, "but not today."
The exception to this rule is a quotation within the dialogue - which is indicated by single quotation marks, inside the double quotation marks.

Dialogue punctuation. American useage is the standard in North America. End quotation marks are placed outside the period. The exception is words or phrases which are internal quotations within the dialogue. These are indicated by single quotes and the end quote mark is placed INSIDE the period.

There is no excuse for really poor spelling or grammar.
Excellent on-line resources exist and all libraries have extensive reference sections. Use them.

Many dictionaries, including theThe American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, and other dictionaries, may be consulted here:
http://www.bartleby.com/reference/

An excellent, well-explained and comprehensive English grammar guide is located here:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm

If the above has not discouraged you,
you have passed the first test of a writer.

Please submit your work to:

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