BY KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK AND SAM BARRY

The Author Enablers are here to answer your questions about writing and publishing. Together, Kathi and Sam have more than 25 years of experience in book publishing. Kathi is an author, radio producer and former publicist; Sam is a marketing manager at a major publishing company and a freelance editor. They are also proud members of the Rock Bottom Remainders, the all-author rock band founded by Kathi in 1992.

Does size matter?

Dear Author Enablers,

There are a lot of differing opinions on formatting the novel. Is the slug line that goes at the upper left-hand corner of the manuscript in standard 12 pt. or smaller? Also, is there a "bible" for complete formatting?
—Amy Beauchamp

What the heck is a slug line? And why are you so worried about what size it is? Actually, our web dictionary defines this as "a line of type containing identifying information placed in a tray of type and intended to be removed before printing," what many people call a header or footer. Although we can imagine hot-headed, passionate writing-group discussions over the size of a slug line font, we have never heard of this making or breaking a book deal. If your proposal and writing are terrific, no one will say, "but that slug line font! We can't buy a book with a slug line in that font!"

The simple answer is that manuscripts should be submitted in double-spaced, 12 pt., easy-to-read type. Most of the agents we know prefer a printout on loose pages, rather than digital files or bound documents, because they need room to write notes in the margins and in between the lines of your manuscript. Make sure you've inserted an identifying header (or slug line), and a number on each page, so that bits of your manuscript don't get lost.

As for that bible, Elaine Petrocelli, owner of Book Passage in Corte Madera, California, recommends Writer's Market from Writer's Digest Books as a good place to look for more specific guidelines.

Dear Author Enablers,

I have worked in libraries for many years. After my retirement, I hope to devote more time to fiction writing. I have read that many publishers won't invest in an older first-time novelist because he or she doesn't have the potential for a long, money-making career ahead.
—L. Stein

Take a glance around that library and notice how many books are by authors who were not spring chickens when they were first published. The beautiful thing about being a writer, as opposed to, say, being a sports hero or a rock star, is that age and looks don't matter so much; your proposal does not have to reveal your age at all. For some books, age can be a plus. If you lived through World War II, for example, you may be considered a more credible authority on a book set during that time than a younger author.

This isn't to say that publishers don't care about appearance—they can be just as shallow as the rest of our culture. If a publicist is setting up interviews, she'll want to know that you are presentable, appealing and energetic. Your age is far less important to publishers than the appeal of your writing to a large potential audience of book buyers. That said, you might want to avoid pitching your book to trendy, obviously youth-oriented imprints.

Dear Author Enablers,

My completed novel, Madame Veep, is a 333-page chick lit thriller that has been rejected eight times by agents who have not read a page of it. I knew it was tough to sell a first novel, but I had expected my work to be rejected on its own merits, not sight-unseen. How do I get an agent to look at my book if I do not know anyone who can introduce me?
—Suzanne Rorhus

Your question is one of many we've received along similar lines. It can be frustrating trying to get an agent's attention, and in today's market it's tougher than ever. Among other opportunities, writers' conferences offer authors a chance to meet literary agents and acquisition editors. Conferences aren't cheap, and there's no guarantee of landing an agent or a publishing deal. But a good conference will teach you a lot about how the book business works, and you will have a chance to network like crazy. Most important, you will be able to indulge in the luxury of thinking about nothing but your writing for a few days. Look for a Writers' Conference Roundup in an upcoming column, in which we'll point BookPage readers to good conferences taking place all over the U.S.A. And if you've been to a writers' conference recently, we invite you to e-mail us with comments on your experience.

Thanks for writing,
THE AUTHOR ENABLERS