Neither Rain Nor Sleet

Hi, all. I was reading one of the latest issues of Writing-World.com and the editor, Moira Allen, was kind enough to post links to new postal rates and a list of stamp combinations.

While most submissions these days are done electronically, you will encounter the occasional editor/publisher/agent who wants paper manuscripts (Best Lesbian Erotica is one example). But even if you never have to send anything to your editor/publisher/agent via snail mail, most of us have to, at some time or another, send review copies, sample copies, contributor copies, and courtesy copies. What are all these hard copies?

Review copies go to publications (both print and online) that might (or might not—don’t count your chickens) print/post a review of your book. Once in a while, someone may ask you for an electronic copy to review, but most likely you will have to send a hard copy.

Sample copies go to people who you feel might carry your books, such as:

* Bookstores or specialty stores (for example, if you write a book about fishing, a sporting goods store might carry it),

* Potential employers (related to your writing, of course—if you’re up for a banking job, don’t show them a copy of your lesbian erotica novel),

* People whom you want to write a blurb for you, or

* Someone who may be able to assist you in some manner with sales or publicity.

Contributor copies—These are copies that are given by editors of anthologies to the contributors of the collections.

Courtesy copies go to anyone who worked on the book or anyone who helped you out and whom you feel deserves a free copy. Courtesy copies should go to your editor (if she is not salaried staff at a publishing house; in the case of most lesbian publishers, editors are freelance), your cover artist (if you hired someone outside of the publisher’s staff), someone who wrote a blurb for you (if they didn’t get a hard copy beforehand), etc.

So, postage is still a consideration for writers and, with that, here are two helpful links. Again, these are courtesy of Moira Allen, editor of Writing-World.com.

A list of first class, media mail and international rates

Combinations of stamps that will add up to the new rates