Owmapow Rides Again
by Channie Greenberg
Hi Owen!
I am an editor for the Oceanic line at Harsh Earth Press. I will be the reviewing editor for your book. I have to say, it sounds like a refreshing change from all of the author-writing-in-coffee-shop stories that have come in lately. I will be back to you within three weeks.
Effie
Effie Jones
www.TheHarshEarth.com
Dear Dr. Brownstone,
Thank you for your interest in The Harsh Earth Press. Effie Jones passed your file to me. I read your query and invite you to submit the entire manuscript of Estuary Creature Delights. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you have questions.
Have a great day!
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Effie:
I hope you and Samantha Halibut are refreshed enough to vote “yes!” Please feel free to swim any questions you have about my project to me.
Warmly,
Owmapow
(Dr. Owen Brownstone)
Owmapow:
I reformatted your manuscript to make it easier for us to work with since you have an extra space between each paragraph. Please eliminate the spaces manually and then return your work to us.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Samantha: I am confused. You want me to enjamb the paragraphs? Do you want me to change the spacing from 1.5 lines to 1 line, too? Other?
Owmapow
Owmapow:
The line spacing is fine. You added paragraph spaces between each paragraph, though — not fine.
You never heard the word “enjamb”? It means “to put the paragraphs together like in a real book.” I thought you were a professor.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Samantha:
I’m still confused. I ran the text through Word’s paragraph spacing doohickey and verified that there is no “extra” space between paragraphs. There’s just the 1.5 lines between the end of one paragraph and the beginning of another. That’s the same amount of space as there is among lines in the paragraphs.
I’m a biology professor. I’m also a published writer. Did you read any of my freestanding works, such as: “Crustaceans in Deep Space,” in Creatures and Flowers, “The Care and Feeding of Rabid Hedgehogs” in Smarmy Friends, “The Elephant’s Toe” in Crazed Critters, or “Squamata’s Big Dance” in Squeaks and Roars?
Owmapow
Owmapow:
If you turn on Word’s paragraphing icon you can see it. They show up as paragraph symbols. You know, the backwards “P.”
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Samantha:
I attached a sample page of what I think you are asking for. Please tell me if this is the format you want :(
Owmapow
Owmapow:
That’s exactly right. I don’t mean to be a pain, but it’s the way ALL publishers want to receive manuscripts. Also, IF we go any further, your manuscript will have to be put in this format. AND if I send it to the reading team they, too, will need the proper format.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Samantha:
Phew! Done :) Attached. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Owmapow
Owmapow:
I really enjoy your voice, it’s unique and quirky. I want to send it to the reading team for their evaluation. Meanwhile, there are numerous issues with punctuation as well as some typos. One thing is there isn’t any dialogue. Could you give your manuscript a serious going-over? The manuscript needs to be in the best possible condition when it goes to the reading team, which means it needs the punctuation fixed.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Samantha:
No problem. I’ll be able to have a redo done in 7-10 days (I’m currently in the midst of another project). Would that be okay?
Owmapow
Owmapow:
Whatever works for you. I’m sorry to keep sending your manuscript back, but I want to give it the best shot with the reading team.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Samantha:
Redone, again. Phew! Attached.
Owmapow
Owmapow:
I read your book, once more, and realized that your diction is not fit for the average reader, a requirement of the Oceanic Line, so I sent it to the Academic Line’s editor for her to see if it belongs with her. I’ll be in touch.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Owmapow:
I’m sorry, but your book is too scholarly for the line I edit and insufficiently grounded in peer-reviewed work for Academic Line. Thank you for thinking of The Harsh Earth Press.
Samantha Halibut
Senior Editor, Oceanic Earth
The Harsh Earth Press, Inc.
Copyright © 2019 by Channie Greenberg
