Question: Proposals as attachments

[BrianY]

When sending a book proposal as an attachment, do you prefer PDF or DOCX?

 

[E G Logan]

I do whatever the agent or publisher asks for. You will most likely find that information on the Submissions page.

 

[BrianY]

Not always ... many just say something like "send queries too ..."

 

[Barbara]

I use a Word doc. No particular reason. It's just what I started.

 

[BrianY]

Sometimes a hunch or a habit is a good place to start.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Great title for a romantacy about someone sending a meal as an attachment to his communique (need a fantasy way to attach a meal to a missive), and the meal symbolizes a marriage proposal.

Back here in our rather boring real world of publishing, docx is preferred. It allows the editor to comment upon the submission without jumping through PDF hoops. PDF stands for Portable Document Format, but in reality it means Portable Printable Format, emphasis on printing to paper. Not designed for online collaboration.

 

[Pamela Jo]

Sometimes a hunch or a habit is a good place to start.

I have heard editors say they resent PDF because they can't write notes or anything on it. And established published writers say they think PDF sends a bad impression.

 

[Ed Simnett]

why not send both? It's free...

 

[Jonny]

Another user of Word here.

I've been doing some querying lately and many agencies specify Word as their preferred. However, I've also seen PDF listed as acceptable.

I'm not a big fan of PDFs simply for the reason they're more of a faff to work with should (for whatever reason) editing be required.

But that's just my own preference and I shouldn't think a PDF submission would equate with hit delete.

 

[BrianY]

Thanks everybody!