Submitting for success
Submitting a professional looking manuscript is your first step in making a career as a writer. We'll look at how easy it is to make your manuscript worthy of that all important editor's attention.

It is absolutely critical that you follow the submission guidelines of the markets you submit to. If you single space your manuscript, send an attachment when 'in body' submissions are requested, or otherwise ignore their policies they will not even glance at your manuscript.

That being said, it is fairly easy to do what they ask for and thereby get your manuscript in the slush pile, where it will be read by an editor. If you can do that, you have already surpassed half the competition. It seems absurd that so many people would send in improperly formatted manuscripts, but it is apparently common knowledge.

Here is the Science Fiction Writers of America's manuscript preparation page.

Another example by writer William Shunn.

When you submit, watch out for scams. Writer Beware is part of the Science Fiction Writers of America's effort to help aspiring authors hold on to their money.