[erinobrien Posts: 50 Status: Offline]

There are no dumb questions, right?  :

I've only subbed via Submittable but am snail mailing my first magazine piece. It's only two pages, and I'm wondering if it's okay to fold my submission & SASE & mail in a regular (long) envelope. I've seen as much "do not fold" advice as I have "it doesn't matter" advice. So, I thought I'd ask here just out of curiosity. What do you guys do?

[jeanne k Posts: 77 Status: Offline WWW]

I have been published in Highlights and other magazines and I always fold.

[HaroldU Posts: 890 Status: Offline WWW]

As an editor, I always found it a bit silly when people sent 2 or 3-page manuscripts unfolded in large envelopes. Fold away!

[Nanci Posts: 54 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

For submissions of 2-3 pages, plus a SASE, I send unfolded
in a large envelope, mostly because of the SASE. It just would
seem too bulky, all of that crammed into a regular-sized envelope.

[erinobrien Posts: 50 Status: Offline]

Thanks for your responses!

[Ev Posts: 4,528 Status: Offline Making learning fun! WWW]

If it's 2-3 pages, I fold and send in a long envelope.

If it's 3-6 pages, I fold once and send in a 6"x 9" envelope. I bought a box of 250 of these at an office supply store several years ago and have found them really helpful. You still pay only the regular-envelope postage for this size, but folding just once makes it not so bulky. (If you're doing this, don't get the envelopes with metal clasps--at least several years ago, the Post Office made me pay extra for that kind of envelope. I don't know if that's still true.)

If it's more than 6 pages, I send in a big envelope and don't fold.

In the first two cases, be sure the thickness of the envelope doesn't exceed the Post Office's limit. Some post offices seem more strict about this than others. 

[jeanne k Posts: 77 Status: Offline WWW]

Not to beleaguer it, but a couple times I've sent four pages to Highlights (three poems and a cover letter) along with a folded SASE in a standard envelope with one stamp with no problems whatsoever and some acceptances, too.

I say don't sweat it too much.

But, it's always important to read the submissions guidelines. I recently sent a PB manuscript to a publisher (I can't remember which right now) that specifically asked for things unfolded in a large envelope. It wasn't a magazine, but it's good to remember to read everything carefully. If they don't specify, you should do whatever works for you. Just be neat with your folding and stuffing.

[SavannahHendricks Posts: 38 Status: Offline WWW]

My rule is always magazine submissions = fold. Book manuscripts = no fold, big envelope