Mystery of the Day
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Scientific research has confirmed our suspicions: 97.839% of manuscripts written in Courier are epically, wildly, apocalyptically terrible. Better switch to Times or Helvetica, y'all. Sorry. We know they're boring.
CLARIFICATION: What we meant was that 97.839% of writers who use Courier are epically, wildly, apocalyptically terrible. Sorry if that was vague. As far as what you should use for your ms, Times is industry standard, but the only font that will cause us to reject your book without even looking at it is Papyrus.
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Oooh, I hate Courier. Courier is the font the devil uses when he types your suicide note.
I dislike Courier, too. I wonder why?
I can take it, of course. It's not MT Curlz. Writers should know that most people work in TNR, though.
We also noticed a brief trend of extremely well-written query letters in Minion.
I had to go check because mine is written in Word's default since I almost never think to change the font. It is apparently Times New Roman. Good to know I still have a chance.
I cannot beat Ink's comment.
It is the devil's font.
Verification Word: dectoses-Fear of the number ten.
For what it's worth, I think there's a myth out there among writers that publishing people always want Courier... even though 90% of the publishing people I've met seem to prefer TNR (as long as it's double spaced - though, I admit, I prefer single spacing). So if you're among the publishing folk it wouldn't hurt to put it out there that TNR double-spaced is super duper.
"... and I have submitted my 500,000 word historical fiction MS in Edwardian Script, to set the mood for the editor..."
So you're saying a manuscript written in Courier still has a 2.161% chance of not enduring epically, wildly, and apocalyptically terrible failure?
Sweet.
At least it's not Comic Sans. I hate that font.
Whenever I get a submission in Courier, the first two things I do upon opening it are NOT:
1. Read it
2. Consider whether to accept it
They are:
1. Ctrl-A
2. Select Font: Times New Roman
Thank you! An opinion on this! I've searched myself blind looking for the answer to what font queries should be sent in. One site recommended to print out several versions and see which was most legible. I wanted to hunt that person down and step on their head. It's a font not a Pollock for crying out loud... there should be a right answer.
(I used Pollock just to be annoying, by the way.)
I personally feel like Chiller is the perfect font for a manuscript, but I can't seem to get a response to my queries other than 1-800 numbers that end in -HELP.
I use Palatino. Dunno why. Always have.
So that's what was wrong with my first novel. Happy day! I shall reformat, resend, and reap the benefits!
Right? That's what you're saying, right?
Sadly, dear Rejectionist, I don't believe in straight marriage. But perhaps we could get some kind of (un)civil union in one of those un'merican Yankee blue states?
Grits & Nascar,
Ay-rick
Ay-rick,
I was seriously getting excited about that wedding. Had a dress picked out and everything. Even made a crowd sign for the cameras: "Do Not Self-Publish"..."Or Use Courier Font"...(strike that - clarification needed)..."Or Suck at Writing No Matter What the Font, Unless It's Papyrus"
(Unnecessary quotation brought to you by Nathan Bransford)
~Lid'ja
We are totally happy with a gay wedding. Just saying.
Nooooo! But Papyrus is the perfect font for my olde-tymey futuristic gritty novel about Earthy people who dress in brown and say "'Struth!" all the tyme! Er, time.
Also, http://www.ihatepapyrus.info/blog/
I fought Word for months over the font. You know what the original default font was? Calibri!
CALIBRI!
Who the hell uses calibri? For anything?!?
As far as gay weddings go, I don't see why the right to say "I take thee to be my lawfully wedded spouse" to whomever you want to say it to isn't protected under the first amendment*. Guess I'm just a big silly.
*Provided they're an adult and, you know, human.
Really? Not even Webdings?
How about Matisse?
BTW, just wanted to clarify. That caveat about marrying humans wasn't intended as any kind of a subtle slur against anyone. A few years ago a local guy here "married" a shetland pony.
I hate Times. Will stick to courier and keep being part of the 2.161 % that make it with courier.
But then, I write in German for the German speaking market. Maybe things are different here in Europe ;-)
1. Can we also just put it out there that fonts other than arial/times new roman are inappropriate in email signatures as well? Bright pink comic sans and/or any sort of stationary just doesn't do it for me.
2. @Loretta Ross - how did you get word to switch the default? you're in Word 2007, yes?
Evil Word 2007, yes. I don't remember how I got it to switch, but when I get home from work tonight I'll try to figure it out and let you know. ;)
This is an old one from College Humor, but damn, it holds up. (And if you haven't seen it, you must check it out.)
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Font Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3k5oY9AHHM
I'm going to submit all my manuscripts in Comic Sans from now on then.
(The Shark doesn't read this blog, does she?)
I wondered why Calibri is the default because not all programs even support Calibri. People I asked about it had no idea what the font even was. I'd love to know how to fix it.
I don't care for Times. It seems too stiff. Garamond... garamond is my preferred font. I like Century Gothic, but there isn't really a matching "heading" style in my opinion. I like the question marks in Century Gothic. They're happy, but I'm easily entertained.
Crap, today I find out I'm apocalyptically terrible, and suicidal.
And I love my pony, thank you very much, so leave us alone. There's too much discrimination in the world already, too many anti-Courierites and too may pony-haters. Can't we all just get along?
Kael - you snark on writers, but don't let them post anonymously in order to respond to you in kind.
Why is that?
I would think a guy like you could 'take it' at least just a teeny eensy bit.
Or am I wrong? Are you too.....soft to let alittle free discussion happen?
I like Palatino.
And Garamond. And Century Gothic.
We have a tattoo in 72-point Goudy Text, if you want to know how much we love our personal favorite, but we are also very partial to Caslon, and the Jenson family, and we like Mrs. Eaves even though it is getting to be a little overused. Cheltenham is our most beloved underdog of typefaces. Garamond is nice for when we are feeling frisky. Romulus is kind of quirky but often appropriate. Sometimes we crush out a little bit on Aldus Manutius and his genius, but F-Gouds is totally our hero.
How to change the default font in Word 2007:
First make sure your tool bar is on "home". The second group of commands from the left should all be font-related. If they are not, click on "home".
Once you have that group of font-related commands at your disposal, look for a little square with a sort of an arrow thingie in the corner in the lower right-hand corner of the section of commands dealing with fonts. Click on it and a window will pop up showing what font you're currently using.
Choose the font and font size you prefer from the drop-down boxes in this window, then click on the "default" button in the lower left-hand corner of the window. Another little window will pop up telling you you are about to change your default font to whatever you've just told it to change your default font to and asking you if you're sure you really want to do that.
Snarl at it some and click on "yes" and Bob's, as they say, your uncle! :)
Clear as mud?
Boo yah! Changed! Take that, Calibri. Thank you, Loretta.
So Wingdings are a definite out, unless you are an alien. And Papyrus begs to be an Egyptian family drama that never quite materializes. Oh King Tut.
We have a lot of writers using a LOT of scary fonts on our website, something we are constantly (and actively) trying to eliminate before they send their work to your weary, Garamond-loathing eyes. :)
My default is Calibri, too. Before submitting I was going to change everything to Courier because I had heard the rumor mentioned up-thread. Thank goodness for the Internet and a helpful Rejectionist!
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