Help (FAQs)


faq-650x500Have you found all the answers you were looking for by browsing www.sparkslit.com? If not, maybe our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) can help.

 

I want to have my manuscript evaluated, where do I send it?

Our mailing address is 139 25th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2M2A4

 

 I live locally; can I drop my manuscript off in person?

Only with an appointment and please be aware that we charge a consultation fee of $150.00 per hour for in-person meetings. If you would like to discuss your manuscript prior to submitting it, please phone us first, during regular business hours, MST:  (403)512-2032.

 

 How do I properly format my manuscript?

All manuscripts submitted to Sparks Literary Consultants, Inc. must be properly formatted. The standard manuscript format is:

Double-spaced

Single-sided

12-14 pt. font

1” (normal) margins

Paginated (pages are numbered sequentially)

Unbound

Include a title page with your name, phone number, email, and mailing address

 

Do I need to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with my manuscript submission?

Yes, we will use the SASE you’ve included to return your evaluated manuscript and our evaluation. Make sure the envelope is the appropriate size and has the right amount of stamps–actual stamps; mailing labels are time sensitive and will no longer be usable by the time your manuscript reaches us.

 

Do I need to include a cover letter with my Manuscript Submission?

A cover letter isn’t strictly necessary, but it is a good idea. Let us know a bit about yourself, the manuscript, and what your dreams are for it. Do you envision landing a contract deal with a traditional publisher? Do you want to self-publish it? Are you just not sure what to do with it at all? Let us know, so we can point you in the right direction.

 

Do I need to copyright my manuscript before I submit it?

Copyright laws vary from country to country. In Canada, work such as illustrations and manuscripts provide a tangible medium for protection. Accordingly, copyright is automatic under common law once the work has been created. However, while registration isn’t mandatory, the Canadian government has provided an avenue for statutory registration (www.cipo.gc.ca), and, from an evidentiary point of view, this is important.

Many authors double-register their manuscript and mail the document to their own addresses. This is known as “poor man’s copyright.” We recommend registration by accessing the aforementioned website and following the directions prior to submitting your manuscript.

Traditional publishing and self-publishing create a myriad of copyright, and in some cases trademark, concerns for the author. We are able to address these specific concerns by introducing you to an experienced intellectual property lawyer.

 

Why does Sparks Literary Consultants Inc. charge fees?

Because we are consultants and, as explained throughout this website, we put a lot of time and effort into working with our authors to prepare them for the potential of publishing.

 

So, I’ll submit my manuscript and pay the evaluation fee–can you guarantee you’ll make me rich and famous?  

No, no we can’t. Success in the publishing world depends on a number of variables–the quality of your writing, your chosen genre, your agent’s ability to sell your work, the publishers’ quotas and budgets, timing, and a little bit of luck. We don’t know the magic formula for selling a million copies of your book. No one does.

What we can guarantee is that we’ll evaluate your manuscript fairly and constructively and, if we represent your work, we’ll do so to the best of our abilities. We’ll be upfront and honest with you throughout your publishing process.