Susan, that is such exciting news. Sending much fall-in-love-instantly~ma her way.

I can't believe I'm asking this, since I'm usually the kind of person who knows this stuff, but when you send an editor or agent a partial, do you use a binder clip or just leave the pages lose? (This particular partial is going to come in around 70 pages counting the synopsis, so a regular paper clip wouldn't do the job.)

Rubber band, Susan.

Rubber band

Seriously?

Well, you don't want to staple, in case somebody wants to take pages home.

For something this short? I thought that was just for full manuscripts, once you're in 200-page-plus territory.

I can't imagine a binder clip being substantially different than either a regular paper clip or a rubber band -- they are all easily removed ways to keep papers together, just for different volumes of paper.

I know. I'm just in the irrational stage of preparing a submission where I'm afraid one tiny meaningless misstep will reveal me to be a Rank Amateur whose work is only fit to be sneered at and used as a coaster for the agent's morning latte.

Hey, I said it was irrational.

I mean, I've gone so nuts that I just went to Amazon to confirm the spellings of the names of all the authors in the paragraph where I talk about what kind of readers might like my work. (I don't say, "I am the next Susie Bestseller," since that's arrogant, and what if she hates Susie Bestseller? It's more, "I believe my work would appeal to readers who enjoy the blahbitty blah romances of Jane Popular and Mary Longcareer and the historical fiction Joe Critically-Acclaimed and Bob Pageturner.")

I know how to spell their names. I do. I mean, I've read their books. But I was so afraid of being like all those people who rave about "Jane Austin" that I looked it up to be sure.

I haven't done this seriously since 2003. I have to work through this neurotic phase for the first submission or two.

I hear you, but I think it's safe to not worry about it, unless you have received specific instructions.

Edit: About the binding, not the spelling. You're right to quadruple check the spelling. And then your typing.