I've been told that 'disposable' manuscripts are completely OK with editors, in fact they find it easier to deal with than stuffing the MSS back into a tiny envelope and dealing with the sealing et cetera. You can still send a regular business-sized SASE, that's easy to keep in with the MSS and if they're going to buy the book, they'll not mind springing for a bigger envelope and more postage to accommodate a contract, et cetera.

And yes, most of the editorial houses do recycle all that paper, which adds up to quite a bit!

Oh, in the old days, I never asked for an ms back; Marlene has a horror story about sending one off and getting it back reeking of cigarette smoke. Not something you'd send out to the next agent or editor.

Hmm. Is there any good reason to want the manuscript back, or is that an artifact of the days where it wasn't quite so easy to print/copy a fresh one at will?

That's an artifact of the old days. Save yourself and them the postage, and just include the SASE. They won't mark it up unless they want to buy it.

I think Office Depot and Staples have appropriate-sized boxes; you might check.

On the copy vs. laser print issue, go with whatever's cheapest. As long as the photocopy is readable, the editor's not going to care.

See in the old days, printing on the laser was way cheaper than photocopying. Office Depot has the house brand reams of paper for about $4; at three cents a page, copying 400 pages is $12.

Our HP laserjet gets a lot of pages off a cartridge, plus it's there, in the house; saves the added shlepping to Kinkos.

We have an inkjet. Cartridges are where the manufacturer makes the profit; the last one was $35.00.

The cartridges fo the laser printer are pricier than that - about $60 - but we get about 10,000 pages off it.

A laser printer is on our wish list, but right now it's behind baby furniture and supplies and replacing my computer, which is getting to be quite vintage as a 1998 model.

Anyone care to look over the body of the cover letter I'm going to send with my partial to HarperCollins? While I'm also including a 5-7 page synopsis according to the editor's instructions, I included some of the brief synopsis Deb helped me with in the cover letter because it just seemed like the smart thing to do. Hook 'em a little from the start, y'know? Anyway, here goes:

I enjoyed meeting you at the Emerald City Writers Conference in early October. Enclosed for your consideration are a synopsis and the first 100 pages of my Regency-set historical, Lucy and Mr. Wright.

Lucy Jones is a poor relation, raised to be a governess. She is ready to do her duty, but dreams of marrying her cousin Julius, a handsome cavalry officer temporarily home from the war. She is a dutiful niece to the aunt who raised her, and a loyal sister determined to ensure that her many younger brothers and sisters have a chance at a decent start in life.

When her wealthy relatives face a sudden reversal of fortune, Lucy’s only option is to marry James Wright, a handsome and wealthy young man she has known for less than a month. James is arrogant and impulsive, and Lucy is certain he does not have the steady character and good principles that she so admires in Julius. After all, before his impulsive proposal to her, he had given every evidence of trying to seduce her engaged cousin Portia.

Before this Cinderella and her Prince Charming can find their happily ever after, James must learn to compromise and to admit that he occasionally makes mistakes. Lucy must open her eyes and recognize that love is not always a simple and sweet emotion.

I have begun work on a sequel featuring James’s sister Anna and her adventures behind enemy lines in the Peninsular War, and I plan a third book about Portia.

For your convenience, I have enclosed a reply envelope. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Cereal:

Deb, I was just poking around the Seattle Public Library website, putting books on hold so I'll have plenty to read over Thanksgiving, and I looked up Weaver. If they hadn't ordered it yet, I planned to put in a request for it. They've ordered four copies, which IME is good for them.

WHOO!

Thanks, Susan. Looks like the Library Journal review got read.

The cover letter looks fine and of course, you know I love the synopsis: just what it's supposed to do.

Is this going to Marlene as well, or is she just getting the entire MS?

Forgive the leaky brain; the party is tomorrow and I'm so tired I can barely see.