1st Step to Get Published - for writers, agents and publishers

To receive posting instructions you need to first register your work. Once you've registered your work (submitted a synopsis, word count etc.) you'll receive an email from us containing posting instructions. It usually arrives in a few minutes--wait for it to arrive--you can't post your work without it.

3. You said I'd receive posting instructions, but I haven't - why?

There are several possibilities:

Wrong email address:
Did you enter your email address correctly when you registered as a Member? Check here to find out. If your email address is not correct, modify it, then hit the update manuscript button under the title in question. This will send off another email to your correct address.

Your Work is Not Yet Registered:
Did you successfully register your work? Check here to see if your title is listed. If not, complete the manuscript registration form.

Your mail server is slow:
If your email is correct and your work is registered, our automated system did send off posting instructions, so the mail server at your ISP may be slow or the email may have gotten lost. To receive a second email from RoseDog click here and hit the button 'Update Manuscript' under the title in question.

4. I've sent my work but it is not appearing - why?

This means your manuscript cannot be processed by our automated posting system as you sent it to us. Do not re-send your work or you will simply repeat your earlier mistakes. Wait - you will hear from us, usually within 24 hours. We will attempt to post your work ourselves and also let you know how to fix your errors.

5. How do I make the Plain Text file attachment you need?

Here are instructions for the most popular word processing programs--select the one you use to type your work and see how easy it is:

Using 'WORD':
Open your Word document and under the 'File' menu choose 'Save As,' then specify 'Save as type: text only (.txt).' That's it--you're done!
Note: if you open the Plain Text file don't be surprised by the length of the lines. Sometimes a single line can represent an entire paragraph. Do NOT shorten the lines by inserting hard-returns ('Enter' key), or your work will break up on RoseDog.

Using 'WORKS' and 'WORDPERFECT':
Open your work in Works/WordPerfect and 'Copy' all you wish to send to RoseDog. Next, open NotePad. Do this by clicking on the 'Start' button in the lower left-hand corner of your screen then selecting Programs, Accessories, then NotePad. Just 'Paste' the work you copied from Works/WordPerfect into the NotePad file that opens on your screen and save the NotePad file. That's it--you're done!
Note: if you open the NotePad file don't be surprised by the length of the lines. Sometimes a single line can represent an entire paragraph. Do NOT shorten the lines by inserting hard-returns ('Enter' key), or your work will break up on RoseDog.

MACINTOSH: Open your work and 'Copy' all you wish to send to RoseDog. Next, check your list of programs/software for a program called 'Simple Text.' Open that program and 'Paste' the work sample you selected into the file that opens on your screen. Name your file. If your system does not automatically add an extension to your file name, you need to add a '.txt' extension yourself. Example; if saving your file produces a file named 'excerpt', you need to add '.txt,' giving 'excerpt.txt.'
Note: if you open the Simple Text file don't be surprised by the length of the lines. Sometimes a single line can represent an entire paragraph. Do NOT shorten the lines by inserting hard-returns ('Enter' key), or your work will break up on RoseDog.

6. What else should I check for in the file I send to RoseDog?

Please remove any page numbering, headers or footers - they will appear in the wrong place on RoseDog, where there are many combinations of page size and font.

If you tend to insert a hard-return ('Enter' key) at the end of each line when you type your work, you MUST remove these hard-returns. This is because page and font sizes vary from reader to reader on RoseDog, so your line-breaks will probably fall in the wrong place and break up your sentences. The only hard-returns in your text should be two hard-returns to denote paragraph breaks.

7. I keep re-sending my work but it doesn't appear - why?

Do not re-send your work. If it does not appear within minutes of your sending it the first time, your submission cannot be processed by our automated posting system as you sent it to us. Wait - you will hear from us, usually within 24 hours. We will attempt to post your work ourselves and also let you know how to fix your errors for the future.

8. I wrote to you at manuscripts@rosedog.com but haven't received a reply - why?

When you send your work to manuscripts@rosedog.com you are sending it to a machine set up only to receive and post manuscripts. It cannot reply to emails.

To communicate with a person, write to rosedog@rosedogbooks.com, or use one of the 'Contact Us' or 'Feedback' links in the margin.

9. How do I 'attach' my work to an email?

Different email programs work differently. In general you will see in your email program a button carrying a paperclip symbol, or the word 'Attach.' Click on that button to send us your work as an attachment. You will be prompted to select the file you wish to attach and to confirm that it is to be attached, so make sure you follow all the necessary steps.

10. What are those '1s and 0s' you sent me?

They are really important. Manuscripts on RoseDog are posted by software not people. Our system 'reads' the block of 1s and 0s in order to find out your name and the title under which it should post your work.

Do not delete the parentheses and '%' symbols at the beginning and end of your blocks of 1s and 0s and always take care to 'copy' then 'paste' the whole section into the message part of the email to which your work sample is attached.

Do NOT paste the 1s and 0s into the subject line of your email, or in your manuscript - only into the message part of the email.

11. Are all the blocks of 1s and 0s the same?

No. Each title posted to RoseDog has a distinct set of 1s and 0s. If you have several titles posted to RoseDog make sure you use the correct set each time you post or revise work.

12. Where do I put the block of 1s and 0s when I send you my work?

Always 'copy' the whole block of 1s and 0s and 'paste' it into the message part of the email to which you attach your work. Do not paste the 1s and 0s in the subject line, nor in your manuscript. If you do not include the 1s and 0s with your work, our automated posting system will not know where to post your work and will reject your submission.

13. How do I 'copy and paste' the block of 1s and 0s you sent to me?

Treat them as you would any paragraph you want to copy and paste elsewhere. Just place your cursor in front of the first parenthesis, keep the pressure on your left mouse button and 'drag' your mouse across the entire section until it is highlighted. Then click with your right mouse button in the center of the highlighted area and choose the option 'copy.'

Then create a new email, click with your right mouse button in the message part of the email and choose 'paste.'

14. I've lost the block of 1s and 0s for one of my titles - help!

To request a new set of 1s and 0s for any title, just click here then hit the button 'Update Manuscript' under the title in question. This triggers off an email to you from our automated posting system containing the block of 1s and 0s you need for this title.

15. The wrong work is posted under the wrong title - why?

Don't worry! You have mixed up your blocks of 1s and 0s. To correct the situation just re-send each title making sure you use the corresponding block of 1s and 0s this time.

To request a new set of 1s and 0s for any title click here then hit the button 'Update Manuscript' for the title in question. This triggers off an email to you from our automated posting system containing the block of 1s and 0s you need.

16. The sentences in my work on RoseDog keep breaking up - what's happening?

RoseDog's automated posting system reproduces what you send to it. If your sentences break up on RoseDog, this is because our posting software is faithfully reproducing hard-returns ('Enter' key) found in the file attachment you sent to us.

To fix this, remove the unnecessary hard-returns from the file attachment then re-send as before. Your new version will replace the old one automatically.

If you are sure you did not type in the hard-returns yourself, then it is probable that you selected a plain text option 'with line-breaks' when you submitted your work. Avoid this option.

17. How do I remove one manuscript and replace it with another?

Don't remove your manuscript--it's not necessary! If you remove it, you'll have to re-register it. Instead, just send your updated version and it will automatically replace the existing one.

To send the updated version, just attach a Plain Text version of your work to an email addressed to manuscripts@rosedog.com and copy and paste the block of 1s and 0s for this title into the message part of the email (nowhere else).

If you've lost the block of 1s and 0s we can send you a copy. Just click here and under the title in question click on the button 'Update Manuscript'.

18. Do you want me to register the word count for what I post to RoseDog or for my finished work?

The word count for your RoseDog excerpt is of no interest to agents and publishers - they need to know the word count for your finished work. If it's not yet finished, offer an estimate.

19. How do I change my synopsis/ word count/ registration information?

Click here and choose the button 'Update Synopsis' for the title in question. Make changes wherever necessary and hit the 'Submit' button - your changes are effective immediately.

20. I registered my work as 'not yet finished' but now it is - how can I show this?

Click here and choose the button 'Update Synopsis' under the title in question. Make you changes - they are effective immediately.

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