Professionalism?

[mrissa]

Hey, you people: is it unprofessional to recycle a box to send out a manuscript? That is, is it better to go buy one from Office Despot, or can I just use this lovely sturdy nicely sized boot box I have right here?

Comments

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

If I were you, I would use the shoe box but cover it with brown paper. :)

[nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com]

Nobody cares.

After six months in a slush pile, your box will look like crap anyway.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

And since it's a solicited manuscript, the mere five and a half month slushpile time won't make a big difference, but the editor in question will have sense enough assume I'm not sending a lovely pair of Montrail Performance Outdoor Footwears in men's size 11 1/2. Okay. Whew. That's sensible, then.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

No one cares what box you use.

B

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Whew. Thanks.

[pameladean]

In my experience, the box is irrelevant. If you think it will be distracting, covering it with brown paper, as suggested above, or with sheets the printer rejected or sheets with printer tests on them, print side turned inward, also works fine. I almost never use anything new to send out manuscripts, and I didn't when I wasn't published at all, either.

Pamela

[joelrosenberg.livejournal.com]

Just don't reuse a pizza box. I'm told the leftover cheese and pepperoni get over everything.