Many at Cyres Cafe enjoy sitting with a cup of something, in a creative atmosphere, pouring their hearts out onto a laptop or a notebook. Every one a potential J.K.Rowling, or whatever the writer desires to do with their creativity. At The Cafe we love to observe vision-in-action. It is Law of Attraction in action.

If I may digress for a moment and take a little flight of fancy …
J.K. Rowling regularly visited a tea and coffee shop located in the heart of historic Edinburgh, and a sign at the entrance now reads: “Experience the same atmosphere that JK Rowling did as she mulled over a coffee, writing the first Harry Potter novel.” I would love a sign like that, appreciating those who have created something in a Cyres Cafe. Feeling it could be a big sign, as we have a lot of incredibly creative people visiting! Creative in all fields.

Having planted the seed of that dream, in your fertile imagination please join me in seeing it grow.

And express yourself!

Now to the main reason I am stopping by. A Dream Believer called Barbara gave me some information and I felt it could be helpful to many who are writing their first book. It is the spec for the manuscript.
I met Barbara Rane at a place where I went to write and enjoy a cup of creativity-inspiring coffee. She felt like a fellow Creative, as she sat at a coffee table, tapped into her laptop, so I said hello. And that connection brings me to this delicious moment with you. Aaahhh life is magical (if you believe it is). Barbara said to me “keep dreaming”. And I plant that message forward, so that you may breathe it in. Along with magical music at Barbara’s website, called ‘Dreams’. Tune in, and let your wild imaginings grow.

MANUSCRIPT FORMATTING
Thanks to Barbara

Margins: 3 cm (top, bottom, and both sides)

Font: 12 pitch, Arial

Line spacing: Double (no extra space between paragraphs, simply indent the first word)

Also:

(1) use one side of the paper only;

(2) do not bind the pages but keep them loose;

(3) start new chapters halfway down a new page (this allows editors some space to scrawl additional instructions to the printer);

(4) don’t use any formatting effects, e.g. don’t use bold, italics, etc. (to indicate italics simply underline the word(s); underlining is the only formatting effect you should use);

(5) I suggest buying a copy of the following book, which gives lots of useful information, not least a list of agents and publishers with an indication of their particular requirements:

Writers’ & Artists’ Year Book [current year] (N.B. if you prefer to wait for the 2008 edition it should be hitting the shelves around May/June, I think)

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