Does Your Writing Have Style Zing?
If you want your story published, it should. Even if you're a journalist conforming to AP’s style, that may not be enough if you're writing for The New York Times because it has its style manual.
That's common. Many publications have in-house style manuals, style guides, and style sheets. It's not as bad as it sounds. Sometimes, their differences are minute—for example, the Oxford comma. Many consider it persnickety. Yet, it has merit. For example, Sally invited her parents, Dick and Jane. Compare it to this instance: Sally invited her parents, Dick, and Jane. Using the serial comma changes the matter for the reader.
Style manuals are comprehensive guidelines that set rules and standards for writing and formatting in a particular field — medical, scientific, or tech. For example, journalists, among other professional writers, use the AP Style Guide. Besides styles, formatting guidelines specify how writers should submit their manuscripts. The Shunn format exemplifies one for fiction writers.
A style guide is like a style manual but less comprehensive. It is usually specific to an organization’s preferences. For example, not everyone favors the Oxford comma or conforms to pronoun usage in number, person, and gender. Since 2019, many style guides have accepted the pronoun they as singular and plural.
A style sheet specifies editorial preferences that arise during the editing process of a manuscript. It is a working document for editors and proofreaders to maintain a consistent style. It may include an author’s quirks, such as Cormac McCarthy’s abhorrence of punctuation. A Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) exemplifies style sheets assigned to website typography to maintain consistency in how the webpage displays text.
 I follow the AP Style Guide and The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) because most fiction and nonfiction book publishers prefer them. So, be aware of different styles and guides, as exemplified in the list cited. Apply them accordingly to enhance your chances of publication.
Author Bio:
Rick Graf
Short Story Writer
Originally from Minnesota, Rick Graf has proven his versatility and adaptability in writing roles over his forty-year career. He has worked as a journalist, technical writer, copywriter, content writer, and now as a short story writer. He is an active member of the League of Utah Writers' Write on -St. George chapter and lives in St. George, Utah, with his family.
Beyond writing and content creation, his activities include reading, researching, enjoying family socials, attending the Utah Shakespeare Festival, cooking, photography, hiking, writing groups, managing Facebook groups, volunteering, functional fitness, and occasionally golfing.
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