Submitting to publications these days

<p>So, it's taken me a lot of time to get up the courage to approach a publication with a submission. Now that I'm ready to do it, I want to do it right.<br>

I have work all over the place, from travel blogs (popular blogs featuring my work, as well as my own) to small business ads, but most of it is online. I've been following the specific guidelines requested by the company and they want "slides, prints, photocopies, tear sheets...", etc. as most do, but they want it by snail mail. I'm wondering how I can best present my work given the physical mail component. <br>

I have made up a little promo piece that is quite nice, but other than that I'm at a loss. Should I collect a bunch of my images and list them in thumbnails or simply refer them to my online portfolio? Should I collect some work I've done online and create a sort of digital tear sheet that I print out? Just curious how others are approaching this now and if anyone has examples to share?<br>

Thanks in advance! I need to get this thing out before I get discouraged again! :)</p>

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<p>Tracie, if they want hard copy, make up a sort of digital proof sheet and print it out. Mail it to them along with a promo piece and a cover letter that explains why you're sending them and a caption sheet. When I do this, I use 28 pound paper and send it in a padded envelope large enough to hold everything without folding. </p>

<p>Some people staple the pages together and others use those nice metal document clips they sell at office supply stores. Also optional is a cover sheet with your name, name of your project and contact information. Long submissions like book proposals should have their own table of contents too.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Hi Brian, <br /><br />Thanks for your response! Can you explain what a proof sheet is exactly? Is that like what I was asking about with collecting my online work in a sort of tear sheet? Or is it a collection of thumbnails of some of my work? Sorry, this area of business is new to me!</p>

<p>Anyone else want to chime in here? :)</p>