"OK Frank," I hear you cry. "Where the heck can I get this map?"

Alas. You can't. It doesn't exist. Not yours anyway. At least, not yet it doesn't.

But you can make one.

Start with the latest edition of Writers Market. The introductory parts provide good information on the nuts and bolts of querying and submitting. The markets section gives specifics. Then give serious consideration to subscribing to the online version for updated information.

Now you have your rough street guide.

Your local magazine rack, bookstore and library will help you pin down specifics. You can study style, content and ensure that contact information is current.

The internet is your friend. (After all, it brought you here.) Most magazines, publishing houses, agents and newspapers have a web presence.

Study their guidelines. If you can't find them, either in print or online, write to request them.

Adhere to those guidelines. They aren't suggestions. They're there for a reason. They detail what they're looking for, how they want it presented and who to present it to. Botch one of those up and add another rejection to the collection.

You have zero chance of being published if an editor doesn't read your submission.

That's a "duh" statement but it happens to a lot of writers. And they have no clue that their manuscript/story was rejected unread. (Clue: 75% or more of your rejections are form letters with nary a hand-written scribble.)

Home computing and the internet has been a terrific boon to writers in many ways: word processing software, more markets, a huge and ever-expanding database of useful information and near-instantaneous communication.

Home computing and the internet is a nightmare for editors. Their in-boxes groan with submissions; many of which are inappropriate and/or poorly-written. Most editors are over-worked and underpaid. They get cranky. They develop systems for instantly analyzing the merits of a submission.

Editors look for reasons to reject.

They have to, it's a question of self-preservation. They have dozens of other duties besides evaluating submissions. Mis-addressed? Reject. Glaring typo in the first sentence? Reject. Tortured syntax in the cover letter? Reject. 10 point font instead of 12? Reject.

Editors look for reasons to read on.

They have to, or they'd never find fresh, quality material. Properly addressed? Keep reading. Catchy intro? Keep reading. Clean, well-written copy? Keep reading.

It's not rocket science. It's not magic.

Before you lick the envelope or hit "send" forget you're a writer. Be the editor. Read again with her eyes.

Then send it and forget about it for a while. Get to work on your next piece.

Don't stumble when you're close to the finish line. Master the ACB's of writing and it will only be a matter of time until you're published.