Fake It ’til You Make It — Part 1
Even if you’re submitting a manuscript for the first time — particularly if you are submitting for the first time — please do your best to make it look like you’re a professional. Sending in a clean, well-formatting manuscript with things like, oh … page numbers can go a long way toward an editor or publisher wanting to deal with you.
And, just as important, make sure you actually read their submission guidelines. They may contain valuable information such as preferred fonts or formats, or (particularly in the case of anthologies) what kinds of stories they are looking for. Submitting a manuscript that does not follow even their basic guidelines is not a good way to make your first impression with an acquisitions editor. It makes them cranky.