Devnal,The first step is to take your finished manuscripts and format them for submission to the markets.
Please see these two links:
http://www.sfwa.org/writing/vonda/mssprep.pdf
http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html
The format illustrated in these examples can be used for practically any market that takes short fiction. Make sure to follow the format as exactly as you can. It has nothing to do with content, and everything to do with presentation. Also, if you use Windows and/or a Microsoft word processor, consider adopting the Dark Courier font from HP, which is superior on paper to the atrophied Courier New that comes standard from Microsoft.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?locBasepartNum=lj611en
Next, you need to identify which markets might be good for your stories. I suggest using the following resources:
http://ralan.com/
http://www.duotrope.com/
Specifically, target the markets that are SFWA-approved or which meet SFWA's guidelines for pro sale. Don't lowball yourself by thinking you can't start at the top. Also don't assume that semi-pro or 'small' markets are any easier to break into than the top markets.
Once you have a market(s) selected for your work, you need a cover sheet. The cover sheet contains your demographic data, the demographic data of your market you want to submit to, and should be as brief as possible. See the example below:
http://home.comcast.net/~brad.r.torgersen/cl_example2.pdf
Now, in sequence:
1) Print the properly-formatted manuscript.
2) Then print the coversheet, taking care to make sure the coversheet has the correct date, name of the editor, and data for the market you want.
3) Take a letter-size white paper business envelope and put your mailing address on it.
4) Put a stamp on the envelope. This is now your SASE.
5) Put the envelope on top of the cover sheet, and the cover sheet on top of the manuscript.
6) Now, take a 9" x 12" manilla-paper pouch envelope. Write neatly, and print your mailing address in the top left corner. Also writing neatly, print the mailing address of the market the story is going to, and do it in larger print in the middle of the front of the pouch.
7) Slide your SASE, cover letter, and manuscript into the pouch envelope. Lick, seal, and clip; if it has a clip.
8) Take it down to the local USPS office and get it metered. Even after hours, nearly all USPS centers now have automated metering machines that can print first-class barcode stickers for your manuscript.
9) Finally, drop it in the OUTGOING mail slot.
Go home knowing you have successfully navigated Heinlein's first four Rules.
Naturally, there are some big DO NOT DO THESE THINGS items which need to be covered...
DO NOT....
- Use colorful or unusual paper for anything.
- Be overly wordy in your cover letter.
- Use unusual packaging.
- Glue, staple, or paperclip anything.
- Deviate from standard manuscript format.
- Use special or cute fonts or colored inks/toner.
- Fold your manuscript to fit an envelope that is too small.
- Waste postage on SASE which get the entire manuscript back to you.
- Procrastinate on starting the next project!
If you need more to do, obtain sample copies of the markets that seem the most interesting to you, and read them. Nothing prepares you better to submit to a market than to have actually read what that market publishes. No guidelines can fully articulate what a market wants. Just read the publication and you will get an idea what they do, and do not, want.