So, we have learned that most editors, when reading your stuff for the first time, prefer to receive print clips (as opposed to emailed pitches.) Now, just how fancy do we make those clips? Are color copies important? If we published something in a newspaper, is it important to copy the published article, or is it okay to print out a Word document of the article?

I asked a few magazine editors in what condition they prefer to receive clips. It sort of sounds like it's what the average person looks for in a romantic partner: some effort put in, but not too fancy.

Ideally it's all clear copies, arranged by publication, so I can leaf through quickly for an overview, and then dive in to whatever pieces particularly strike my fancy. I'm a visual person so I appreciate when things are done neatly; if the pages are a mess, I will assume the writer doesn't care or doesn't pay attention to detail.

And:

Legible and neat is most important (I get some clip packets where sides are cut off or the photocopying is pretty shoddy, and that's a turnoff). I actually do like a color clip, just because I feel like they took the time to make their work look good. Not all have to be in color, but one or two thrown in is kinda nice.