Write to the format they will open
A submission Word file needs a title, headed sections, and paragraphs a reviewer can comment on. Keep one H1. Use H2 for sections. Leave images as Markdown images with a readable alt text. Drop HTML that only makes sense on a website.
Preview before you spend the credit
Open Markdown to DOCX. A quiet theme, such as Corporate Blue or Minimal Mono, is easier for an editor to restyle than a decorative one. Check that lists stay lists and that links stay links.
Send the file they asked for
- Export DOCX. That uses one credit, the same credit as a PDF or a publisher download.
- Open the file in Word and look at the title, the headings, and any table.
- Apply the destination template there if they require specific styles. The converter does not invent their house style.