Manuscript Format Print
By Apryl Duncan   


Some people find it's not writing a novel or short story that's the hard part. It's finding the proper manuscript format.

Truth is, there isn't one universal standard. While editors may have their own individual preferences, your manuscript's not going to be thrown into the slush pile just because your margins are 1/4 inch more than someone expected.

However, there is a basic formula publishers usually follow. Use these guidelines to prepare your manuscript:

  • Quality Paper
    Don't get fancy by using letterhead, but do use a 20 lb. bond paper. Always use plain white paper but don't be tempted to use typing paper or any other type of erasable paper.

  • One-Inch Margins
    Make sure your margins are one-inch all the way around. Don't muddy up your manuscript with anything less than one. Your words will become cluttered and even tedious to a busy editor's eyes.

  • Double-Spaced
     Your entire manuscript should be double-spaced. If you've single-spaced your writing in a word processing program, you can easily change your manuscript from single- to double-spaced.

    Select the entire text of your manuscript and then change the line spacing. All of your highlighted text will automatically be converted into a double-spaced format. Be sure to consult the help section in your word processing program for proper instruction.

  • Indented Paragraphs
    Don't break your paragraphs up by hitting the ENTER key a couple of extra times. New paragraphs should be indicated by indents.

    You can use the TAB function in your word processing program to set these indents. When you're done with a paragraph, hit ENTER once, indent and begin your new paragraph.



  • Skip the Fancy Fonts

    • Don't mix and match fonts within your manuscript. Choose an easy to read font like Arial or Times New Roman
    Debate of the Arial Font
    Many writers argue Arial is an unacceptable font in your manuscript. But some publishers are now saying they prefer the Arial font. In the days of typewriters, publishers had no choice but to read manuscripts in the typical font format. That's all changing and many publishers have specified their desire to see manuscripts in Arial. When in doubt, check the publisher's specifications.

     
    and stick to it throughout the length of your manuscript.

    A 12-point font size is the best for manuscripts. This size keeps most letters from being cramped together.

  • Special Rules for Short Stories
    Type your name, address, phone, fax and Email (single-spaced) in the upper left-hand corner of your first page. Your approximate word count should be typed in the upper right-hand corner.

    Center the title of your short story halfway down the page in a larger font (14- or 16-point font size). You can even use bold if you like.

    After you've typed your title, skip two lines - still centered - type your name in a smaller font than that of your title. Take off your centering function, skip two lines after your name and begin your short story on the same page.

  • Special Rules for Books
    You must include a cover page with your manuscript. Make sure all of the following information is centered on the page.

    Halfway down the page, type the title of your book. Skip two lines and type your name or pseudonym. Skip another two lines and type your real name, address, phone, fax and Email. Skip about three lines and type the approximate word count.

    The first page of each chapter should begin halfway down the page with the title or number of the chapter placed before your text. The remaining pages of each chapter can take up the full page.

    Each page only requires a running header (see below). You don't need to list your complete contact information on every page.

  • Running Headers
    Short stories and books all require running headers. They should be placed in the upper left hand corner of every page.

    A running header simply contains three items:

    1. Your Last Name
    2. Title of Your Project*
    3. Page Number

    * If the title of your project is too long, then you can choose a keyword from that title to identify your work.

    Let's look at Michael Connelly's A Darkness More Than Night as an example of a running header. If we truncated his long title, we might use the word "Darkness" to describe his novel.

    The running header on page 143 of his manuscript would read:

    Connelly/Darkness/143

  • Page Numbers
    If you're preparing your book's manuscript, then you'll want all of your page numbers to be in order. Don't number your pages according to the chapter.

    For instance, you wouldn't use 4-9 to indicate Chapter 4, Page 9 on your manuscript. If this is the 85th page, then it's the 85th page of your entire manuscript. Don't label each chapter's page numbers at all.
    •  Preparing your manuscript can be as frustrating as searching for that perfect word to include in your story. Using these simple guidelines will help you get to the next step of the process: waiting by the mailbox.




    Apryl Duncan is the founder of FictionAddiction.NET. She's also an author, freelance writer and workshop instructor with more than 15 years experience writing professionally. Her work has been published worldwide and has been translated into nine different languages.