"Write without pay until somebody offers to pay"  —Mark Twain

How do I format my manuscript?

Copyright © by Janet Sue Terry

These instructions are targeted at the computer user since most of us use a personal computer to write our manuscripts on.

Paper and font

Start with good quality 20-pound bond paper. Use only one-side of the paper. Use a 10-point Arial or New Courier font.

Headers, Footers

Set up running headers, footers, and page numbers. In the Header type the title of the manuscript, name of author and insert the page number.

In the footer set up contact information such as address and telephone number. The editor who is reading your manuscript will then know how to contact the author no matter where they are in the story. Sometimes they do not need to get very far to make a decision. With this in mind keep the contact information handy so they do not have to go looking for it.

Margins

Allow 1-1½ or more inches around the text block. These wide margins enhance the appearance of your manuscript while providing space for the editor to make notes or comments.

Personal computers send instructions to the printer on how to set up margins on a page. Refer to the help section in your word processor program on how to reset your margins.

Spacing and numbering

Introductory pages such as title page, author information, and acknowledgements are not to be numbered along with the main content of the manuscript. Nor should illustrations, maps, charts, diagrams, and divider pages be numbered. These are actually separate pages and can be done as such. However they can be separated once the manuscript is completed since the information may change as you move along with your story.

In long first drafts it is sometimes necessary to divide sections and chapters into parts, numbering each part separately. This way you can delete, add, and reconstruct as you build the manuscript.

On the final draft combine the revised sections mentioned in the previous paragraph into the main body of the manuscript.

Lines

Double-space all text pages, including preface, author bio, acknowledgements, dedication, epigraph, table of contents, notes, etc.

Chapter Headings

Begin each chapter on a new page. Space down from the top margin between 6 – 18 spaces. Center and capitalize the heading.

Skip 2 spaces between the chapter heading and text body.

Single-space two-line headings.

No line should be too long or too short. Do not divide words in centered headings. Divide by appearance and common sense.

Space between words

Skip one space between words and sentences. Do not use the space key between letters of words or before, after, or between hyphens or dashes.

Line Breaks

Absolutely NO hard line breaks!

Indents

Use Tab and set to your desired space (3-5-etc). Never indent with space, space, space, etc.