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Formatting a Manuscript

Formatting a manuscript is a very easy task
once you know what the publisher wants.

For now, the industry standard for formatting manuscripts are as follows:

Font: Times New Roman (This sentence is in Times New Roman)

Size: 12 point Double spaced (Like this paragraph)

Margins: 1" all sides (unless otherwise noted in submission guidelines)

First Page Formatting

The First page of your Fiction Manuscript starts approximately 1/3 of the way down the page with a line break and chapter to the left in bold, as you see here. Note the Carriage return signs on the page. They are there to indicate how many carriage returns you will need.

Scene Break Formatting

For a scene break, you need to carriage return once. (Remember, while formatting your manuscript, you placed the spacing on double space.) Then you need to insert three asterisk (*) or pound signs (#) to indicate scene change.

Point of View Change Formatting

For a POV or Point of View change, you will need to have a carriage return, one asterisk (*) or a pound sign (#) and another carriage return. One asterisk indicates POV change only, not scene change.

Inserting a Page Break

In formatting a manuscript, it is necessary to insert a page break to begin a new chapter. This is accomplished by the following:

For Microsoft Word 2002 users
Go to INSERT > BREAK > PAGE BREAK > NEXT PAGE

For Microsoft Word 2007 users:
Go to INSERT > PAGES > PAGE BREAK

The same goes for inserting page numbers.

Cover Page

Should have your name and address, phone number and e-mail address justified right in the header of the document.

Headers

A header is right justified with your last name, working title, and page number. Remember, you do not put a header on your cover page.

Each house or agency will have their own format requirements so please ask for submission guidelines from EACH house or agency before submitting. This is the first line of action when it comes to being a professional. In other words, "Do your homework!"

Nothing aggravates an editor/agent more than someone who shot out a MS or proposal toward them without doing their homework.

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