The text will align itself along its left side, leaving its right side nonuniform (unjustified). Left justified text is also known as ragged right text. To set margins in Word, go to Format>Document. To set page size in Word, go to File>Page Setup and look at the drop-down menu for Page Size. Starting a new document in Word defaults to these parameters, but if you’re exporting to Word from your word processor of choice, double-check the output to ensure your page size and margins are correct. standard page size of 8.5×11 inches and set your margins to 1 inch on all sides Save that for your book’s interior design, which comes much later after the editing process.įont trivia: Times New Roman is no longer used by The Times. Yes, Times New Roman is boring, but it’s essentially on every computer ever made.ĭon’t use a cool font for effect. Use black, 12-point, Times New Roman as the font Here’s what’s expected for a standard manuscript format. Any accepted variations are noted, and comments are appreciated with regard to differences for international markets. The following formatting recommendations hold true for both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts in the United States. Always be sure to scan websites for that information, and when in doubt, ask. While this article attempts to offer standardized recommendations, some editors, literary agents or publishing houses may have their own formatting stipulations. In these instances, an editor will either edit your manuscript as-is or spend the time you’re paying them for to do the work you could have (and should have) done yourself.īut once you incorporate the standardized basics of formatting a manuscript in preparation for your editor, you’ll see that it will save both you and your editor a lot of time and frustration. I’m wasting my time reformatting this manuscript.If you send a poorly formatted manuscript to your editor, they very likely won’t say anything, but I can promise you that they’re thinking one of two things. When you skip over the basics of how your manuscript is formatted, you’re subconsciously showing a lack of respect for your craft (and your editor). Do yourself (and your editor!) a favor and follow this advice. You’ve written a book, and now you need to figure out the manuscript format. One of the simplest ways to do that, which too many authors fail to consider, is formatting. However, you should seek to do everything in your power to be a professional friend of your editor. Unless you prefer your friends to be story nerds or those who lean toward obsessive-compulsive tendencies when it comes to grammar, you shouldn’t necessarily seek to befriend your editor. Alternate Option: Use Software to Help Learn How to Format a Book.Send your manuscript as one Word document (.doc /.docx) Format paragraphs according to genre standards 5 inches, and don’t hit tab or space to indent
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