How to Format Guidelines for Book Writing

Publishers pay attention to every detail on a manuscript submission.

Sending in an unpolished manuscript may mean the difference between being published or unpublished. Editors notice incorrect formatting or when guidelines are not followed, which can cause manuscripts to end up in a cyberspace wastebasket.



According to author Chuck Sambuchino and the editors of Writer's Digest Books, "To determine what you need to submit, visit the agent or publisher's website for guidelines, or consult a current edition of a market resource such as 'Novel & Short Story Writer's Market', 'Writer's Market' or 'Guide to Literary Agents.'"

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word

Instructions

Setting up the Manuscript

1. 

   Pick a font that is easy to read.

   Open Microsoft Word. A blank document will appear on the screen. Start typing the cover page information about one-third of the way down the page. Include book title, your name, contact information, word count and name of agent, if applicable.

   Pick a font that is readable. Writer's Digest says to "use a normal font and typeface, such as Times New Roman and 10- or 12-point type."

2. Click "Insert" at the top of the computer screen. Scroll down to "Page Numbers" and a box will appear. To add page numbers, pick top or bottom of the page from the two choices. Next, click on "Alignment." Five options are given for page number placement. Some publishers specify on their website which corner they would like the page number to appear in. If not specified, place numbers next to your name in the header.

   Writing-World.com says on their website, "For example, a running header for an article titled 'A History of Feline Chiropractic Care' might look like this: Allen/Feline Chiropractic/...2."

3. Click on "View" at the top of the computer screen to add the author's name so it will automatically appear on every page. Run the mouse over "Header and Footer." This will pull up a small rectangular box at the top and the bottom of the page. Type your name and book title on the top or bottom of the document and click the "x" to exit from the command. Your name will appear in a light gray-colored font.

4. Set the margins by clicking on "File" in the upper left-hand corner of the page. Pick "Page Setup." Enter the margin sizes and click "OK" or "Enter" on your keyboard. This will set up margins throughout the document. Writing-World.com suggests using at least one inch margins all the way around the document.

5. Click on "Format" at the top of the screen. Pick "Paragraph" from the selection and a box will appear. Next, enter the amount of indentation you would like on your document. Each time you start a new paragraph, the cursor will indent automatically. Do not hit "Enter" twice at the end of a paragraph.

   While the "Paragraph" box is still up on the computer screen, click on "Line spacing". Most publishers require the manuscript to be double spaced. In his article, "Manuscript Formatting," author Lee Masterson says, "Editors like to scribble notes - in margins and in between lines."

Tips & Warnings

• Check publisher's guidelines before setting up your manuscript.

• Start numbering the first page of the manuscript, not the title page. Page numbers can be changed from numbers to letters.

• Most publishers want the name of the book and the author's name on the top of the document.

• Double spacing the document allows editors to make notes on the manuscript.

• According to Writing-World.com, it's best to use a 20 pound minimum, 8 1/2 x 11-inch white paper.

References

• Writing-World: A Quick Guide to Manuscript Format
• Fiction Factor: Manuscript Formatting
• Writer's Digest: Your Guide To An Effective Novel Synopsis
• Writer's Digest: What Fiction Editors Want
• Writer's Digest: 10 Tips for Querying an Agent
• Writer's Digest: The Basics Query Letter Clinic

Resources

• Writer's Digest: General Menu