How to Format Your Initial Manuscript
Six Tips for Preparing for the Editing Process
Six Tips for Preparing for the Editing Process
I have been a book editor for writers of most genres who wish to become published authors since before I started my independent publishing company, Detroit Ink Publishing, in 2012. I always remind my clients that completing their manuscript is only the first step in getting their book published.
Now it is time to prepare the manuscript for submission to the professional editor. After your manuscript is professionally edited, the next step is to have it professionally formatted. But first you, as the writer, should spend some time with basic formatting to make it easier for your editor. Learning how to do some basic formatting will save you and your editor a lot of time and stress.
The 5 Types of Nonfiction Genres
There is so much more to nonfiction writing than may you think!medium.com
Six Ways to Properly Format Your Manuscript for Your Editor
These are the standard recommendations for nonfiction and fiction manuscripts. Some editors, publishing agents, and traditional publishing houses may have their own requirements. It is smart to check first, but these five tips will give you a great start.
Set the font: Use black, 12-point, Times New Roman, or Arial font. No fancy colors or fonts. Save those tasks for your formatter after your manuscript is edited.
Set the page size: It doesn’t matter what the final size of your manuscript will be when it is published, you should standardize your initial manuscript to a U.S. 8.5X11-inch page size and with a 1-inch margin all around. Also, set the alignment to left-justified, with “ragged” right text. If you use MS Word, Apple Pages, or Google Docs, you can set those dimensions from the File>Page Setup tab. If you export your manuscript from Ulysses or Scrivener, you can set up the page size and margins as part of the export process.
Spacing: I originally learned to type in the 4th grade using my grandfather’s very big and very heavy Royal™ Typewriter. I was taught to put two spaces at the end of each sentence, and my right thumb learned to do that automatically. Quite a while ago, however, when typing transitioned into electronic word processing, the standard space after a sentence changed from two spaces to one space. It took me a long time to re-train my right thumb! Save your editor time and frustration by training (or retraining) your right thumb to put one space after each sentence.
Double-space your lines. That will make it much easier for your editor to read your manuscript.
Indent all of your paragraphs by 0.5 inches and do not use tabs for indentation.
Fiction books usually use indented paragraphs, while nonfiction books generally use paragraph breaks and no indentation.
Page Breaks and Headings When beginning a new chapter, use page breaks to start your chapter on a new page; don’t just keep hitting the return key. Use the “Styles” function to set your chapter titles as “Heading 1” (H1) and subtitles (if any) as “Heading 2” (H2). These headings will help your editor to generate the initial Table of Contents (if your book calls for one); and the headings will later help your formatter to correctly generate your table of contents. The final pagination style and sequence will be determined by your formatter.
Submit Your Graphics, Tables, or Pictures Separately While MS Word is the standard and most-used software for writing, it is not the best for layout or formatting. When writers embed tables, graphics, or pictures within the text of their manuscript, that action almost always ruins the formatting. It is best to put a numbered placeholder within the text of your manuscript and then submit the graphic, table, or picture in a separate file, with each item numbered to match its place in your manuscript text. If you are unsure about how to put placeholders in your document, use the “Help” function or ask your editor for assistance.
Submit Your Manuscript in Word Format Submit your manuscript to your editor in one Word-compatible document (.doc/.docx). If you use Google Docs or any other writing software, you can export your manuscript in a Word format. Do not submit each chapter of your book as a separate file, as it will cause your editor’s hair to go prematurely gray from the frustration of trying to put your chapters in the right order even before the editing process can begin.
Self-Publishing or Indie Publishing
What is the Difference?medium.com
Finishing your manuscript is quite an accomplishment, and you can rightly be happy and proud that you reached that milestone. But as the writer, your work is not yet done. If you complete three more steps before submitting your manuscript to your editor, you will help yourself and your editor to have a smoother and more effective and efficient editing process:
Do a self-edit and proofread to catch any simple errors. You know your manuscript better than anyone.
Complete the basic formatting as outlined in this story.
Submit your manuscript electronically in one complete Word-compatible document.
Get excited! You are now well on your way to getting your book published!
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