Formatting a novel manuscript is a crucial step in preparing your work for submission or self-publishing. A well-formatted manuscript not only makes it easier for agents, editors, or readers to navigate your story but also shows professionalism and attention to detail. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to format your novel manuscript using standard industry practices.
Before we dive into the specifics, remember that consistency is key in manuscript formatting. Stick to one style throughout your document, and ensure that your manuscript is easy to read and free of distractions.
Basic Formatting Rules
The first step is to choose an easy-to-read font. Times New Roman, Courier, or Arial are popular choices. Set your font size to 12 points, and use double spacing throughout your manuscript. This gives editors and readers plenty of room to make notes or suggestions.
Use one-inch margins on all sides of your document. This provides enough space for notes and ensures that your text doesn't look cramped. Additionally, turn off your document's widow/orphan control to allow for proper pagination.
Margins and Spacing
To set one-inch margins in Microsoft Word, click on "Layout" in the ribbon, then "Margins," and select "Normal." This will give you one-inch margins on all sides. To double-space your document, go to "Home," click on "Line and Paragraph Spacing," and select "2.0."
To turn off widow/orphan control, go to "File," "Options," "Layout," and uncheck the box next to "Allow page breaks between rows of text."
Pagination and Page Numbers
Start your manuscript on the right side of the page, with the first page being page number 1. This is known as "right-align" pagination. To set this in Microsoft Word, go to "Insert," "Page Numbers," and select "Bottom of Page" and "Right." Then, click on "Format," and choose "Right" under "Position."
Make sure to include a header on the first page with your title, your name, and the page number. For subsequent pages, the header should only include your last name and the page number. To add a header, go to "Insert," "Header," and select "Edit Header."
Scene Breaks and Chapter Headings
Scene breaks are indicated by a centered hash mark (#) on a line by itself. This tells the reader that the scene is changing, but the chapter continues. To create a scene break, simply type a hash mark, press enter, and start the next scene.
Chapter headings should be centered, in all capital letters, and followed by a double space. If your chapter title is longer than one line, use a hanging indent to align the first line with the rest of the text. To create a hanging indent, go to "Home," click on "Paragraph," and under "Indentation," select "Special," and choose "Hanging."
Scene Breaks
To create a scene break, simply type a hash mark (#) on a line by itself. Here's an example:
#
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Chapter Headings
To create a chapter heading, center your text, use all capital letters, and follow it with a double space. Here's an example:
CHAPTER ONE
Formatting Dialogue and Action
Dialogue should be indented five spaces from the left margin. This helps to distinguish it from narrative text. Use double quotation marks for dialogue, and start a new paragraph for each speaker. To indent dialogue, go to "Home," click on "Paragraph," and under "Indentation," select "Special," and choose "First line." Then, set the indentation to 0.5."
Action should be written in the present tense and placed on a new line when it occurs between speakers. To create a line break, simply press enter. Here's an example:
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
John sat at a table by the window, nursing his coffee.
"I don't know, man," he said, looking out at the rain.
Susan sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"You've just got to get out there and do it," she said.
Dialogue Formatting
To indent dialogue, go to "Home," click on "Paragraph," and under "Indentation," select "Special," and choose "First line." Then, set the indentation to 0.5."
Action Formatting
To create a line break for action, simply press enter. This tells the reader that the action is happening between speakers.
Finally, always proofread your manuscript for formatting consistency and any grammatical errors. It's essential to make a good impression on agents, editors, or readers, and proper formatting is a significant part of that. Good luck with your novel!