Novel manuscript example how to#
Novel manuscript example full#
Novel manuscript example zip#

Round to the nearest thousand.ĭon’t include pages such as a dedication and acknowledgements page. Word count: Write your total word count below the agent’s name. by Joe Bloggs writing as Billy Joe).Īgent: If you have agent, write the agent’s name below yours. If you are using a pen name, include it (e.g.

Novel manuscript example full#

Title: Write the full title of the book centred and halfway down the page.Īuthor: Write your name (e.g. The rest of the information on the title page is double spaced. Italics: It is no longer practice to underline words in italics – just use italics.Ĭontact info: Near the top of the page and aligned left, include your full legal name, address, phone number, and email address. Scene breaks: Insert a # or *** in the centre of a blank line to indicate a scene change. Don’t restart page numbering for each chapter the numbering should be continuous throughout. Page numbering: Start numbering from page 1 at the start of the main text. Paragraphs should not have an extra line space between them. Don’t hit a double return after each line use the “Double spacing” button on the “Home” tab or use Word Styles. Line spacing: Use double line spacing for the main text. Use Word Styles or tabs, not the space bar. Indents: Indent the first line of every paragraph by 1.27 cm (½ an inch). Margins: Use the standard margin setting (2.54 cm/1 inch on all sides).įont: 12pt, Times New Roman (Garamond or Georgia also work), black. It is useful to make the file name something easy to find again, such as your last name and the title of the book.

Novel manuscript example zip#

zip format attached to the email rather than shared through a cloud storage provider – anything to make it easier to access by the publisher or agent. If your document is a large file, it is better to send it in. Make sure you submit your manuscript as a Microsoft Word document. Otherwise, you can go through and manually change everything.

Novel manuscript example how to#

If you know how to use Word Styles, it is preferable to use it to make sure all headings and text are consistently formatted.

Here is a standard formatting suggestion which is clean, tidy and looks professional. It goes without saying that your manuscript must be tidy and consistent. If there is no set formatting requirement, still don’t be tempted to break out the coloured pens. Make sure, also, that you check the requirements for each publisher you send your manuscript to, as they may have subtle differences in their requirements. And with the huge number of manuscripts that publishers receive, you can’t afford to take the chance. If you don't follow the instructions, the publisher may simply disregard your manuscript. If this is the case, it is important to stick to this (and not be tempted to use coloured paper or fancy lettering to stand out). Publishers and agents often have information on their websites outlining the formatting they prefer for a submitted manuscript. The first place to start is the publisher's website.