Professional manuscript formatting follows strict industry standards that facilitate editing, typesetting, and publication processes. Proper formatting demonstrates professionalism and ensures your work receives serious consideration from agents, editors, and publishers.
Universal Formatting Requirements
Font and Typography
- Font Choice: Times New Roman, 12-point size
- Alternative Fonts: Courier, Georgia, or Garamond (12pt)
- Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
- Character Spacing: Standard/normal spacing only
- Justification: Left-aligned text, ragged right margin
Page Layout Standards
- Paper Size: 8.5" x 11" (US Letter)
- Margins: 1" on all sides
- Page Numbers: Top right corner, same font as text
- Header Information: Author surname/title on each page
- Paragraph Indents: 0.5" first line indent
Fiction Manuscript Standards
Novel Formatting Requirements
Title Page Elements:
- Title and Subtitle: Centered, halfway down page
- Author Name: Centered below title
- Word Count: Rounded to nearest thousand (upper right)
- Contact Information: Author's details (lower left)
- Genre: Clearly indicated (upper left)
Chapter Formatting:
- Chapter Headings: Centered, bold, new page
- Chapter Numbers: Spelled out (Chapter One, Chapter Two)
- Scene Breaks: Triple spacing or centered # symbol
- Page Breaks: End chapters 1/3 down page minimum
Short Story Formatting
- Length: Single submission, no chapter breaks
- Title Placement: Centered, 1/3 down first page
- Author Line: Centered below title
- Text Start: Four line spaces below author name
- Ending: Type "THE END" centered after final line
Non-Fiction Manuscript Standards
Book-Length Works
- Table of Contents: Required for submission
- Chapter Structure: Clear hierarchy and numbering
- Subheadings: Consistent formatting throughout
- Bibliography: Properly formatted citations
- Index: Professional indexing for complex works
Academic and Technical Writing
- Abstract: Single page, specific word limits
- Citation Style: Consistent format (APA, MLA, Chicago)
- Footnotes: Numbered, same font, smaller size
- Appendices: Separate section, clearly labeled
- References: Alphabetical order, hanging indent
Digital Submission Standards
File Format Requirements
- Primary Format: Microsoft Word (.docx)
- Alternative: Rich Text Format (.rtf)
- Avoid: PDFs for manuscript submissions
- File Naming: LastName_Title_MS.docx
- Version Control: Include date in filename
Electronic Formatting Considerations
- Track Changes: Turn off before submission
- Comments: Remove all editorial comments
- Hyperlinks: Remove automatic formatting
- Page Breaks: Use proper page break function
- Headers/Footers: Ensure consistent across document
Genre-Specific Considerations
Romance Manuscripts
- Heat Level: Clearly indicated in submission
- Word Count: Category-specific requirements
- Series Information: Book number and series title
- Trope Tags: Popular romance elements
Science Fiction and Fantasy
- World-Building: Glossary for complex terms
- Character Lists: For extensive cast
- Series Bible: Consistency documentation
- Technology Notes: Scientific explanations
Mystery and Thriller
- Clue Tracking: Timeline and evidence lists
- Character Motives: Clear suspect documentation
- Plot Structure: Three-act format compliance
- Pacing Notes: Tension and revelation timing
Professional Presentation Elements
Cover Letter Requirements
- Query Hook: Compelling one-sentence premise
- Synopsis: Complete plot summary
- Author Bio: Relevant credentials and experience
- Comparison Titles: Similar successful works
- Target Audience: Demographic and market
Synopsis Formatting
- Length: 1-2 pages maximum
- Voice: Third person, present tense
- Coverage: Complete plot, including ending
- Character Names: ALL CAPS when first mentioned
- Structure: Paragraph per major plot point
Word Count Guidelines
Fiction Categories
- Flash Fiction: Under 1,000 words
- Short Stories: 1,000-7,500 words
- Novelettes: 7,500-20,000 words
- Novellas: 20,000-50,000 words
- Novels: 50,000+ words (genre-dependent)
Genre-Specific Word Counts
- Literary Fiction: 70,000-100,000 words
- Commercial Fiction: 80,000-120,000 words
- Romance: 50,000-90,000 words
- Mystery/Thriller: 70,000-90,000 words
- Science Fiction/Fantasy: 80,000-120,000 words
Common Formatting Mistakes
Typography Errors
- Extra Spacing: Multiple spaces between sentences
- Tab Misuse: Using tabs instead of paragraph indents
- Quote Marks: Using straight quotes instead of curly
- Ellipses: Using multiple periods instead of proper ellipsis
- Dashes: Hyphen confusion with em-dashes
Structural Problems
- Inconsistent Headers: Varying page header information
- Page Break Issues: Manual line breaks instead of page breaks
- Spacing Problems: Inconsistent paragraph and line spacing
- Margin Errors: Non-standard margin settings
International Standards
UK Publishing Requirements
- Paper Size: A4 (slightly taller than US Letter)
- Spelling: British English conventions
- Quotation Marks: Single quotes for dialogue
- Date Format: DD/MM/YYYY standard
European Conventions
- Punctuation: Country-specific quotation styles
- Number Format: Comma/period decimal conventions
- Address Format: Local postal requirements
- Copyright: Regional intellectual property law
Technology Tools for Formatting
Software Recommendations
- Microsoft Word: Industry standard, comprehensive features
- Scrivener: Excellent for long-form organization
- Google Docs: Collaboration and cloud storage
- LibreOffice: Free alternative with good compatibility
Formatting Templates
- Novel Template: Pre-configured manuscript settings
- Short Story Template: Optimized for shorter works
- Academic Template: Citation and reference formatting
- Screenplay Template: Industry-standard script format
Quality Control Checklist
Pre-Submission Review
- Font: Times New Roman, 12pt throughout
- Spacing: Double-spaced, no extra line breaks
- Margins: 1" on all sides
- Page numbers: Consistent, correct position
- Headers: Author name/title on every page
- Indents: 0.5" first line, consistent throughout
- Word count: Accurate, appropriately rounded
- File format: .docx or .rtf as specified
Conclusion
Professional manuscript formatting demonstrates respect for industry standards and facilitates the publication process. While specific requirements may vary by publisher or agent, following these universal guidelines ensures your work meets professional expectations.
Invest time in creating properly formatted templates for different types of writing projects. Consistent, professional presentation allows your content to speak for itself without formatting distractions undermining your submission's impact.
Remember that formatting serves practical purposes in the publishing workflow. Proper formatting enables accurate word counting, efficient editing, and smooth transition from manuscript to published book.