by Sangay Glass

Created on: August 29, 2008   Last Updated: March 20, 2009

When writers create and edit for themselves, they often use pleasing fonts that resemble how they picture their work in print. Unfortunately, a single spaced-12pt font in New Times Roman is not easy on the eye when you're reading or editing hundreds of manuscript pages at a time. So, if you submit a manuscript without proper form, you're probably doomed.

The publishing team isn't just being picky when it comes to favoring strict manuscript form. In fact, there are some very good reasons for all the structure. Once you understand the reasons behind rules and guidelines you will gladly comply.

YOUR SET UP

First, always read the guidelines of the agent or editor because some prefer certain fonts. Be very mindful of guidelines when submitting electronically. Some systems may only accept rich text others plain text. Next, creating a manuscript has never been easier because all of the following settings can be arranged through your word processing program before you even type your first letter.

MARGINS

Start by creating all 1 inch margins in the page set up of your document.

Margins will give the publishing team plenty of room to mark up your manuscript in red pen as they read it. Okay, it might not always be red pen, but you get the drift.

The publishing team needs this not only for grammar and spelling marks, but they may also have a question or want you to clarify a statement. Here's an example of an editor's note to clarify an author's comment:

Author's Comment: "People are what they are."

Editor's Note: "What are they?"

FONTS Only use 12 point Courier font for paper printed manuscripts.

Courier is the easiest to read on paper. The letters are nicely spaced as are the words. Courier is bland, but alright in a cold and distant kind of way. Though, I must say that my eyes have stopped watering since I've changed my Roman script ways.

* Note for Internet content...unless specified by the publisher, 11 point Arial works fine. PARAGRAPH SPACING

In the format section of MS Work click on paragraph, and change the "line space" to double space before you begin typing. This will assure a smooth transition just in case you want to change the spacing for any reason.

Again, this spacious format makes it easy for the team to cross out words, and make alien looking editing marks that you'll need to review in a good dictionary if you're not familiar with them or you can check out the url at the end of this article.

*Note for Internet content...use single line spacing, but double the space

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