Proper Manuscript Format

Submission guidelines tell you to submit your manuscript in proper format, but you're confused about just what that is. Well, you're not alone. Although some general rules apply to all types of manuscripts, proper format differs depending on what type of manuscript you're submitting.

This page offers a few hints on the format to use for the following types of manuscripts:

• Fiction Books
• Non-Fiction Books
• Magazine Articles
• Short Stories

Fiction Books

• Margins - 1-1 1/2" around text
• Title page:
  • No page number
  • Your name, address, and telephone number should appear at the upper left, 8-10 lines from the top, leaving a 1 1/2" margin on the left.
  • The number of words should appear on the upper right, 8-10 lines from the top, flush with the right 1 1/2" margin.
  • The title of your novel should be in CAPS, centered on the page, approximately 16-18 lines down. Two lines below that should be centered "A Novel by" and two lines below that, centered, should be your name, or pseudonym if you are using one as the author for this novel.
  • If you have an agent, his or her name goes on the lower right-hand corner. If you have an agent, you can leave your own address and telephone number off the manuscript since it will be submitted by your agent.
• All manuscript pages:
  • The novel's title, in CAPS, appears on every page at the upper left, 1-1 1/2" from the top; the page number appears on every page at the upper right, 1-1 1/2" from the top.
  • The first chapter title is centered in CAPS one-third of the way down the page. Drop 6-8 lines below the chapter title to begin the text, which should be double-spaced. Indent new paragraphs.
  • Subsequent chapter titles are centered in CAPS 4-6 lines below the novel title/page number header. Drop 6-8 lines below the chapter title to begin the text.
  • All text should be double-spaced and new paragraphs indented at least five spaces. Do not add an extra line in between paragraphs.

Non-Fiction Books

• Sample Chapters:
  • Margins - 1-1 1/2"around text
  • Proposal--Title of book/author on the upper left of each chapter page
  • Page number in sequence with all page numbers in upper right of each page
  • Drop down 6-8 lines and type "Chapter #" on left-hand margin, number of pages on right-hand margin.
  • Drop down 2 lines and type the name of the chapter at the left-hand margin.
  • Drop down 4 lines and begin the text of the chapter, making sure to double-space the text and indent each new paragraph.

Magazine Articles

• Margins - 1-1 1/2" around text
• First page:
  • No page number
  • Your name, address, and telephone number should appear at the upper left, 6 lines from the top, leaving a 1 1/2" margin on the left.
  • The rights sold should appear on the upper right, 6 lines from the top, flush with the right 1 1/2" margin. Single-spaced under the rights sold should appear the number of words.
  • The title of your article should be in CAPS, centered on the page, approximately 4" or one-third of the way down the page. Two lines below that should be centered "by" and your name, or pseudonym if you are using one as the author for this article.
  • Drop 4-6 lines below your name and start the text of your article. Text should be double-spaced with new paragraphs indented at least 5 spaces.
• All subsequent pages:
  • The article's title/author's last name, in CAPS, appears on every page at the upper left, 1-1 1/2" from the top; the page number appears on every page at the upper right, 1-1 1/2" from the top.
  • The article text starts 6-8 lines below the article title/author's last name. Remember to keep double-spacing the text and indenting new paragraphs. Do not add an extra line in between paragraphs.

Short Stories

• Margins - 1-1 1/2" around text
• First page:
  • No page number
  • Your name, address, and telephone number should appear at the upper left, 6 lines from the top, leaving a 1 1/2" margin on the left.
  • The approximate number of words should appear on the upper right, 6 lines from the top, flush with the right 1 1/2" margin.
  • The title of your story should be in CAPS, centered on the page, approximately 18-24 lines down. Two lines below that should be centered "by" and two lines below that, centered, should be your name, or pseudonym if you are using one as the author for this story.
  • Drop 4-6 lines below your name and start the text of your story. Text should be double-spaced with new paragraphs indented at least 5 spaces.
• All subsequent pages:
  • The story's title/author's last name, in CAPS, appears on every page at the upper left, 1-1 1/2" from the top; the page number appears on every page at the upper right, 1-1 1/2" from the top.
  • The story text starts 6-8 lines below the story title/author's last name. Remember to keep double-spacing the text and indenting new paragraphs. Do not add an extra line in between paragraphs.