Footers: Use footers sparingly, typically for important notes or additional information that doesn't fit within the main text for non-fiction.Headers: Include the author's last name and abbreviated title.Start numbering from the first page of the main text, excluding any front matter sections. Page numbers: Place them in the header or footer.When you’re ready, consider these guidelines: If you’re self-publishing, check your favorite books and see what style you like. Page numbers, headers, and footers help readers navigate through your manuscript and provide a professional touch, but what you include is ultimately up to you. Adding Page Numbers, Headers, and Footers Note that e-books will automatically space lines based on their reader’s preference. Err towards the larger for children’s books. Choosing the Right SpacingĪgain, simple and to the point: use 1.3-1.5x spacing. Self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing and IngramSpark will have templates available using their specific margins. These margin sizes provide enough white space for readers and allow room for binding if the entire manuscript is printed. Left and right margins: Set them to 1.25 inches (3.17 cm) for a balanced appearance.Top and bottom margins: Set them to 1 inch (2.54 cm) to allow sufficient space for headers and footers.Proper margin settings ensure that your own manuscript format has a clean and balanced layout. Save bold, italics, and underline for specific purposes, such as emphasizing words or indicating titles within the text (we’ll chat about this later). All body text should be the same size, while headings (for chapters, parts, etc.) should be a consistent font size, too. Next, set the font size to 11 or 12 points. When choosing a font for your manuscript, opt for a serif font like Times New Roman or Garamond, and make sure to use the same font throughout.įor e-books, sans serif fonts like Arial are your best bet.Īvoid distracting decorative or overly stylized fonts. You want to balance a professional appearance with the reading experience. The font you choose for your novel should be legible and easy on the eyes. Here are some of the elements you want to consider when formatting a novel. It’s not as important as the plot and characters, but paying attention to details such as font selection, margins, line spacing, your manuscript title page, and page elements will make your work easier for agents to read or improve its readability once published. Preparing your manuscript properly is essential to ensure a professional and polished look. Certain publishers and self-publishing platforms might have their own guidelines, so make sure to check first! Manuscript Preparation How to accomplish each of these steps varies depending on your word processor, but anyone using Google Docs or a Word document will be able to include all of these suggestions.Ī quick note: we’ll be sticking to best practices and industry standards when it comes to formatting a novel and submitting a manuscript. We’ll cover it all in this article, including: It’s not a sexy process, but manuscript formatting isn’t as scary as some writers think. So what’s next? Well, you need to learn how to format a novel. Heck, you’ve even worked with beta readers and editors to make your story as close to perfect as possible. Your characters have compelling arcs, your quests are epic, and your worldbuilding is the stuff of legends. You’ve just spent months, maybe even years working on your book.
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