Standard Manuscript Formatting

I wrote this post late last night. When I checked it this morning, I found a few things I'd left out. They are in red.

Hi LDSP. I'm new to all of this. I was looking at some publishers' websites to find their submission guidelines because you always say how important it is to follow them. It seems that all of them are just a teeny bit different in what they ask for in formatting a manuscript. Do I need to reformat for every publisher? Also, one publisher said to submit my novel using "standard formatting." What does that mean?

Most publishers put formatting guidelines on their websites to prevent someone from sending in a 500 page manuscript, 9 pt type, single spaced, with 1/4" margins all around. Ugh! (Yes, I've gotten more than one like that.)

No, you don't have to reformat for each publisher, if you use standard formatting (unless they're just obnoxiously picky). If you use the following formatting, you should be safe with 99.9% of agents, editors and publishers.

Basic Page

• Margin—1 to 1.5" all the way around. (I prefer 1.5"—more space if I need to write notes.)

• Font—Courier or Times; 10 or 12 pt type. I prefer Courier, or another serifed, monospace, easy to read type because it's easier for me to read (although I have peers who prefer Times). I also prefer a 12 pt type for the same reason.
  

• Line Spacing—Double-space. Absolutely necessary so the reader doesn't go blind.

• Left justify the text.
  

• Paragraph Indent—First line, 5 pt or 1/4". I prefer set tabs, not auto-indent. My typesetters always cuss me when I send them an auto-indent mss because when they convert it to their typesetting software, it deletes the indents and sometimes it's hard to tell where new paragraphs begin.

• Header—In the top right hand corner, on one line of text, put your last name followed by first initial/TITLE (all caps)/Page #; right justified. For example:
  
  
  Publisher, L./MY BEST SELLER/1
  
  
  This information on every mss page is very important because we often get pages out of order, and sometimes mixed with other mss.

• Do not print on the backs of the pages, one-sided only.

Cover Page

• Use same margins and font as other pages. No header on cover page.
• Contact Information—Your name (your real legal name, not a pen name), full mailing address, phone number (with area code) and e-mail address in the top left corner. Single-spaced; left-justified. For example:
  
  LDS Publisher
  123 My Street
  My Town, ST 00000
  (123)456-7890
  ldspublisher@hotmail.com

• Title—Centered, about the middle of the page, or just above. One double-spaced line beneath.

• by—Centered below title; one double-spaced line beneath.

• Name—(or pen name) centered below "by"; one double-spaced line beneath.

• Word Count—centered below your name; one double-spaced line beneath.
  

First Page

• Header—in top right hand corner. Start on page 1. (Do not count the cover page.)

• Chapter Title—Hit return/enter two times (no more than six times), using double-spaced lines. Center title on page. Do not use all caps, or bold, or bigger font sizes. If your chapters don't have titles, type: Chapter 1 or Chapter One.

• Mss Text—hit return/enter two times using double-spaced lines. Start your story.

• Scene Breaks—If you feel you need to insert an indication of a scene break, hit return/enter two times, type ###, center it, hit return/enter two more times, go on with your story.

• New Chapters—Start each new chapter on a fresh page, using the same Chapter Title formatting as above.

Picture books and screenplays have their own special formatting.