Formatting may not be something you think about as you draft your book manuscript, and that’s okay. Some authors prefer to set their manuscripts up from the start using the industry standards, while others wait until the final draft to correct any formatting. Either approach is fine, as long as your manuscript format meets the industry standards or specific guidelines outlined when submitting to a literary agent or publisher for consideration.
A properly formatted manuscript shows your professionalism and attention to detail, and is more likely to get read. It will also save time and money when sending it to a book editor.
Whether you’re writing a novel or nonfiction book, there are manuscript formatting standards that agents, publishers, and editors have come to expect when reviewing a manuscript. These include:
Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches for the US and Canada, A4 for other territories.
Font/Typeface: 12 point Times New Roman. Some agents and editors may prefer different serif or sans serif fonts like Arial or Courier New.
Colors: Black text on white background.
Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides (uniform).
Line spacing: All lines should be double spaced. This makes the manuscript easier to read and mark up. Do not add an extra space between paragraphs.
Alignment: Text is aligned on the left, with right ragged edges.
Header: Positioned in the top right corner and includes your last name, book title or abbreviated book title in all caps, followed by the page number. Page numbers begin with the number one and are numbered consecutively, beginning with the first page following the title page.
Indentations: The first line of a new paragraph should be indented a half-inch, except for the start of a new chapter or scene. Do not create the indent by hitting the space bar five times or by using the “tab” key. Instead, you should set the indent up as the document default by going into Paragraph → Indents and Spacing → Left: 0.5” → Special: First line.Sentence separation: Use one space after a period between sentences.
Italics: Writers no longer underline words to indicate italics, they simply use the italics feature.
Scene breaks: For scene breaks, add a centered hash mark or three asterisks below the last line of text to indicate a new scene.
Chapters: Begin chapters on a new page using page breaks, rather than hitting enter until you get to a new page. Center the chapter number in all caps (CHAPTER ONE or CHAPTER 1) about one-third to one-half of the way down the page. If your chapter has a subtitle such as a character’s name to indicate point of view, put that below the chapter number. Then, skip a couple of lines and begin the text of the chapter. The first line is not indented.
Table of contents: If you are writing nonfiction and have a table of contents, it should be positioned after the title page and before the first page of your manuscript, and the pages should be numbered with Roman numerals, not page numbers.
Ending: To indicate the end of your manuscript, add a line with the words “THE END” or just “END” centered and two lines below the last line of text.
File type: The standard file formats for submission are doc or docx files (Microsoft Word and Google Docs), but PDF files (Adobe Acrobat) are also widely accepted.
File name: Best practice is to name your manuscript file with your last name, book title, and date separated by underscores (_).
Some agents and publishers may list specific formatting and file type requirements in their submission guidelines — if they do, follow their requirements exactly as outlined. If no specific requirements are noted, follow the industry standards listed above.
While you can use special writing software to format your manuscript, basic word processing software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs will have the necessary tools.
An important part of a properly formatted book manuscript is the title page. This page should be positioned in front of your manuscript pages and should include the following information, using the same 12 point font you use in your manuscript:
• Legal name, address, and contact information single-spaced in the upper left corner.• Word count, rounded to the nearest hundred, in the upper right corner.• Book title in all caps about half way down the page and centered, followed by the word “by” two lines below, followed by your author name two lines below that. If you’re writing under a pen name, then your legal name should come before your pen name — for example, “Legal Name writing as Pen Name”.• Your book’s category (age group) at the bottom of the page, centered, followed by your book’s genre/subgenres two lines below that.
Prior to submitting your full book manuscript to an agent or publisher, there are other formal documents that may be required first to garner their interest. They will then follow-up with a request for the full manuscript if interested. These documents can include:
Query Letter – a single page, single-spaced formal letter that introduces your book and your writing in a compelling way. This is typically required by all literary agents before anything else is submitted.
Synopsis – a single-spaced summary of the entire book, from beginning to end, written in 3rd person and without any fancy prose or marketing fluff. Length will depend on the specific submission requirements.
Sample Chapters – some agents will request the first 3 – 5 chapters of your manuscript before deciding if they wish to review the entire manuscript. These should be formatted following the industry standards or agent’s specific guidelines.
Book Proposal – a single-spaced business plan, typically 10 - 25 pages in length that includes information about your target audience, comparable titles, author platform, chapter outline, marketing plan, and more.e both in agreement on when the final manuscript will be delivered. We recommend consulting an intellectual property attorney when entering into any contracts to ensure you and the final work are fully protected.
A properly formatted manuscript is an important step in ensuring your work is as polished as possible prior to any professional editing, agent submissions, or publishing. We encourage you to download and use this template that has been formatted to the industry standards outlined. ALC_Title Page_Manuscript Formatting Template.docx For more in-depth formatting assistance, we recommend referring to the latest version of the Chicago Manual of Style, as it’s used by most editors and publishers.
A properly formatted manuscript is an important step in ensuring your work is as polished as possible prior to any professional editing, agent submissions, or publishing. We encourage you to download and use this template that has been formatted to the industry standards outlined.
ALC_Title Page_Manuscript Formatting Template.docx
For more in-depth formatting assistance, we recommend referring to the latest version of the Chicago Manual of Style, as it’s used by most editors and publishers.
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