Now that the rough draft of my novel is complete, I decided to get it ready, technically, so that when I finish my revisions it will be polished and professional looking. I’ve read the general guidelines for the proper format of a novel several times before, but somehow I didn’t let it sink in. As a result, my first draft is a mess.
My entire manuscript is currently in block paragraphs, single spaced, with no headers. (Do not do that!) I had no idea how to keep the chapters starting on a new page, so I just let them go where they wanted. This came about because when I put each chapter in a separate file, and then made revisions which changed the chapter numbers, and then put the revised chapters into separate files, I ended up confused.
While I may sound lazy, it’s actually a matter of preference—I preferred to do it my way and figure out the right way later. Silly me. Good thing I’m revising the whole thing anyway. But today I’m attempting to fix things. (It’s much easier to do it the right way in the first draft than to change it later.)
The following sites explain the nitty-gritty details of formatting a novel. They do it so well that I’m not even going to attempt to summarize. If you’re interested in this, check these out.
Edit 2/29/12: If I had realized when I wrote this post that it would consistently be the most visited post on my blog, I would have spent more time explaining what to do instead of talking about how I messed up my first draft! If you don’t see what you need to know about formatting in the links I’ve listed, let me know and I’ll try to answer your question.
Basic Manuscript Formatting, by Kaye Dacus:
http://kayedacus.com/2007/05/23/manuscript-101-introduction-basic-manuscript-format/
Formatting a Novel in Word 2007, by Catherine Chant:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4841027_format-unpublished-novel-word.html
Format Tips for Queries, the Synopsis, and Manuscript, by Agent Query staff
http://www.agentquery.com/format_tips.aspx
Preparing Your Manuscript, by Charlotte Dillon
http://www.charlottedillon.com/ManuscriptPreparation.html
Sample Manuscript (includes title page and prologue), by William Shunn
http://www.shunn.net/format/novel.html
EDIT 9-23-09: Today I found another excellent site that explains formatting for novels and short works very clearly. Holly Lisle’s advice includes how to handle a title page, and when it is needed. Take a look:
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/manuscript_formatting.html
EDIT 10-6-09: I found another good site. Besides covering the format for paper submissions for novels, short stories, articles, and contest submissions, Moira Allen also goes over how to format a manuscript for submission via email.
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/manuscript.shtml
How do you keep track of your story? Do you have everything in one large file, or do you have a different, easier method? If it’s all in one file, how do you find what you are looking for? Do you keep all your revisions until the book is done, or delete the earlier ones once you’ve made several major revisions? Would you like to fix my novel?
Your last sentence made me giggle, despite being crossed out. Wouldn’t it be great if we could hand our ms to some kind-hearted elf (like the shoemaker did) and find it all ready to go in the morning?
My earliest not-exactly-a-memoir was done in several separate files, one for each chapter. Fortunately it wasn’t too long before I realized that wasn’t the way an agent or editor would want to receive it, and I quickly copied each file into one main document. Since then my novels have always been in one file. Finding things isn’t difficult because I’m using MSWord and I just do a search for a particular word or phrase with the ‘find’ option. Before I start any new revision I always do a ‘save as’ under a new name and archive the old file just in case I later decide I need to return to it. I won’t delete any of the earlier versions until publication eliminates the need to refer to them.
Formatting in Word is pretty easy, too. You can do a ‘select all’ and change the alignment from block to left justified in one move, or ‘select all’ and pull the margin over for a first line indent which will affect all the paragraphs in the whole document. Starting a chapter on a new page just needs me to put the cursor at the line of the new chapter heading and then use the ‘insert page break’ option. I sometimes complain bitterly about MSWord (especially its autoformatting that frustrates me by second-guessing what I actually want it to do), but I have to admit I wouldn’t want to be writing without it. I can set the formatting in place before I start, or just write blindly along and format things later–my choice.
Carol, I would love for the novel elves to come fix my manuscript! I worked on it for hours this weekend, trying to adjust the formatting. I must be doing something wrong because I had to go through the whole manuscript and tab for the indent on the first line of each paragraph. I had clicked on the indent box, and set it for 0.5″ indentation, but it just indented the first line of my manuscript–which was the title!
I’m still struggling to master Word 2007. By the time I do, my novel will probably be finished.
Carol
I was asked to give the church secretary a tutorial on Word 2007 just last week. We spent a couple hours together but it was discouraging to discover how different Word for the PC is compared to Word for the Mac (which is what I’ve used for umpteen years). Nevertheless, we made some progress and she agrees that it’s worth persevering as long as you have someone sitting beside you that can help walk you through things. The manuals are impossible to follow. So you have my sympathy!
Thanks for those links, Carol. They look like they will be handy.
I write my stuff all in one file and usually don’t worry too much about formatting until I’m done. It took me forever to get out of the habit of drafting in single space. I recommend composing in double space since that’s what you’ll end up having to send off.
Congratulations on finishing your first draft! That is great news.
~jon
Thanks, Jon. I have lots more links bookmarked, but those were some of my favorites.
I’m converting mine into one file, but it’s so hard to find stuff! I found a great tool to help me, though–I think. I’ll be posting about it tomorrow.
Carol
I wish I could provide some input here. I can’t. Maybe in a couple of months, I’ll be able to let you know.
Thanks for the links.
Hi, Stephen. At least you’re getting your novel organized right from the start, which I sure wish I’d done. Advance preparation would have saved me a lot of time and aggravation. Maybe my novel would even be ready to submit by now.
Good luck with your novel. I’ll look forward to reading it someday.
Carol
Hi, All:
Great links! Was curious if any of you use Open Office to write your manuscripts and if there’s a ‘Novel Template’ you many have found useful?
Thanks in advance – Happy New Year!
Vivienne
Hi, Vivienne. I haven’t used Open Office, but know it’s similar to Word–which is what I use. Several members of a writing forum I belong to use Open Office and like it. I don’t recall them mentioning any Novel Template, but the normal one should work fine. A novel can be written in even a basic, notepad format, though extra features can make things easier.
Maybe someone reading this blog will have a better answer. I have notes on Open Office, and planned to write a post on it soon, so I’ll ask about the templates when I do.
A free writing program I use to help me organize my novel is yWriter5. I love it. Here’s the link to my post about it: https://thewritingplace.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/shout-out-for-ywriter5/
and the yWriter5 site link is: http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html
Hope that helps. If you use Open Office, please let me know how it works out for you.
Have a Happy New Year.
Carol
I use Open Office all the time. I have never owned a copy of MS Office, and probably never will. I just use the “Normal” template and type.
I’ve written three complete novels, seven novellas, and numerous short stories using it with no problems. You can set up the first page format to be different than the following pages (which is useful).
I have exchanged documents with editing mark up with people who use MS Office. I am able to view their Track Changes edits, and they are able to view my edits as Track Changes as well. It is really pretty seamless.
I can’t imagine why anyone pays for a word processor anymore.
~jon
Thanks for the info, Jon. I have Word 2007 only because that’s what my kids were told to use for their college English classes. My son downloaded it to our computer for free from his school–if you can call something included in his tuition “free.”
Carol
Hi, Carol & Jon:
Thanks for the speedy replies. I’ve settled on just writing and formatting later. I’ve done too much technical writing in my life and have struggled painfully with corrupt Word templates, so Open Office really is a breath of fresh air. Jon, if you’ve produced such a huge amount of work with no problems, well, that’s the best endorsement I could have asked for!
Happy New Year!
Vivienne
Vivienne, following Jon’s recommendations has always worked for me! Good luck with your writing.
Carol
[…] to have to showcase it to make it appear attractive and interesting. That means it must be properly formatted, professional in tone, and include a query letter that captures the awesomeness of the […]
I have typed a manuscript, I would like someone
to proof read this manuscript before I send it to a
publisher. Who proof reads a manuscript.
Thanks
Lisa Jervis
from Wisconsin
Hi, Lisa. A freelance editor might be helpful. I don’t know any personally, so I can’t give you a name to contact. Here’s a link to the Editorial Freelancer’s Association, which lists average prices for the different levels of review, along with names of freelancers who advertise with them. Perhaps they could also give you more information. Be sure to check any proofreader’s experience and references before signing a contract with them.
http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php
Have you considered joining a writing critique group? Usually they exchange manuscripts or go over them as a group to help members improve their writing. If it’s a short manuscript you might also consider joining a writing forum online; most have areas where you can post your work for others to look over.
As you didn’t mention whether it’s a short story, article, or novel manuscript that you want proofread, I’m not sure what your best option would be. However, most publishers want a query first, and others only look at manuscripts that are represented by an agent. Be sure to check the writer’s guidelines for the publishers you are thinking of submitting your manuscript to so you give them what they want.
Best wishes.
Carol
In my Google search on how to format my MS, your site was the fifth page listed. How cool is that? Thanks for the great links!
You’re welcome, Kathleen! I’m glad it’s helpful.
It’s ironic that I thought formatting was too boring to bother writing about myself, and I took the easy out of listing other people’s sites. Turns out that this post is one of the most visited posts on my blog. I never expected it to be so popular, and keep wishing I didn’t sound like such an airhead. 😦
You don’t sound like an airhead! You sound like a writer who has struggled with something many of us can relate to. I’ve certainly found your annotated list of links helpful, so why rewrite the information included on each page? Especially when no one agrees on precisely how it should be done! I’m having enough problems deciding which format guidelines to use for my own MS. At this point, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for providing guidelines to another writer.
[…] Using the proper manuscript format is essential to make your writing look professional. In the absence of specific guidelines, use a standard format: double spacing for hard copies, 1 inch margins, black Courier or Times New Roman 12 point font, headers with last name, title, and page number. Don’t forget a cover page. (See my post on manuscript formatting.) […]
[…] https://thewritingplace.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/formatting-a-novel-manuscript/ […]
Smashing blog.
Thank you!
Carol, I have a question. This is my first experience with writing a book. I initially thought I had my formatting done, then discovered it was incorrect. I have attempted to correct it after writing about 75 pages but have been unable to so far. I wanted to avoid formatting afterward. After reading that there should be a one inch margin set around the entire page, I am wondering where the headers and page numbers are supposed to be set?
Hi, Mollie. Generally agents/editors want the header and page number to begin 1/2 inch from the top of the page, and the text begins 1 inch from the top of the page. It’s ok to add an extra 1/4 or 1/2 inch to your margin if you think it’s too hard to distinguish the header from the text itself. Since Word makes the header slightly paler than the body of the text, I don’t bother adding the extra to my margins but it’s more a matter of preference than an exact rule.
It is definitely easier to format properly from the beginning rather than waiting until you finish the manuscript. I found that out the hard way!
Good luck with the book. 🙂
Carol
Thanks so much for your response! That helps to clarify.
Love this blog!
[…] of success. When writing, knowing where to look for help with grammar issues, being aware of the proper format for the type of writing we are doing, and understanding how to use the basic features of our word […]
I have completed my book and am currently having a few people read it. I guess the next step is finding a publisher. The book is historical fiction based in Texas and Oklahoma. Any suggestions for finding a reliable publisher?
Hi, Mollie. Congratulations on finishing your book!
You didn’t mention whether you plan to self-publish or go through a traditional publisher. If you are interested in self-publishing, there are many different places to consider, and much of it depends on how much you are willing to pay. There are quite a few e-publishers that don’t charge, but I’m not sure which ones are legitimate and which are not–so I can’t help you with that. If you are trying for a traditional publisher, the best route to try is to query agents who represent your type of book. A good agent can make the whole process a lot easier, and very few traditional publishers will accept a book without agent representation.
I haven’t read the book agent Rachelle Gardner wrote (but I know she is a trustworthy agent with lots of good advice), but her e-book called How Do I Decide? Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing, might be a good place to start if you aren’t sure what you want to do. There are lots of websites that discuss the publishing process, too, and I think doing research before you commit to a contract of any kind is essential.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Thank you, Carol. I looked at Rachel’s website. It is encouraging. They want larger manuscripts than I have written, mine is 60k+, but they offered tons of info about the entire process, very helpful. Thanks to you too, Jon. I had heard but forgotten about browsing the bookstores.
Thanks again!
Good advice there, Carol. I don’t remember where I read it, but I’ll pass along this advice as well, as far as trying to find an appropriate agent. Browse your bookshelves or book store, read the acknowledgements sections of books similar to your own, and jot down the names of agents the authors have thanked. It is good on two points, 1) you know the agent is interested in your genre, and 2) the agent is most likely legit in that they have a proven track record. Once you have your list of potential agents you can double check them on Preditors and Editors for an added sense of comfort. http://pred-ed.com/ P&E lists both good and bad, and are not afraid to point out the bad.
Excellent suggestions, Jon. Thanks for helping out with this question!
Thank you for all the help. Love the blog!