what spacing should I use when writing a book, so that it can be eddited?

Question

This will be my first attempt at writing, so any advice about the layout would be helpful, thanks, Barry

Answer 1

Best advice I can give at this point is to locate your spell checker so that your editor (without the double d) will have fewer mistakes to correct.

Answer 2

My mother and I used to type out the proofs of all my step-father's books and we had type in double line spacing - ie a line of typing then a free line and then another line of typing. It is rather like when you double enter to start a new paragraph.

Though a proof reader's job is to correct spelling and punctuation it would be good if you were able to do most of this yourself. I have written theses for a friend who's spelling was - shall we say - leaving a lot to be desired! Bless him for trying. But it had some hilarious out-comes!

Keep your layout consistent and if there is dialogue - please use speech marks. The hardest thing to read is a book with no speech marks.

Another thought is to have both margins justified. It looks less unbalanced and a publisher is more likely to read it. The margin spaces will be used by the proof reader to make any corrections.

Good luck with the writing.

Answer 3

Hi Barry:
First thing you will do is spell check EVERYTHING. That way you won't spell edited with two 'd's, which will turn off any publisher (or editor, for that matter).
Spacing is always double space, unless your editor asks for something different. Double space allows the editor to mark in comments, corrections, suggestions, etc.
You don't have to worry about layout, your publisher will do that. All you have to do is write the book, make sure (if it's non-fiction) that you give all the attributions and credits if you refer to someone else's work or give quotes, and SPELL CHECK before you submit it to anyone.
Oh -- did I mention you should run it through the spell checker?
Good luck with it.

Answer 4

Double lined spacing, and a 2 inch margin all the away around - this will allow room for any comments to be written on the page.

When you reach the end of a chapter, start the next chapter on a new page.

And number all the pages - centre bottom - then it won't matter too much if they get mixed up.

Answer 5

Using 'WORD' click on FORMAT, then Paragraph

In the dialogue box set LINE SPACING to DOUBLE. (Close the Dialogue box)

Click on FILE, PAGE SETUP

In the Dialogue box set TOP & BOTTOM margins to 1.5 inches

Set LEFT & RIGHT margins to 1.5 inches (Close the dialogue box).

Your page will now be set to automatically give you a double space each time you press the enter key.

All margins will also be set and should be enough for any competent book editor. They do use special editing symbols.

Answer 6

Double-line spaced, 1" margins all around is typical, but check with the journal/magazine you're going to submit to. The last thing you want to do is give the editor a reason to toss your manuscript.

Answer 7

About an inch margin on the sides and inch and a half from the top, an inch at the bottom and double-spaced lines.

Answer 8

Simply write with double spacing. Revert to single after the edit.

Answer 9

double line spacing is good for documents that need amending. I work for a solicitors and we do all draft documents in double line spacing so that there plenty of room for changes.

Answer 10

double spacing with really wide margins on either side