Question for authors on proper format.?

Question

Hey I am writing a book and this will be the first time I have tried to have something published. I was wondering what is the proper format that makes it easy for a publisher to read. Do they like it single or double space, any particular font, any particular way they want the chapters divided? I would rather write it in the format that they want the try to change it later. I always end up with huge problems when I change the format of large documents. I feel like the publisher is going to be like my college professors, if it is not in the proper format they don’t even look at it, they just throw it out.

Answer 1

You're right: If it's not the way they want it, they will just throw it out. They may not even use the SASE to send it back. It might just hit the trashcan or shredder.

First and foremost, with regard to whatever publisher or publication you are looking to submit to, check their submission guielines and follow them to the letter.

One person in here alluded to plain old Sans Serif, 12 point font, etc. I haven't heard of that. Most sources indicate a type that looks like old typewriter type, and direct you to use Courier New 12 point font. A person also told you to justify your margins. Don't. Leave your right margins ragged. Also, do NOT bold your entire ms. Underscore words to indicate italics, **on each side of a word** to indicate bold. Everything you read about formatting your manuscript for submission with regards to general guidelines will tell you this. Use the following link to read more about formatting your text for general submission: http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html

This is a short story format; however, it is a good guideline to follow. FOREMOST, check your publishers' submission guidelines, and as painful as it may be, save separate e-copies of your manuscripts for each time you have to re-format the damn thing for each different publisher that you submit to. It's a pain in the butt, but they WILL return it or throw it out unread. They ask for it formatted in a certain way to make it easy on their eyes, or easy for their wordprocessor programs to format for them to read on their pc's.

Double space your ms throughout. Some publishers will want your chapters to start on new pages, some to start on existing pages and not roll to the next; some want Courier New font, some want that old Sans Serif; some want some really, really crazy things, and I don't submit to them because I refuse to go through several hundred pages of text just to do it. It really is a pain in the ***.

Alex

Answer 2

Double space...

Your name & book title upper left corner each page...

Each page numbered upper right corner...

No "fancy" fonts, colors, etc.,. Plain old sans-serif font is good, bold, no larger than 12...

If your word processor will do it, justify body of text on each page...

Chapter headings 1/2 way down first page of chapter...

Answer 3

very last, First. "Article stumble on." stumble on of mag/mag (underlined). volume #. 5 aspects or tab on the starting up up of each and every new line and proceed. situation #. (Date revealed) : pages. Database (underlined). hosto of database. the position you got techniques. date retrieved by you . instructions are significant...i'm engaged on my study paper besides

Answer 4

see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuscript_format