When submitting a manuscript to a publisher, must the pages be numbered?

Question

YesI know I am young and you are going to tell me to give up on my novel and forget it blah, blah, blah. But I wish to know if my manuscript must be numbered because they get in the way.

Answer 1

Yes--your pages should be numbered. But if you're working on a computer, you don't have to put them in until you're ready to send it off. This way they won't get in your way.

Check the submission/formatting guidelines for each publisher or agent you're submitting to--they will each want things a little bit different, and some might specify exactly how to do page numbers and headers on you manuscript pages (some want your name, some want the title, etc., in addition to p. #s).

Don't give up on your novel! It doesn't matter how old you are, only that you love writing and keep on doing it. Don't let rejection discourage you--even the greats were rejected by someone.

Answer 2

I have submitted two manuscripts to publishers and in both cases I did not number my pages. The manuscripts were submitted either through email or on a floppy disk. In both cases the pages are automatically numbered when pulling up the file.

I tried to number the pages using Microsoft Word but I could not get it to work properly. My publishers said not to wory and they would take care of the numbering. They also created the copyright page of which I was not sure what was necessary since they were doing the printing and the ISBN assignment. I was starting out and did not know the process.

I now know what must be done as I have examples to make new copyright pages when I am creating an ebook. The copyright page should be left for the publisher to create for a paperback version as they need to input the ISBN number.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

It should be numbered, not only because of the aforementioned dropping it and paper scattering, but also because if whoever's reading it takes notes or wants to flip back through the pages, it's a whole lot easier for him/her to find what s/he's looking for if the pages are numbered. Not everyone knows your plot and story line as well as you do, and the extra confusion of not knowing where stuff is may end up sending your manuscript straight to the recycle bin.

There's an option to insert page numbers under the "Insert" tab of the Microsoft Word program. It's a lot easier than going in and putting them all in by hand, and they don't get lost between paragraphs if you decide to add something new.

Answer 4

while you're giving your manuscript to the editor, as in "your editor" the guy assisting you write the story, then somewhat that's as much as the editor; yet at this element in the introduction of the unconventional, or novella, it would not actual rely... no, because of the fact once you format the manuscript to the asked state of the writer, the web site numbers are going to alter besides. that's with a fiction tale. while you're writing a non-fiction, which suits to communicate to its very own pages, or chapters, then it could be solid to get the formating set until eventually now hand, and .. of course, hence, you will need web site numbers besides.

Answer 5

If you type it up in a word processor, you can paginate it, so no matter how much you edit one part, add more words or subtract words to another, you will not get confused ,nor will the editor who will read it. There are all sorts of little tricks that will make reading it (and editing, and word count) less work.

No matter how interesting you think the story will be, if it is not presented this way, you might get it returned until it follows a certain criteria .


So go for it and good luck.

Answer 6

If you are fortunate enough to find a publisher that requests any part of your manuscript you will be given precise instructions as what they want. Good luck.

Answer 7

Yes - what if he dropped it and all the pages went everywhere?