Do not use fancy typefaces under any circumstances. Such typefaces are called sans serif and are disliked by editors. This article is written in a typeface without serifs. For example, in a serif typeface, the letter i has a horizontal serif at its base and another at the top. Serifs are the little lines that extend from a letter. Use a simple serif typeface, the best being Courier.This translates to a “font size” of twelve on your computer for Courier New, the recommended font. Ten characters per inch is the preferable size. Editors read a lot and don’t want eyestrain. The first line of a new scene is not indented. Leave the first and third blank lines blank. On the second blank line, center a pound sign (#). This will create 3 double-spaced blank lines. If you have a scene break, hit return 4 times at the end of the scene.Don’t do anything too fancy or long, because it will distract the editor each time she scrolls to a new page. In the top right corner of each page after the first page, put your last name, a slash, and the page number.The beginning of each paragraph after that should be indented, approximately 5 spaces. The first line of a story is not indented.Your real name goes in the upper left corner.) (If you use a pseudonym, the pseudonym goes on the line below the title. ” Do not do anything fancy with the title, like put it in larger or different type, capitalize the whole thing, underline it, put in quotations, bold, or anything else. About halfway down the first page, put your title, centered, and one double space below it, “by.Put estimated word count in upper right corner, rounded off to the nearest hundred words.Put your name, address, e-mail, and phone in the upper left corner, single spaced.Use standard 1″ to 1.25″ margins all around.You can find a description of the differences between two popular types of formatting, “classic” and “modern,” here. These guidelines are sometimes referred to as “classic” formatting.

These guidelines generate manuscripts that leave sufficient room for editing and are easy on an editor’s or agent’s tired eyes. If not, below are guidelines used by many publishing professionals that will serve you well. If the editor or agent to whom you are submitting has formatting guidelines, follow them. They’ll begin reading with the belief that your manuscript probably isn’t worth their time, and they’ll be looking for a reason to reject the manuscript as quickly as possible. If the manuscript is not formatted correctly, editors and agents will assume you are an amateur. They will begin reading your work with the belief that it may possibly be good. If the manuscript is formatted according to standard publishing practice and printed out well, editors and agents will take this as a sign that you know what you’re doing. The quality of the presentation reflects your professionalism as a writer. But editors and agents also pay attention to the presentation.

In submitting your work, nothing is more important than the story itself.

Standard manuscript format