If you want to give a professional impression when you attempt to market your manuscript, it has to be formatted properly and presented in the best way possible. Here are some easy guidelines you’ll be able to follow to ensure your document is in great shape.
Format your manuscript to publishing standards by using one-inch margins and justifying your text to the left only (i.e., the text on the left is flush using the margin, but the right edge is ragged). Use a clear, effortlessly readable font—nothing fancy or decorative. Most publishing industry experts favor Courier or on occasion, New Roman fonts, primarily because they are the easiest on the eyes, with clearly defined letters. Set the text font to 12-point size and double space the whole document.
Then, examine your manuscript to be sure that the headings are regular. If one’s early chapter headings are in a bold or headline-style capitalization, this must be the pattern throughout the rest of the headings within your document; the same is true with any subheadings or bulleted lists. Often, authors have enjoyed experimenting with a wide variety of page formats and designs while they’re writing, or perhaps a certain style may suit their inventive mood. (more…)
