Formatting Your Manuscript

Formatting Before Editing

These steps establish a clear, uniform foundation for editing, ensuring formatting changes don’t interfere with your revisions.

Use a standard font and size: Set it to Times New Roman, 12-point, before writing or editing. This ensures readability and aligns with industry standards from the start.

Set consistent margins: Establish 1-inch margins early to maintain a uniform layout throughout the drafting and editing process.

Double-space the text: Apply double spacing initially to make annotation easier during editing—editors and collaborators need this space.

Include a Title Page: Create this *before editing* with the title, contributors, contact info, and word count to present the manuscript professionally.

Number Your Pages: Add page numbers early (starting after the title page) to stay organized during collaborative edits.

Add a Header with Title and Name: Place this *before editing* (e.g., “Wood / Time Travel / 1”) to identify pages if they’re shared or printed.

Format Chapters Consistently: Define chapter starts (e.g., “Chapter 1” centered, new page) *before drafting* to keep the structure clear as you write and edit.

Indent Paragraphs: Set 0.5-inch indents initially to establish paragraph flow before content changes.

Save as a compatible file: choose .docx or .doc from the start to ensure compatibility with editing tools and future conversions.

NOTE: Why before editing? These essential elements establish a solid framework, preventing mid-edit reformatting that could disrupt tracked changes or require re-editing.

Formatting During or After Editing

These steps improve the presentation based on the edited content.

Mark Scene Breaks: Add “#” or “*” for scene changes after editing, once the scene structure is finalized, ensuring they match the revised narrative.

Use standard dialogue formatting: adjust punctuation and paragraphing during a late editing pass (e.g., style phase) to ensure consistency with the polished text.

Check for Widow/Orphan Lines: Fix these *after editing* when the text is final, using “Widow/Orphan Control” to prevent adjustments during the editing process.

Follow Submission Guidelines: Tailor to publisher/agent specs *post-editing*, as requirements may shift based on submission targets.

Proofread the format: Do this *final pass* to catch any inconsistencies (e.g., stray headers) after all content edits.

NOTE: Why edit afterward? These depend on the final version—editing could alter chapter lengths or dialogue, so formatting changes accordingly.

Adjusted Process

Pre-Editing Setup: Perform steps for “Formatting Before Editing” before your punctuation, grammar, and style revisions. This provides editors (you or professionals) with a clean slate.

Post-Editing Polish: Follow the steps for “Formatting During or After Editing” after your self-edits or professional feedback, ensuring the format aligns with the refined content.

Professional Editor Integration: When hiring, provide the pre-edited, formatted draft (Formatting Before Editing) for them to work on, then adjust steps for “Formatting During or After Editing” based on their feedback.

NOTE: Most formatting, such as fonts and margins, should be set before editing to ensure a smoother process. Save detailed adjustments, such as scene breaks and submission tweaks, for later, following your layered approach.