How to Format a Fiction Manuscript for Submission to an Agent or Editor

Many have asked if this material is still relevant. If you are seeking traditional publication (in which you sell your story to a publisher), the standards haven't changed. But you don't have to go this in-depth if you don't want to. At the very least, if you do the following, you'll be good to go:

-Format your manuscript with Times New Roman 12-point font
-Double space the document without extra spacing before or after paragraphs
-Use one-inch margins on all four sides
-Use simple page numbers
-Center the same number of asterisks between your scene breaks
-No fancy fonts for titles

**This video is for authors seeking to format their manuscript for submission to traditional publishing houses or literary agents. It was originally recorded as a workshop for the NextGenWriters online writer's conference.

[janeladik]

You would not believe how long it took me to get through this. Windows seven and my first attempt to get up close and personal with the program. I am deeply grateful. I needed the schooling!!! My manuscript looks great. Thank

[benandink]

Massively helpful for someone beginning to send short stories to publications and competitions. Thank you, Jill.

[ArtoriasB]

I've been trying so hard to figure out how to properly format my manuscript so thank you for this

[abhishektodmal]

I just wish to say thank you again. I keep coming back to this video COUNTLESS times to revise and edit my manuscript to send it out to literary agents. Thank you dearly, Jill. Most deeply appreciative of this video ! Happy Day and life to you !! :D

[MartinWeeksmw]

Just wanted to say thank you very much. I'm not the writer in the house my fiancee is, and she is new to computers, and therefore having a miserable time learning Word 2010 while writing her novel. I subscribed to your channel and will forward information directly to her. Don't know if she will subscribe but I've left this video up for her to review.
I think it will be a great helper. She is talented in lots of ways, and deserves the opportunity to submit for publication if possible.
I grew up in a family of writers, so am somewhat familiar with all this, but my skills are in music, not novel writing. Linda seems to be gifted at lyrics, novel writing, photography and Video so this is a wonderful teaching tool.
Any other videos regarding Word 2010 would be extremely useful for us so she can practice while she's working. Helps the tedious learning curve. (No one likes Computers...I keep telling her...lol!!)
Thanks again, for an extremely well done tutorial on Formatting in Word 2010.
Peace!

Martin Weeks.
P.S. If you want to see our videos, just type in my name in YT and go to our playlist. Linda does all our video and lyrics. (see...no spam!! lol!)

[citizentee]

Not just for teen writers. This old lady found this helpful too!

[faelwynsilverwing]

I had to watch this video twice because I was immediately drawn to the book on your shelf by Kathy Tyers. She was my writing mentor for 6 months. 

[yolandebarker]

This has been really helpful! I thought I had done a clean job but the attention to detail has made me feel just a little more confident in handing this in.Thanks

[JoelHunterGun]

Thank you so much for this video. I've watched it over and over for different reasons, and I haven't found another video on the subject that is more helpful. Much appreciated!

[liamconcannon]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video, it's really kind of you and much appreciated (Sitges, Barcelona).

[robertwilliams]

Thank you Jill it worked so well. Thanks for everything you do.

[ericgyoung]

Thanks for a great video. It was very helpful and informative. I found many other video tutorials on this subject either hard to follow, or they just gave bad advice. Your advice on how to format is accurate with what I have read in some print publishing guides, but putting it into a Word tutorial is especially helpful. Thanks again!

[carloscamero]

finally, a video that explained it all and detailed. telling where to click. thank you.

[Master_Blackthorne]

Very important useful information and advice. Thanks Jill!

[MirandaAndUh]

Thanks for the guide, Jill! Helped out a lot; have a novel brewing, but getting the formatting just right was the only thing keeping me from turning my original treatment over into the definitive manuscript- now I'm not my way!

[cowgalval]

Thank you so very much for this. I am applying to some MFA programs, and getting my manuscript formatted correctly gives me the confidence to actually send it in.

[sheliaaustin]

Casey Casper- This is the second step to selling many books!

[ericmuschlitz]

Very clear and concise basics. I'm glad I found this.

[Gil]

Good info! Am half way done with my first novel so this is very helpful. Thanks.

[Jason-gbku]

Thank you, I appreciate the help after getting turned down a few times, I can now restart and go again understanding where I went wrong.