How to Format Your Manuscript

If you're formatting your manuscript, it means exciting things are on the horizon: you're submitting to agents or editors. Unlike when drafting your manuscript for your own eyes,or typesetting an ebook, aesthetics, creativity, and personal preference don't come into play here. Instead, it's crucial to follow submission guidelines and professional manuscript formatting. Although it can be technical, it's not too complicated, and following these simple guidelines can make sure your manuscript isn't rejected on something as easily avoidable as incorrect formatting.

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[a.v.]

I'm a visual learner, it would've been helpful if she did the tutorial on Word

[roaminx]

You are absolutely on top of your game. Who knows how great your future will be. Thanks. You're helpful in all directions.

[dear_totheheart]

Absolutely love and appreciate this! I think a practical look at what industry formatting ought to look like. Much appreciated, especially the fantastic tips and references! Seriously such a useful and needed video for the writing community

[eadlc]

Shaelin: Don't use all caps
Terry Pratchett: *laughs*

[ScottyDMcom]

Two minor points. First, I don't believe _not_ indenting your first paragraph is a thing in MS format. It definitely a thing in typesetting a book, but not in the MS. However I can't imagine any real agent or editor would reject a MS because of indenting style on first paragraphs. Second, glad to see you mention how to show a scene break. I've critiqued too many chapters where the author thought a blank line was adequate. It is, unless the line happens to fall at a page boundary. Then we're left wondering if there's supposed to be a scene break here or not.

[ashishraulin]

Thanks a lott for this.. Actually Today I'm going to write my manuscript in Ebook format so that i'll upload it to Prime Minster office before July 30.. Your videos are really helpful..thanks again❤️😊

[LyndseyMacPherson]

As a professional typographer/graphic designer, two spaces after a period should never have been abandoned. It creates a necessary visual breather between sentences. Illustrative of how some changes people made were just stupid.

[ngamminpyehaokip]

Perfect timing for me for this topic.
Edit: Ops! Please make a video on formatting for KDP.

[Falconlibrary]

Pro tip: Showing actual examples makes for a truly informative and helpful video :)
Show, don't tell.

[OscarMaya]

GREAT TUTORIAL! thank you for the template download

[clintoreilly]

Thank you for the template. You all are awesome.

[paleimperfection]

Thank-you so much for the helpful video. :)

[robertocarletti]

Thank you so much. The template helps.

[celestejustine]

This was so helpful <3
Thank you ~

[tejaswinisureshkrishnan]

Should the prologue be included in the sample pages? Because often the events mentioned in the synopsis start after the prologue so will that be confusing to agents?

[NicolesBookishNook]

For some reason, there are double spaces in my manuscript whenever there’s an italic word in the line. I can’t seem to fix it without getting rid of the italic. Any thoughts? It doesn’t pop up on Reedsy but it does in print form.

[paulsmyth]

Hello can we get a video demonstrating the time stamp layout please? Theres not enough info or videos out there regarding this for manuscripts. Thanks reedsy for your videos they are the best!

[mathupriya]

Very useful message thank you dear friend

[thebookwasbetter]

I have mine formatted so that two pages appear on an 8 1/2 by 11 page side by side. It's meant to mimic a mass market paperback. Feels easier to edit since you are going through a book rather than a college paper format. Paragraphs look normal sized as apposed to stretched wide from left to right.

[greggusan]

markymarktee, cute. And thank you for the useful vid and free template!