Manuscript Presentation

Guidelines For Setting Out A Manuscript

You don’t want to attract a publisher’s attention for all the wrong reasons, and the last thing they’re interested in is a manuscript that’s decked out with loads of bells and whistles (fancy fonts, coloured paper, quirky symbols, etc.), so the most important thing to remember when you’re readying your work for submission is the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) Principle.

Publishing houses require manuscripts to be presented in a certain way because it makes their work easier.

• Pages must be typewritten with a legible, medium-sized font. While there are many beautiful font styles available today, although they may look great in a 2-page letter, they can make rather tedious reading in a 500 page m/s. I prefer 11–12-point Tahoma, Ariel, Verdana or Times New Roman.
• Use white (not coloured) A4 paper. It’s a good size for handling, i’'s cheap and easily available, and is a standard size for a photocopy machine.
• Print on one side of the paper only. This allows for clear copy as there’s no chance of ink showing through from the opposite side.
• Text must be double-spaced – i.e. 1 line space between every two lines of text, which equates to roughly 29 lines of text per page. This allows the editor to make minor corrections/suggestions above the text, if necessary. You can pre-set this in Word.
• Allow approximately 3cm for side margins. This allows space for the editor to make longer author corrections. It also allows the editor space to give written directions to the typesetter for the laying out of page proofs, should they decide to publish your work.
• Text should be aligned to the left margin only (not fully justified).
• Indent the first line of each paragraph approximately 0.8cm. Do not leave 1 line space between paragraphs.
• Number your pages consecutively in either the header or footer. This allows the pages to be put back into their proper sequence if dropped, blown about by wind, etc. Also, by knowing the exact number of pages, the editor can estimate the size of the finished product. This can be done by utilising the page numbering option in Word – this automatically adjusts text if additions or deletions are done to the m/s.
• Some publishers also request that each page carry the author's name and the title of the book/chapter number. Simply use the header/footer option on your word processing system.
• For ease of reading, do not staple pages together – leave them unbound. Secure them with string or a rubber band if desired when posting.
• All contact details (such as the author's name and address, phone number, email address, etc.) should be clearly stated on your covering letter and on the front page of the manuscript, along with the title of the manuscript, approximate word count and the publishing rights you are offering.
• Keep a copy of your manuscript (and don’t forget to back up your files).
• Include a SSAE (stamped self-addressed envelope) for the return of your assessed manuscript.
  

I have included a sample manuscript first page below for your interest - Click Here To Download