Editors are busy people. They read many manuscripts everyday and they form an instant first impression of a writer’s work based on its appearance. A manuscript that is not professionally presented will likely be automatically rejected, unread. Writers know it is important to correctly format their manuscripts.
Be Professional
The writer should use only white paper, preferably 20 lb weight or higher. New writers sometimes think that printing their manuscript on colored paper will make it stand out in the editor’s pile, and they’re right, it will stand out, in the rejection pile. Choosing the correct font is also important. Most editors prefer Courier 12 and manuscripts should always be printed in black ink.
The First Page
An editor can make a decision about a writer’s manuscript in an instant. If the writer has used the correct paper, font and ink color, the next step to keeping an editor interested is formatting the first page to industry standard.
The margins should be set to one inch all the way around and manuscripts should always be double spaced. In the upper left corner, the writer should put his name, address, telephone number and email address, keeping mind that if an editor is interested she needs to have the proper contact information.
In the upper right corner, the writer should put the word count. Five inches from the top and centered on the page is the title, typed all in capital letters. The writer will double space twice after the title before he begins his text. A page number is not included on this page.
Subsequent Pages
On the rest of the manuscript pages, the writer will put the page number in the upper right hand corner, (beginning with page 2 – there is no numbered page 1), and a header in the upper left hand corner. The header should include pertinent information so that the editor can tell at a glance whose work she is reading. For example, if Bill Miller has written a novel titled Never Ending Summer, the header might be something like this: Miller, SUMMER. The writer will space down four lines from the heading before he begins to type. Chapters begin half way down the page and the titles and numbers are centered.
Before Submitting
The writer should not staple or bind their manuscript pages together. Editors like to be able to move around pages as they read without the hindrance of staples or binding. Paperclip a magazine piece and use a rubber band to hold together the pages of a book manuscript.
Editors prefer unfolded manuscripts because they lay flat for reading and editing. With that in mind, the writer should mail a magazine piece in a 9”x12” envelope. Most novel manuscripts can fit into a padded envelope or Priority Mail envelope. If the book is quite long, a box will be necessary. If the writer wishes to have his manuscript returned he should enclose an SASE, self addressed stamped envelope, with the correct postage.
Waiting to Hear Back From the Editor
The writer has formatted his manuscript to industry standards and mailed it off. While he waits to hear from the editor, he should be busy working on his next project, in case the publisher wants to see more of his work.
