Manuscript Submission Guidelines
THESE ARE OUR FULL MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
font: Twelve point, Times New Roman/Courier New, black
margins: One-inch margins on all four sides
indent: Half-inch paragraph indentations (this tab is pre-set in MS Word) for the first line of each paragraph (even the first paragraph of a chapter)
space: Double space; no extra line spaces between paragraphs
align: Align left (not justified). The right edges will not be uniform or even.
page numbering: Number pages beginning with the actual story (don’t count or put page numbers on the title page)
scene breaks: Indicate scene breaks by inserting a blank line and centering the number sign # in the center of the line
page header: Include your last name, your title (or keywords from the title), and the page number in the page header of every page except for the title page. Align the header to the right, so the information doesn’t interfere with the text of the manuscript. (Jones/Taming the Monster/1)
chapters: Begin chapters on new pages (insert a page break or format using styles). Center the chapter title, even if it’s only Chapter One (or Chapter 1), about 1/3 of the way down the page. Skip a couple of spaces and begin the text of the chapter.
end: Center a number sign # on an otherwise blank line one double-spaced line down from the final line of text of the final chapter or epilogue at the end of the manuscript. Or simply write The End. You want agents and editors to know they’ve reached the end.
italics: Use italics for italicized words.
character spacing: Use a single character space only, not two spaces, between sentences.
Include a title page--
contact info: Aligned left and single spaced, near the top of the page, include contact information: Your real/legal name, address, phone number, e-mail address. Follow with the word count. Alternatively, you can set word count apart by listing it at the top of the right side of the title page.
title and author: About 1/2 the way down the page, centered, enter the full manuscript title (all caps or mixed caps); on the next double-spaced line, type by or a novel by or a story by; on the next double-spaced line, add your pen name or your real name plus your pen name—Alexis Chesterfield writing as Billie Thomas
agent: If you have an agent, include the agent’s contact name and information beneath your name (yes, skip a line)
page header: Header information is not included on the title page. The title page is not included in page numbering.
subgenre: For some genres, including romance and sci-fi, you can include the subgenre, such as suspense or Regency. Include this information either above or below the word count.
margins: One-inch margins on all four sides
indent: Half-inch paragraph indentations (this tab is pre-set in MS Word) for the first line of each paragraph (even the first paragraph of a chapter)
space: Double space; no extra line spaces between paragraphs
align: Align left (not justified). The right edges will not be uniform or even.
page numbering: Number pages beginning with the actual story (don’t count or put page numbers on the title page)
scene breaks: Indicate scene breaks by inserting a blank line and centering the number sign # in the center of the line
page header: Include your last name, your title (or keywords from the title), and the page number in the page header of every page except for the title page. Align the header to the right, so the information doesn’t interfere with the text of the manuscript. (Jones/Taming the Monster/1)
chapters: Begin chapters on new pages (insert a page break or format using styles). Center the chapter title, even if it’s only Chapter One (or Chapter 1), about 1/3 of the way down the page. Skip a couple of spaces and begin the text of the chapter.
end: Center a number sign # on an otherwise blank line one double-spaced line down from the final line of text of the final chapter or epilogue at the end of the manuscript. Or simply write The End. You want agents and editors to know they’ve reached the end.
italics: Use italics for italicized words.
character spacing: Use a single character space only, not two spaces, between sentences.
Include a title page--
contact info: Aligned left and single spaced, near the top of the page, include contact information: Your real/legal name, address, phone number, e-mail address. Follow with the word count. Alternatively, you can set word count apart by listing it at the top of the right side of the title page.
title and author: About 1/2 the way down the page, centered, enter the full manuscript title (all caps or mixed caps); on the next double-spaced line, type by or a novel by or a story by; on the next double-spaced line, add your pen name or your real name plus your pen name—Alexis Chesterfield writing as Billie Thomas
agent: If you have an agent, include the agent’s contact name and information beneath your name (yes, skip a line)
page header: Header information is not included on the title page. The title page is not included in page numbering.
subgenre: For some genres, including romance and sci-fi, you can include the subgenre, such as suspense or Regency. Include this information either above or below the word count.
