manuscript formatting guidelines

8/10/2019 Manuscript Formatting Guidelines

1/21

Manuscript FORMAT Guidelinesfor

poetryshort stories

essayschildrens books

novelsnonfiction books

and plays

Writers Relief, Inc.409 South River StreetHackensack, NJ 07601

(866) 405-3003www.WritersRelief.com

2006 Writers Relief, Inc.
http://www.writersrelief.com/


2/21


3/21

Table of Contents

Poetry Format 1

First page of a poem

Second and subsequent pages of a poem

Short Story, Essay, or Childrens Book Format 3

First page of a short story, essay, or childrens book

Second page of a short story, essay, or childrens book

Last page of a short story, essay, or childrens book

Novel Format 6

First page of synopsis for novel

Subsequent pages of synopsis for novel

First page of an adult or young adult novel, cover, or title sheet

First page of an adult or young adult novel

Subsequent pages of an adult or young adult novel

Nonfiction Book Format 11

First page of chapter outline for a nonfiction book

Subsequent pages of chapter outline for a nonfiction book

First page of a nonfiction book, cover, or title sheet

First page of a nonfiction booktable of contents

First page of a nonfiction book

Subsequent pages of a nonfiction book

Screenplay / Stage Play Format 17

First page of a screenplay / stage play

Second page of a screenplay / stage play


4/21-1-

Your Full NameYour Street AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Telephone NumberYour E-mail Address

TITLE OF POEM (all caps, bold, left justified)

Text, Text, Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

New Stanza Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,





New Stanza Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,New Stanza Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

(continued)

SAMPLEFirst page of a poemFORMATUse 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOTnumberirst page.

1-inchmarginsll around.

Starttitle 3

single-line

spacesfrom

e-mailaddress.

Start textof poem

oneingle-linespace

after title.

Leftmargin

ustified orcenterentire

oem andtitle.

Do NOT justify

rightmargin.

continued)hould bein 10 pt.italics,

ight-flush

Use onlyspace at

he end ofeach

entence.

Use m dash instead of hyphen, hyphen.


5/21-2-

(Last Name, Title of Poem, page #, new stanza or stanza continued)

New Stanza or Stanza Continued Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,



New Stanza Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


New Stanza Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,Text, Text, Text, Text, Text

SAMPLE2nd and subsequent pages of a poemFORMATUse 12 pt. Times Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Last Name,Title of

oem, page#, new

stanza orstanza

continued)

hould be in0 pt. italicsand rightjustified.

New stanzaor

continuedstanza iswo single-ine spaces

after

header.1-inch

margins allaround.

Left marginustified or

centerentirepoem.

Do NOTustify right

margin.

Do NOTstaple orold pages.


6/21-3-

Your Full Name Word Count:Your Street AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Telephone Number

Your E-mail Address

6 single-line spaces

TITLE (all caps, bold, centered)

by (centered)

Your Name or Pen Name(upper and lower case)

Double-spaced Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,



Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.





Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

SAMPLEFirst page of a short story, essay, or childrens bookFORMATUse 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOTnumberrst page.

1-inchmargins

all

around.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOTjustifyright

margin.

Use 1 LeftTab

( inch)for

aragraphindent.

Do NOTse space

bar.

Use only1 space

at theend of

eachentence .

Use mdash

nstead ofhyphen,hyphen.


7/21-4-

Your Last Name/Title of Story/page 2

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

SAMPLESecond page of a short story, essay, or childrens bookFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Headerhould be1 inch

from topof pageand

nch from

text.

Use 10pt. italics

font.

**Useheader

unction inour wordrocessoro insert.

1-inchmargins

allaround.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justify

rightmargin.

Use 1 LeftTab

( inch)for

aragraphndent. DoNOT usepace bar.

** DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is difficult to remove headers from each page when repaginatingunless you have used the header function in your word processor.


8/21-5-

Your Last Name/Title of Story/page 3









THE END(all caps, centered)

SAMPLELast page of a short story, essay, or childrens bookFORMATUse same font as previous pages. Do NOT use Courier.


from topof pageand

nch fromtext.

Use 10 pt.italicsfont.

1-inchmargins

allaround.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justify

rightmargin.

Use 1 LeftTab

inch) foraragraphndent. DoNOT usepace bar.

Double-spaced

ext on allpages.

Do NOTstaple or

fold

pages.


9/21-6-

Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. wordsYour Street AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Telephone NumberYour E-mail Address


Synopsis (italics, centered)


by (centered)












SAMPLEFirst page of synopsis for novelFORMATUse 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.


WordCount is

right-ustified.

1-inchmargins

allaround.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justifyright

margin.

Use 1 LeftTab

( inch)for


Synopsisshould

notexceedthree

pages.

Use only 1 space at the end of each sentence.Use m dash instead of hyphen, hyphen.


10/21-7-

Your Last Name/Title of BookSynopsis/page 2

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

SAMPLESubsequent pages of synopsis for novelFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.


from topof pageand

nch fromtext.

Use 10 pt.italicsfont.

**Useheader

unction inour wordrocessor

to insertpageumbers.

1 inchmargins

allaround.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justify

rightmargin.

Use 1 LeftTab

inch) foraragraphndent. DoNOT usepace bar.



11/21-8-

Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. wordsYour Street AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Telephone Number

Your E-mail Address



by (centered)


(centered)

SAMPLEFirst page of an adult or young-adult novel, cover, or title sheetFORMATUse 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOTnumberitle page.

WordCount is

right-ustified.

1-inchmarginsll around.

Leftmarginustified.


12/21-9-

Your Last Name/Title of Book/page 1

CHAPTER 1 (caps, bold, centered)(about six single or three double spaces from top of page)

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


SAMPLEFirst page of an adult or young-adult novelFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Headerhould be 1inch from

op of page.

Use 10 pt.

italics fontor header.

**Useheader

function inyour wordrocessor tonsert pagenumbers .

1-inchmargins all

around.

Left marginjustified.

Do NOTustify right

margin.

Use 1 LeftTab

inch) forparagraphndent. DoNOT usepace bar.

Use only 1space at

the end ofeach

sentence.



13/21-10-


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.



Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

SAMPLESubsequent pages of an adult or young-adult novelFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Headerhould be 1inch fromop of pageand inchfrom text.

Use 10 pt.italics fontor header.

**Useheader

function inyour wordprocessorto insert

pagenumbers.

1-inchmargins all

around.


Do NOTustify right

margin.

Include no more than 15 pages (including synopsis and query letter) in your query packet to agents.


14/21-11-

Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. wordsYour Street AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Telephone Number

Your E-mail Address


Chapter Outline (italics, centered)


by (centered)


Chapter 1 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter one Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Chapter 2 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter two Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. Chapter 3 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter three Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


SAMPLEFirst page of Chapter Outline for a nonfiction bookFORMATUse 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.


1-inchmargins

allaround.

WordCount is

right-ustified.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justifyright

margin.

Use 1 LeftTab

( inch)for


Use only 1space athe end of

eachentence.

Use mdash

nstead ofhyphen,hyphen.


15/21-12-

Your Last Name/Title of BookChapter Outline/page 2

Chapter 4 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter four Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. Chapter 5 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter five Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,



Chapter 6 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter six Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,



Use as many pages as necessary for your chapter outline.

Marketing Potential: After the last chapter synopsis, include marketingpotential (e.g. the type of audience your book would appeal to and thenumber of people who would buy your book).

About the Author : Six- to eight-line third-person bio including informationthat sells you as a dependable writer; should list any publication credits inalphabetical order.

SAMPLESubsequent pages of Chapter Outline for a nonfiction bookFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.


from topof pageand

nch fromtext.

Use 10 pt.alics font

forheader.

**Useheader

unction inour word

rocessorto insertpage

umbers.

1-inchmargins

allaround.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justify

rightmargin.

Use 1 LeftTab

inch) foraragraphndent. DoNOT use

pace bar.

**DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is difficult to remove headers from each page when repaginatingunless you have used the header function in your word processor.


16/21-13-

Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. wordsYour Street AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Telephone NumberYour E-mail Address



by (centered)


(centered)

SAMPLEFirst page of a nonfiction book, cover, or title sheetFORMATUse 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or an other easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOTnumberitle page.

1-inchmargins

ll around.

WordCount is

right-ustified.

Leftmarginustified.


17/21-14-

Your Last Name/Title of Book/Table of Contents/page 1


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Chapter Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Chapter Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Chapter Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chapter Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Chapter Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Chapter Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Chapter Eight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Chapter Nine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

SAMPLEFirst page of a nonfiction bookFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.


op of page.

Use 10 pt.


**Useheader

function inyour wordrocessor tonsert pagenumbers.

1-inchmargins all

around.


Do NOTustify right

margin.

Use 1 LeftTab


Use only 1space at

the end ofeach

sentence.



18/21-15-


CHAPTER 1 (caps, bold, centered)(about six single or three double spaces from top of page)





Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

SAMPLEFirst page of a nonfiction bookFORMATUse same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.


op of page.

Use 10 pt.


**Useheader

function inyour wordrocessor tonsert pagenumbers.

1-inchmargins all

around.


Do NOTustify right

margin.

Use 1 LeftTab


Use only 1space at

the end ofeach

sentence.



19/21-16-



Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,


Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

SAMPLESubsequent pages of a nonfiction bookFORMATUse same font as sample pages. Do NOT use Courier.


from topof pageand

nch from

text.

Use 10pt. italicsfont forheader.

**Useheader

unction inour wordrocessorto insert

pageumbers.

1-inchmargins

allaround.

Leftmarginustified.

Do NOT justify

rightmargin.

Include no more than 15 pages (including chapter outline and query letter) in your query packet to agents.


20/21-17-

TITLE OF PLAY / SCREENPLAY (all caps, bold, centered)

by (centered)

Your Name(upper and lower case)

(centered)

year your street addresscity, state, zip codetelephone numbere-mail address

SAMPLEFirst page of a screenplay / stage playFORMATUse 12 pt. Courier or Courier New font ONLY.

Do NOTnumber title

page.

1 inch top,right,

bottommargins;1 inch left

for allpages.

Screenplaysand stageplays areprinted on

white 3-hole-punch papernd fastened

with brassfasteners

available atany office

upply store.


21/21

1

FADE IN:

EXT. YOUR SETTING IN ALL CAPS NIGHT

Description of setting. Introduce each CHARACTER in all capsat first mention only, thereafter initial cap. SOUND EFFECTSin description area in all caps.

Double space between action elements or descriptions whereneeded.

NAME 1Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.

Use (V.O.) after name if dialogue starts as a voice-over.

Further description of action. Try not to break dialogue oraction descriptions across pages.

INT. YOUR CHANGE OF SCENE DAY

New CHARACTER NAME introduced as they appear.

NAME 2Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.

NAME 1(Laughing)

Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.

Descriptive text that interrupts above characters dialogue.

NAME 1 (cont.)Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.

Descriptive text followed by an CHARACTER introduced as anoff-screen voice.

NAME 3 (O.S.)Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.

Ideal page length for a feature film or stage play script is110 to 115 pages, about 2 hours. Television movies should runabout 105 pages.

SAMPLESecond page of a screenplay / stage playFORMATUse 12 point Courier or Courier New font ONLY.

age numbersshould be nch from topf page and nch from textin top right

corner.

**Use pagenumberingfunction inyour word

processor toinsert.

Characternames start 4inches fromleft edge of

paper.Dialogue is

ndented rightand left to becentered on

page and 3inches wide.

Parentheticalsone tab left ofharacter name.

Left margin justified.

Do NOT justifyright margin.

Use only 1space at theend of eachsentence.

Use m dashinstead ofhyphen,hyphen.

manuscript formatting guidelines

Documents