Writing Lessons • Formatting Outlines and Manuscripts - Mar 7, 2006 • Third-Person Characters - Sep 28, 2004 • Copyrights - Apr 1, 2004 • Chapter Length - Apr 1, 2004 • Parallel Storylines - Oct 14, 2003 • A Conversation on Character - Oct 14, 2003 • Stories with Soul - Oct 13, 2003 • Naming Characters - Mar 5, 2003 • More in Naming Characters - Mar 5, 2003 • Starting a Short Story - 05 Mar 2003 • Writer's Block - 23 Sep 2002 • Classroom Writing Activities - 10 Apr 2002 • Background - How Much is Too Much - 14 Jan 2002 • Thought vs. Action - 19 Apr 2001 • Distractions from Writing - 15 Mar 2001 • Writing Spec Scripts - 15 Mar 2001 • Inventing Aliens - 15 Mar 2001 • Hot and Cold Third-Person - 15 Mar 2001 • Themes - 2 Aug 2000 • Point of View - 2 Aug 2000 • Your Inner Editor - Aug, 2 2000 • Digital Books - Aug, 2 2000 • Novel Length - Aug 2, 2000 • Plotlines and Ideas - Apr 26, 2000 • The "Maguffin" - Apr 26, 2000 • On Plagiarism, Borrowing, Resemblance, and Influence - Dec 20, 1999 • When is Conflict Good? - Oct 05, 1999 • Inventing Stories - Jan 29, 1999 • Do I need an agent? - Jan 29, 1999 • OSC Critique - Nov 17, 1998 • Beginnings - Oct 29, 1998 • Discussion of Dialogue and Style - Aug 14, 1998 • Does a Writing Career Always Mean Novels? - Jul 16, 1998 • On Rhetoric and Style - May 12, 1998

I remember reading an article you wrote about submitting works of fiction, specifically science fiction/fantasy. You talked about "Query Packets," the proper way to submit them (i.e. send them to every possible publisher), and then waiting patiently for the manuscript requests to start arriving.

My question is this: What is the proper formatting for the plot outline that is supposed to accompany the first 40 (maximum) pages of the manuscript? Also what is the correct formatting for a manuscript?

-- Anonymous

Manuscripts are double spaced, page-numbered in the upper right corner, with one-inch margins all around, and a header that gives your last name and the title, so that if the printout is dropped on the floor along with six other manuscripts, it can all be put together again correctly.

Don't justify the right side of the text. Don't use fancy fonts ever. Represent italics by using underlining - when the copy editor is working on it, it's too easy not to see italics, while underlining is unmistakable.

The format for the outline/synopsis is similar - margins, justification, page numbers, header. But it is single spaced, not double. That's because no one will ever edit it, so the double spacing isn't needed.

The font isn't important except that it be very readable - which means use a serif font. It used to be necessary to use a monospace font like Courier, where all the letters are the same width (as with a typewriter). But now that publishers are getting the final manuscript electronically, they can handle an ordinary proportional font. Times Roman is standard, but I use Bookman Old Style because the letters are so open and the text is warm and readable.