There are two main points for the proper way to format your submission.
First, there are common basic criteria that almost all people agree on.
Second, most publishers and editors will tell you what else they expect in their submission guidelines. So, follow these basic formatting expectations in all your work, and then tweak it as needed for specific instances.
Here are the basics:
- Times New Roman font: 12 points, black
- Double-spacing between lines
- Only one space to end a sentence
- Flush left and jagged right (that is, left-justified but not right)
- Indented paragraphs, usually a half an inch (Use the indentation setting in your word processor; don’t use a certain number of spaces or set a tab.)
- One-inch top and bottom margins
- Equal side margins (usually either one inch or one and a half inches)
- Don’t have a hard break (that is, a “carriage return”) at the end of each line.
- Don’t add an extra line at the end of a paragraph, except for a scene break or transition).
If you follow these basics, few editors will object, and most will consider you a pro.
Here are some bonus considerations:
- Don’t format the margins differently on odd and even pages (as you would see in a book).
- On the first page, include your name and contact information (email, phone, and mailing address) at the top, along with the word count (and with articles and short stories, indicate the rights you are offering). Some publications will specify that you put this information in the top right and others, the top left. Some will say to put this in the header and others will specify the top of the page, so expect some variation, but the key is to not omit this critical information.
- For all other pages, add a header with your last name, short title, and the page number. There may be some variations on this too, but the main thing is to have this key information in a header (or footer), not on the page itself.
Last, don’t let formatting paralyze you. In almost all cases, editors will fix a minor deviation or two without complaint. They generally want you to succeed. Following conventional formatting—along with great writing—will help get your work published.
Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.
