Basic Content Formatting
Initial formatting
There are some simple rules to follow when producing your initial manuscript. Get them wrong and you won't impress. There's not much to learn.
The rules
- Keep things simple. Do NOT use a fancy font. Stick to a simple serif style font such as Times New Roman
- Chapter headings should be in 'Heading 1' style
- Do NOT use the Enter key to space your work vertically. Never use three or more consecutive 'Enter' presses. If you don't know how to do this in MS Word, here's how.
- Do NOT double space between sentences. That practice went out with typewriters.
- Do NOT use the 'Tab' key to indent each paragraph. Configure the 'Normal' style of your word processor to produce a 0.5 cm indent at the start of each paragraph. Note however the convention is to not indent the first paragraph after a heading or text separator. Your word processor styles can be set up to do this automatically.
- Avoid bold and underlined text. Use italics sparingly. I use italics inside speech marks for the remote side of telephone conversations and italics without speech marks for thoughts if the story is being narrated in first person omnipotent viewpoint.
- Do not mix points of view in your manuscript. Stick to first person - I relate the story as though I was a character in it OR third person - where you are an observer of the story OR third person omnipotent where you relate the story as an observer who knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.
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