How should I set up my book in Microsoft Works? - Writers Forum

colorsoundkid · 07-15-2006, 04:54 PM

I guess I would like to know what agents/publishers are looking for in terms of document layout. I suppose I am looking for general etiquette of setting up the pages: where the page numbers go, what do I need in my headers, etc, etc...

Any help would be appreciated. If you have links to FAQs or even a template I could use in Microsoft Works I would be thrilled.

thanks

mwd · 07-15-2006, 05:59 PM

Hey, I don't have a template, but someone (maia?) posted this previously: http://www.shunn.net/format/novel.html

It's a good site with standard manuscript formatting. If you follow those guidelines you shouldn't go too far wrong, although of course the final word is always the guidelines of the publisher/agent themselves -- make sure to research each place you submit to, and find out what they want. If they don't specify, or their guidelines are vague, then standard manuscript formatting should be all right.

edit: Also, presuming this is a novel, most places don't want you to just dump your full manuscript on them. Most of them want a query letter with a synopsis, or a few sample chapters, or some combination thereof. Again, research each place you submit to.

mammamaia · 07-15-2006, 08:09 PM

yup, that's the format guide i recommend... and you can email me for tips on writing queries/proposals and submitting material, as well as for one-on-one help, if you want it, kid...

love and hugs, maia
maia3maia@hotmail.com

colorsoundkid · 07-15-2006, 11:26 PM

Awesome, thanks...

Fantasy of You · 07-16-2006, 07:51 AM

I forget the site, but some author who sold alot of books posted a thing on how to submit work to publishers. He said you double space your words and use a font like times roman, and have the margin 1 inch each side. He said you said approx 40 pages (maybe less, depending on what you think will be enough to grab them) of your odublre spaced work, with a page on top that outlines the rest of the story starting from where you ended your sample.

Did I forget anything.. erm.. font 12, -- for the em dash... *thinks* This was for sf/f, but I am assuming it's the same for other genres?

Anyway, if I am wrong, Mike will correct me with his rugged economy for words

Terri_Mo · 07-16-2006, 11:05 AM

The link posted is basically what agents and editors are looking for. Double spaced, first line indent, Times New Roman or Courier New, 12 pt font. Although, when doing your research on agents, look at what their guidellines are...some could want a specific font and size.
Also, I'd pass on the dedication page when submitting...a bit pretentious at that stage. Also, add your contact info to the cover sheet.

Name
Address
Phone Number (home and cell)
Email
Website--if you have one.

As for the header. I do Title/last name on the upper left and page number on the upper right.

colorsoundkid · 07-19-2006, 02:42 AM

That's perfect. Thank you so much!

I have another weird formatting question, though. How do you do the author's name, book title, and page number? I tried using headers, but it won't work properly. Do you just type those in as you are going along? Or is there some trick to it?

mwd · 07-19-2006, 03:20 AM

I'm going to assume you're using Word, here... but assuming you are:

Go to Insert, then Page Numbers. Pick 'Top of page (Header)' and 'Right'. Uncheck the box that says show number on first page.

Scroll down to the second page of your document (or any page beyond the first, for that matter) and find the page number in the header. Double click on it, which should show a dotted line around the page's header and bring up a nice box with a bunch of buttons.

Then just click on the page number, and you should be able to type your name and title in as you would any other text. Your name/title will show up on all the pages of your document except the first, but with the correct page number. You can change the font of your header to match your document if you want as well. It's basically like any other text you'd type in word, except it's cloned to all the pages of your document.

Once you're done messing with it, just click the 'Close' button that came up on the Header and Footer toolbar with all those buttons. You can get back into it later by double clicking on it again.

This is what I do at least, and it works for me just fine.

(Sorry if my instructions sound condescending, I wasn't sure how much computer knowledge you had, so decided to try to be as detailed as possible.)

FrankBlissett · 07-19-2006, 09:52 AM

"Sorry if my instructions sound condescending"

Not in the least. I've quite a bit of computer knowledge and learned something new from your post.

-Frank

colorsoundkid · 07-19-2006, 02:39 PM

I really appreciate your response, but I have Microsoft Works. It doesn't appear that your method would work there. When you go to insert and page numbers it won't give you any options, it just pops a number wherever the cursor is at the moment.

Anyone with Microsoft Works that could explain how?

Mike C · 07-19-2006, 02:43 PM

Stop. Don't adjust another thing.

Write the book. Finish it. Edit and refine it.

Worry about the formatting when you're finished. Formatting won't make you a better writer, writing will.

colorsoundkid · 07-19-2006, 02:54 PM

Wait, I figured it out. You have to go to "Headers" and then click the "#" icon that pops up underneath. You can insert whatever text you like before it (like the author/title) and it will automatically change the numbers on each successive page.

Thanks to everyone!

colorsoundkid · 07-19-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Stop. Don't adjust another thing.

Write the book. Finish it. Edit and refine it.

Worry about the formatting when you're finished. Formatting won't make you a better writer, writing will.

I'm a little anal about these sorts of things so it's best to just get it out of the way. Thanks, though...