Format Requirements

• Agent information: name, address, phone lower right-hand corner (do not include your own address in this case)
• Alignment of story text: flush left, ragged right (not justified)
• Byline: small "b" on "by" with author's name doublespaced below it in upper and lower case
• Chapter beginnings: TITLE or CHAPTER NUMBER halfway down, centered, text two doublespaces below that
• Copyright Notice: upper right corner but not essential
• Cover page (for novels): TITLE centered halfway down, byline doublespaced below that; address, phone, fax, email below that (omit if agented); word count doublespaced three times below that; no page number
• Document: when submitted electronically, all chapters should be combined into one file, with pages consecutively numbered
• Ending: Center "The End" without the quote marks a doublespace below your novel's last line.
• Margins: one inch on all sides
• Page Header: half inch at top, with author's last Name - SLUG - page number aligned right (slug is a main word from your TITLE)
• Paper: 20 lb plain white copy/bond
• Paragraph indents: standard five-space tab
• Printing: laser or high-quality inkjet, black on front side of paper only
• SASE: a self-addressed postage-paid return label, or include sufficient return postage by check
• Spacing: double space the story text; double doublespace between POV shifts within a scene or chapter
• Type: 12-point Courier or Courier New (Times New Roman or Georgia acceptable); use underlining for italics
• Word Count: include on cover sheet only
• Sci-Fi author John Stith has an excellent explanation of proper manuscript format and other important details on his website.