Formatting guidelines question.

You should always follow the guidelines if they exist. Use the "rulers" of your word processor to format these margins, indents, etc.

If you are using Word go to formate: paragraph: special: first line to get the paragraph indent. Then view: headers/footers to enter the titel and insert: page numbers. Does that help?

In word, you can set the tab positions by clicking on the ruler up to. Just click and drag the first tab point to the 1/2 mark.

bsolah said:

I'm really confused about how to format my manuscript according to the below guidelines for an upcoming anthology. I've put the ones I'm confused about in bold.

• Word .doc or .rtf only
• Courier or Courier New 12-pt font
• One-inch margins on all sides
• Double space with 1/2-inch paragraph indent (do not format paragraph indent!)
• Upper-left corner of first page:
  • Real name (for contract)
  • Mailing address
  • Phone number(s)
  • E-mail address
  • Word count
• Center title on first page four inches down from top
• Double space and center: By (followed by the name you wish to use as author)
• Headers: Left edge: Last Name/TITLE (or key words if too long)
  : Right edge: page numbers, beginning with page 2
• Use * * * centered to separate sections; i.e., change of POV, lapse of time, change of scene.
• Underscore passage to indicate italics.
• Last page: center THE END below final line.
• No copyright information after first page (if included at all)

The main confusion is to do with the exact measurements of the indents and starting the story a certain number of inches down the page.

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The indent is probably your default indent, anyway. Most word processors come with the tab set at half an inch. To indent, you just hit the tab key. And your margins should be set to one inch all around anyway. This is standard. And half an inch indent for the tab stop is also standard. You should already have your word processor set to these.

Everything here is standard format except centering the title four inches from the top. And that isn't out of line. It's just unusualy to have anyone ask for exactly four inches. But it's easy to measure. Either use the ruler, or if you have the margins set correctly, put your curser in the upper left hand corner and hit the enter key fifteen times.

Not really. These guidelines make it easier for them to read through tons of material. Also, makes it easier for them to weed out the slush -- they consider that those who don't follow the guidelines are not professional enough to work with. Sure, there might be a gem in that slush that got tossed away because it didn't adhere to the guidelines, but they're not interested in finding every gem in the universe.

bsolah said:

I thought it was kind of weird that they asked for such specific guidelines.

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No, these are industry standard format guidelines, and no matter who you submit fiction to, these are the format guidelines you should follow.

They make editing easier, they make reading easier, and as maestrowork says, they make weeding out writers who don't do their research easier.