single space/ double space

Yes, Mike. It's double space for proper manuscript format.

Triceratops

Hi Mike!

Definitely double space, twelve point Courier, 1" margins all around. Isn't it fun when all of the sudden your book doubles in length? Woo hoo!

Here's a handy place for manuscript guidelines: http://www.zackcompany.com/manuscri.htm
Courtesy of Agent Andy Zack, who answers questions over in the Bewares and Background Check board.

And yes, I think your main character should show up in the story pretty early. If you think of a novel as a journey, then the main character is your traveling companion. All the preamble not involving your main character -- before he shows up -- if he doesn't need to be in it, does it need to be in your story?

Welcome to AW!!

Mr. Mike!

Welcome!
Surf around, you'll find folks are very willing to answer any questions that they can for you, plus, it is just plain fun!
Cate

Hi Mike!

That "100 pages" seems to me to be an awful long time to wait for a main character to show up, even in manuscript form. That's roughly 25,000 words in, a quarter of the way through an average novel.

Personally, I like to have both my protagonist and antagonist introduced by the end of chapter two, three at the most, and other important characters not too long after that, unless the story really calls for them not to appear until much later. But the reader is likely to view the first characters they meet in a story as the most important.

That's just my opinion, though.

Welcome Mike!

Welcome, Mike!

I have a problem with the whoel "one inch margin" thing." I had it when I was in school as well. On my computer the one inch margins will be set, but it always seems like there's less than one inch on the right of the page.

Welcome to the boards, Mike!

Welcome Mike! There are tons of answers to questions you didn't even know you had here at these wonderful boards. We hope you stay a while!