Bill Shunn's "Proper Manuscript Format"

JoeEkaitis · Mar 18, 2005

I've been called a dinosaur trapped in the Typewriter Era because I follow Bill Shunn's advice on "Proper Manuscript Format" but at least I know my submissions have been read because of the number of personal comments on rejection notes.

If all you're getting back are form-letter rejections to "Dear Author," it's a good sign you're not making it past the first reader and it could be because you've made your manuscript look like a finished typeset page. An author who doesn't know the basics of manuscript formatting comes off as unprofessional and not to be taken seriously.

When a publisher doesn't give any specific guidelines on fonts, formatting or line spacing, follow Bill's advice. The only thing I'd add is to consider adding Prestige Elite to your font library. This monospaced font based on the legendary IBM Selectric typewriter element is a treat for an editor's weary eyes, and anything that makes your work look better while adhering to the basics can only help.

Christine N. · Mar 18, 2005

Agreed. But not all agents/publishers follow the same guidelines, so make sure you check the guidelines of who you are sending to and follow those, TO THE LETTER.

stormie · Mar 21, 2005

When I first started submitting ms. five years ago, Wm. Shunn's formatting advice is what I followed. Still do. So I have to agree that it is a good guide. One thing, though. I now use Dark Courier New font, 12 pt. I downloaded it from the Internet, but can't find where.

GPatten · Jul 20, 2005

I’ve spent all morning looking for this information, everywhere! Thanks.

Jerry

James D. Macdonald · Jul 20, 2005

Dark Courier

You can get Dark Courier (my favorite submission font) here.

GPatten · Jul 20, 2005

James D. Macdonald said:
You can get Dark Courier (my favorite submission font) here.

Thanks James, I’ve been writing single space lines and skipping a line ever new paragraph. Comes now, I find I should not do that, I should have no blank lines between paragraphs. I’ve never caught that info until now. Sigh!

· Do not skip a line between paragraphs.
· Do not leave a line between scenes. Instead, center asterisks, dashes, or dots to show the line was intentionally left blank.
In addition, put two spaces after every colon: like so.

Jerry

I tried loading that, and it go lost in the shuffle.

Jens22 · Jul 23, 2005

I follow this format when a magazine's guidelines ask me to. Do you actually underline the italicized parts instead of actually italicizing them? It seems such a weird throwback to the typesetter days, especially when submitting electronically and I know someone's just going to have to change them to italics anyway.

· Do not skip a line between paragraphs.
· Do not leave a line between scenes. Instead, center asterisks, dashes, or dots to show the line was intentionally left blank.
In addition, put two spaces after every colon: like so.

I wish editors were consistent about these rules. On several occasions I've had to go through manuscripts adding lines and removing a space after colons and periods before submitting. Oh well. :Shrug:

James D. Macdonald · Jul 23, 2005

Yes, you really do underline to indicate italics.

Remember that a lot of editing is hand work. These are things that can be done with pencils.

And yes, typesetters do reset the material from the edited manuscript.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 25, 2005

format

I'm also a big fan of Dark Courier, and use it for all submissions. I'd rather avoid Prestige Elite. Font isnt nearly so much about the editor's eyes as it is about how easy it is to edit, and Courier 12 is the easiest font there is for editing.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 25, 2005

Jens22 said:
I follow this format when a magazine's guidelines ask me to. Do you actually underline the italicized parts instead of actually italicizing them? It seems such a weird throwback to the typesetter days, especially when submitting electronically and I know someone's just going to have to change them to italics anyway.

I wish editors were consistent about these rules. On several occasions I've had to go through manuscripts adding lines and removing a space after colons and periods before submitting. Oh well.

Someone can only put italics in the final product if they know it's supposed to be in italics, and italics are very easy to miss. Underlining isn't, Any any manuscript that is edited by hand MUST use undelining to indicate italices. There should always be consistyency in a manucript, and since an editor must undelrines to show italcis, so should the writer. This means whoever is putting the piece to press has only one thing to look for.

As for blanks lines, there is a proper way to do this, as well, no matter how many inconsistencies you see in guidelines. A centered # is teh actual proofreaders' mark that means "leave line blank," or leave an extra space. Even if an editor doesn't know enough to follow this, whoever is putting the manuscript to press certainly will.

It pays any wirter to keep a list of proofreaders' marks handy. This is what copyeditors use, and very often, it's what you'll be expected to use. You'll certainly have to know what they mean, should you ever get a copyedited manuscript back from a publisher.

You can find a good list here: http://www.m-w.com/mw/table/proofrea.htm

Jens22 · Jul 25, 2005

Someone can only put italics in the final product if they know it's supposed to be in italics, and italics are very easy to miss.

That's certainly true. On several occasions, when I've been sent proof sheets, I've had to point out missed italics.

Eh, I guess I'll use this format from now on after all, although it'll probably be a pain in the (cough) when I have to submit work pasted into the body of an e-mail.

Speaking of which, is it considered proper in that case to indicate italics by use of asterisks?

Bill Shunn's "Proper Manuscript Format"

JoeEkaitis

Certified Gray Haired Geek

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

stormie

storm central

GPatten

Dang...

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

GPatten

Dang...

Jens22

The Trolley is Out There