Formatting Your Novel Manuscript in Google Docs: A Comprehensive Guide
Formatting a novel manuscript in Google Docs requires adherence to specific guidelines that align with industry standards. This guide provides a step-by-step process to help you ensure your manuscript is professionally formatted and ready for submission to agents or publishers.
1. Page Setup
1.1 Margins
Go to File → Page setup and set all margins—top, bottom, left, and right—to 1 inch.
1.2 Page Size
Use the 8.5 x 11 inches standard letter size.
2. Font and Size
Use a 12-point font typically either Times New Roman or Arial. Ensure the font is consistent throughout the document.
3. Line Spacing
3.1 Double Spacing
Set the line spacing to double. Go to Format → Line spacing → Double.
Ensure there are no extra spaces before or after paragraphs. You can check this by unchecking Add space before paragraph and Add space after paragraph in Format → Line spacing.
4. Paragraph Formatting
4.1 Indentation
Use a 0.5-inch indent for the first line of each paragraph. Go to Format → Align indent → Indention options and set the 0.5 inches.
4.2 Alignment
Ensure all text is left-aligned.
5. Title Page
Center the title of your manuscript about a third of the way down the page. Include your name and contact information centered below the title.
Example format:
```
Title of Your Novel
Your Name
Your Address
Your Email
Data
```
6. Page Numbers
Insert page numbers in the header. Go to Insert → Page numbers and choose the format with numbers in the upper right corner.
Page numbers should start from the first page of the text, not the title page.
7. Chapter Headings
7.1 New Page for Each Chapter
Start each chapter on a new page. Insert a page break before each chapter. Go to Insert → Break → Page break.
7.2 Centered Chapter Titles
Center the chapter title and consider using a larger font size, such as 14-point for the chapter title.
8. Scene Breaks
Use a centered || symbol to indicate scene breaks, if desired.
9. Final Check
Review your manuscript for consistency in formatting, spelling, and grammar. Make sure your document is saved regularly and consider backing it up.
10. Exporting
When ready to submit, you can download your manuscript as a Word document or PDF by going to File → Download and selecting your preferred format.
By following these steps, your manuscript will be formatted in a professional manner and ready for submission to agents or publishers.