Does anyone know a web site that details exactly what the standard manuscript format publishers are looking for. I'm damn near 22,000 words (shooting for 75,000) of my present opus and I think this stands a fair chance at being published (what author doesn't think that about their story, though) and it's bad enough I probably have damn near 22,000 grammatical errors I'm going to have to eventually correct, I don't want to have to mess around with the format upon completion. I have no choice but to use Microsoft Word '97 and I wish there was an auto fomrat that would do this for me, but seeing as God hasn't provided me with charm, a gilfriend, or a life, I'm sure this is too much to ask for as well.
Any help would be much appreciated.
JOHN!
Posted by Soule (Member # 1250) on :
Actually, if you go to a lot of publisher's websites, they have manuscript guidlines right there. I remember asking Kathleen about it, so there's a list somewhere around here...good lucking finding it...I think it was under a topic about publishing companies...if I see it, I'll tell ya.
Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :
There are three general guildlines posted at http://www.sfwa.org under the Writers: The Craft (or something very close to that) section, which I found to be very useful reading.
srhowen recommened Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript from Writer's Digest books to me in an earlier thread, when I asked a similar question (see: Nitpicky Formating Question Topic).
In general web searching, I've seen than publishers seem tend to set out general guidelines (for which another, more beginner guide is still needed) which includes their individual quirks.
[This message has been edited by GZ (edited April 25, 2002).]
Posted by JeremyMc (Member # 1400) on :
I second the vote for WD latest formatting guide. That has all the basics you'll need. Anything more specific would be subjective and would have to come from the individual publisher.