You’ve got a manuscript ready. You’ve poured weeks (months?) into it. Then submission guidelines hit you like a brick—margins, fonts, spacing, file types… and suddenly nothing feels right.
Good news? This isn’t complicated. It’s just picky.
I’ve fixed hundreds of these. The mistake is always the same: people try to be creative with formatting. Don’t. Your job is to make the editor’s life boringly easy.
Let’s get you there.
The #1 Reason Manuscripts Get Rejected Before Reading
It’s not your story. It’s your formatting.
Editors skim first. If it looks messy, inconsistent, or “off,” they assume the writing will be too.
What triggers that reaction?
- Weird fonts (anything not standard)
- Single spacing (looks like a blog post, not a manuscript)
- No page numbers (nightmare for editors)
- Inconsistent paragraph indents
- Huge gaps between paragraphs instead of proper formatting
Fix this first: make it look like every other professional manuscript. That’s the bar.
The Standard Format (What 90% of Submissions Expect)
If you do nothing else, do this exactly.
- Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
- Line spacing: Double-spaced (no exceptions)
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Alignment: Left-aligned (not justified)
- Paragraphs: First line indented (0.5 inch)
- Page numbers: Top right corner
- Header: Your last name + manuscript title
Think of it like a uniform. Nobody wins points for customizing it.
Fix It in 60 Seconds (If You’re Using Word or Google Docs)
Here’s the fastest way to clean things up.
In Microsoft Word:
- Select all (Ctrl + A)
- Set font to Times New Roman, 12
- Go to Line Spacing → choose Double
- Layout → Margins → Normal (1 inch)
- Paragraph settings:
- First line indent: 0.5 inch
- Spacing before/after: 0 pt
- Insert → Page Number → Top Right
In Google Docs:
- Ctrl + A
- Font: Times New Roman, 12
- Format → Line spacing → Double
- File → Page setup → 1-inch margins
- Format → Align & indent → Indentation options → First line: 0.5 inch
- Insert → Page numbers → Top right
Important: Close and reopen the file after changes. Formatting glitches love to hide.
The Part Everyone Messes Up: Paragraph Spacing vs Indents
I see this constantly.
People hit Enter twice between paragraphs instead of using indentation.
That’s wrong for manuscripts.
- ❌ Space between paragraphs
- ✅ Indent the first line
Why? Because editors expect a continuous flow of text. Extra spacing screams “amateur” instantly.
What Goes on the First Page (Don’t Guess This)
Top-left corner:
- Your name (or pen name)
- Address (sometimes optional)
- Phone number
Top-right corner:
- Approximate word count (e.g., 82,000 words)
Then, centered halfway down:
- Title (ALL CAPS or Title Case)
- Subtitle (if any)
- Your name
Start the manuscript a few lines below that.
Do not decorate this. No bold experiments. No fancy spacing. Keep it clean.
Scene Breaks (Don’t Get Cute Here)
You need a way to show a break between scenes.
Use one of these:
- A centered #
- Or three asterisks: ***
That’s it.
No fancy symbols. No emojis. No extra spacing tricks.
File Format Mistakes That Get You Ignored
You’d be surprised how often this kills a submission.
| Situation | What to Send |
|---|---|
| Most agents/publishers | .docx (Word file) |
| Some older systems | .doc |
| Rare cases | PDF (only if requested) |
If they ask for .docx and you send a PDF, you look like you didn’t read instructions.
That’s enough for rejection.
When Guidelines Override Everything
Here’s the rule people forget:
Submission guidelines always win.
If a publisher says:
- Use Arial instead of Times New Roman → do it
- Single spacing instead of double → do it
- No header → remove it
Doesn’t matter if it feels wrong. They have internal systems built around those specs.
Ignoring that = instant no.
The Weird Edge Cases I’ve Seen (So You Don’t Repeat Them)
These are real. All of them caused problems.
- Tabs mixed with spaces for indentation → paragraphs misalign
- Justified text → uneven spacing between words
- Manual page numbers typed in → total chaos when pages shift
- Copy-paste from Scrivener or web → hidden formatting junk
- Fonts that look like Times New Roman but aren’t → formatting breaks
If something looks slightly off, it is off. Fix it.
Still Looks Wrong? Here’s the Reset Trick
When formatting gets stubborn, don’t fight it.
Do this instead:
- Open a brand new blank document
- Set formatting correctly FIRST
- Paste your manuscript using “Paste without formatting”
- Reapply only what you need (italics, scene breaks, etc.)
This strips all hidden garbage.
Works almost every time.
Quick Self-Check Before You Submit
Scan this like a checklist:
- Is everything double-spaced?
- Is the font Times New Roman, 12 pt?
- Are paragraphs indented, not spaced apart?
- Are there page numbers in the top right?
- Does the first page include contact info + word count?
- Did you follow the specific submission guidelines?
If all of that is clean, you’re good.
The One Thing I Wish Everyone Knew
Formatting isn’t about rules. It’s about trust.
A clean manuscript tells the editor:
“This person knows the process. They won’t be a headache.”
That alone gets you further than most.
Get it clean. Get it standard. Send it out.
Done.