Make sure to do your research before you begin. First off, there is a standard format. If you do not do this and you try to query a literary agent, you will look like you did not do your homework and you will be rejected most likely instantly.
Here is what you need to do:
First off, go into a word processor (If you have Microsoft Word 2007, you will want to turn off Widow/Orphan Control option, change smart quotes to straight quotes, and uncheck double hyphen "--" to a dash option. There are others as well, which I will get to in a moment. Now, if you're using Open Office Writer, you will want to create a template, which this tutorial will help you) and format your manuscript. This is essential! I advise to do this now rather than later. It will save a lot of trouble in the end.
Your standard fonts are Times New Roman and Courier New (Courier is just fine, as well). I advise to use Times New Roman. Make sure your font is 12 point font. Once you are done with that, go to Home --> Paragraph. Click on the little box that has an arrow going up and an arrow going down. It looks something like this:
^ ---
| ---
v ---
Once you have clicked on that, click on 2.0. This will give you double-spaced. Your manuscript should be double-spaced AT ALL TIME. Then, click on that same box again and click on Remove Space Before Paragraph or Remove Space After Paragraph (whichever one says "Remove". Both may say it, so click both, but if one just says it, then just click on the one). This will get rid of the annoying blank space that is between paragraphs.
*When you break for a scene, just hit enter twice. This will indicate that a new scene has started. For chapters, you will want to do a page break, or hit ctrl + enter.
Now that that is done, you will want to work on the Widow/Orphan Control that I mentioned.
For the widow/orphan control, go to Page Layout --> Paragraphs --> Line and Page Breaks. Uncheck the Widow/Orphan Control and it should turn it off. Once you're done, hit okay.
NOTE: Home --> Paragraph takes you to the same place.
To change smart quotes to straight quotes, it's a bit of a walk. Go to Word Options --> Proofing --> AutoCorrect Options --> AutoFormat As You Type. Uncheck straight quotes with smart quotes. Do the same thing for hyphens "--" with dashes, and then hit okay.
For the rest, the alignment should be left justified (meaning the right is jagged). Do NOT justify your manuscript. It's a big no-no. The only thing that should be centered are your chapters. These are some of the requirements when it comes to writing a novel. You must format it to this standard. Furthermore, make sure you have a snugline in the header.
(Snugline is something like this: "Springborn/Ashes, Ashes/1" A snugline has your last name, book title, and page number. This will help a literary agent or editor or publisher find your work if it gets misplaced in the slush pile or ends up getting shuffled into someone else's manuscript.)
And finally, make sure the margins are 1" all the way around! That tutorial I linked gives an explanation on how to make a template for it for Open Office Writer.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about formatting or anything in general when it comes to writing a novel, please pm me. :) I've written two novels so far and have outline two others. I am working on rewriting the first (and will be rewriting the second).
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