Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines sounds pretty technical.  The reality is that standard manuscript format preparation is mostly common sense document preparation.  If you are submitting your manuscript to New River Publications, LLC, just stick to the standard manuscript format preparation guidelines listed below.

The number 1 standard manuscript format preparation guideline - a cover title page separate from your story/manuscript that states the author's name, full postal address, email address, word count of submission, whether the submission has been published before, and name of publication, date, etc.

The number 2 standard manuscript format preparation guideline - Formatting is the method of PRESENTATION of a manuscript.  It includes the margins, font style, font size, line spacing, etc.  Briefly stated, use one inch top, bottom, left and right margins, double line spacing, five space tab sets for paragraph indents, hard returns between paragraphs, hard page breaks between pages, Courier 12/Courier New font set at 12 points, and single spaces between sentences.  Most importantly, though, when dealing with this "standard manuscript format preparation guideline", click to download our requirements at the bottom of this page.

The number 3 standard manuscript format preparation guideline - relates to front matter, the first section readers see upon opening a book.  This contains important information such as the book's ISBN, Electronic Preassigned Control Number (EPCN), and statements of copyright ownership.

In following standard manuscript format preparation guidelines, the first page the reader usually sees upon opening a book will be the right-hand half-title page.  It usually displays only the book's title, not the author name, subtitle, or other parts of a full title page (see below).  The inside of the front cover is left blank.

Publishers who stick with standard manuscript format preparation guidelines leave the reverse of the half-title page (the following left-hand page) blank.  However, a number of items can appear on this page: a list of the author's previous works or other titles if the book is part of a series.  If none of those exist, this is where a dedication can be placed.

Another standard manuscript format preparation guideline is that the title page always appears on the right and contains:

   Full title, including the subtitle if one exists;
   Name of the author or names of authors if the book is a collaboration;
   Names of contributors, such as editors, illustrators, and translators; and
   Name of the publisher and the publisher's logo.

Following standard manuscript format preparation guidelines dictates that the copyright page is on the left page just behind the title page.

The number 4 standard manuscript format preparation guideline also relates to front matter.  New River Publications, LLC places the table of contents on the right hand page opposite the copyright page.  Convention states that half title, title, foreword, contents, and preface should appear on right hand pages, and should appear in the order given.

Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines suggests that pages following the preface might include an introduction, list of illustrations, list of acknowledgements, and a dedication if this has not been shown behind the left hand half  title page.  The various List of" sections might instead be placed in the book's back matter.  Other sections of a book that appear in the back are the index and "about the author".

The number 5 standard manuscript format preparation guideline relates to front matter page numbering.  Following pagination standard convention" often results in blank pages appearing in the front matter.  Where blank pages are found, they are included in the pagination flow, but neither the number nor the header/footer should be displayed on the blank page.  Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines call for Roman numerals in your front matter.

The number 6 standard manuscript format preparation guideline relates to the body matter of your book - the chapters of your book.  Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines typically anticipate that each new book chapter begins on a right hand page even if the left is blank.

Consistent with standard manuscript format preparation, "Chapter One" or Chapter 1" is correct.  Also consistent with standard manuscript format preparation guidelines, the name of the chapter & body text of the chapter should appear below "Chapter One."  Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines also permit chapters to be divided into subsections that display chapter subheads.

Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines for page numbering of the book body dictate Arabic numbers beginning with page "1" either at your introduction or first chapter.

The number 7 standard manuscript format preparation guideline relates to the back matter of your book - where End Notes, Appendix, Glossary, Bibliography, Works Cited, Index, Author Bio, and Order Blank should be placed.  Standard manuscript format preparation guidelines do not require these; however, if you have them, they belong in the back matter.

If you adhere reasonably close to the standard manuscript format preparation guidelines presented here, New river Publications, LLC and most any publisher will probably read your manuscript.  The standard manuscript format preparation guidelines should not be the reason for your book not getting published.

PLEASE NOTE:

New River Publications, LLC requires that all manuscripts be submitted in print and Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007 pursuant to its standard manuscript format preparation guidelines.  Further, your electronic manuscript should not include headers, footers or page numbers; inclusion of these will be in violation of our standard manuscript format preparation guidelines, and be returned to you for removal.

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