Formatting Your Manuscript for Submission
Last updated September 18, 2024
Before submitting your manuscript to Inkitt, it's crucial to format it correctly. Correct formatting ensures your story is presented professionally, making it easier for readers to enjoy and for editors to evaluate.
Here's a step-by-step guide for formatting your manuscript for Inkitt:
Step 1: Font and Font Size
- Font: Use a standard, readable font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
- Font Size: Set your font size to 12 points.
Step 2: Line Spacing
- Line Spacing: Use double line spacing throughout your manuscript (this means there should be one blank line between each line of text).
Step 3: Margins
- Margins: Set your margins to 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
Step 4: Chapter Formatting
- Chapter Titles: Use a larger font size (14 or 16 points) for chapter titles and center them on the page.
- Page Breaks: Start each new chapter on a new page.
Step 5: Paragraph Formatting
- Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches.
- Spacing: Ensure there's a blank line between each paragraph.
Step 6: Dialogue Formatting
- Dialogue: Use quotation marks (" ") to enclose dialogue.
- New Speaker: Start a new paragraph when a new character begins to speak.
- Attribution: Place the speaker's name and any attribution (e.g., "he said," "she whispered") after the closing quotation mark and before any punctuation.
Step 7: Save and Submit
- File Format: Save your manuscript in a standard format like .doc, .docx, or .rtf.
- File Name: Use a descriptive file name that includes your story title and your name (e.g., "MyStoryTitle_YourName.doc").
- Submission: Follow Inkitt's submission guidelines and upload your formatted manuscript through their platform.
By following these simple formatting guidelines, you can present your story in a professional and polished way, ensuring a smooth submission and a great first impression on Inkitt.
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