Synopsis Formatting Guidelines

Your synopsis or summary should be single-spaced and in Times New Roman font, similar to a business letter format.

Use a centered title on the first page such as "Synopsis of [title]", then on subsequent pages, in the header area 1/2" down, left-justified, put "Synopsis of [title]", then single-space down and put "By [your name]".

At the bottom of each page, centered, in the footer section, put the page number. The ideal length for a synopsis is from two to five pages.

Click here for an example of proper manuscript formatting (except the header should be 1/2" down and the manuscript should start 1" down from the top of the page).

Manuscript Formatting Guidelines and Tips

• Use Courier 12-point font (the larger one).
  • Tip: Some word processors and printers have a very light typeface. You can use Bold throughout to correct this, if you can't change it using the print dialogue (e.g., Normal or Best).
    
    
• On the title page, which should be at the very front of your manuscript after the query letter, include your name, address, phone number, email address, word count, title of book, and byline.
  • Tip: Put your name, address, phone number, email address in the upper left corner of page, SINGLE-spaced. Word count should either be under that, or in the upper right corner. Center the title in the middle of the page in all caps with by Author Name two lines below it.
  • Tip: An easy way to get a word count that is close enough for any editor or agent is to put your manuscript in the preferred format, then multiply the number of pages by 250 words. Another easy method is to let your word processor do the count for you. Choose whichever result you prefer from the accepted methods.
    
    
• Double-space, with the goal of 25 lines per page.
  • Tip: If you can't quite get 25 lines per page, move the margins to 0.9" for top and bottom.
    
    
• Margins 1" for top, bottom, left and right, not including header.
  
  
• The header should be 1/2" from top of page, with title, author, and page number. No footer.
  • Tip: Putting the title left-justified, the page number in the middle, and your name right-justified will help the editor remember your name better as they flip through the pages.
  • Tip: Highlight the entire header and change the font to Courier 12-point to match the manuscript.
  • Tip: If you're having trouble changing the font of the page number to 12-point, click once on it, then click on the outside border around it, then click "12" in the font size box.
    
    
• Begin chapters on a new page, one-third or halfway down the page.
  • Tip: Center the chapter headings, and put them in all caps. If you have a subtitle, double-space down and center it. Don't leave an extra line between the chapter heading and the text. Start the text on the next double-spaced line down.
  • Tip: Start each paragraph 1/2" indented, but don't leave extra lines between paragraphs. Double-space normally between every line.
  • Tip: It helps to create a new style named "Manuscript" with the correct font, double-spacing, and 1/2" indent on the first line, and use it instead of "Normal".
    
    
• Never italicize. Underline instead. (It is much easier for editors to see underlines than italics.)
  • Tip: If you have a question about what a particular passage should look like in the book, make a note of it so you can discuss it with your editor, once the book is sold.
  • Tip: It's okay to emphasize words by making them bold rather than underlined, if that's the way you want it to look in the published version of the book.

     

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