Self-Publishing 101, Part I: Preparing Your Manuscript

This is the first post in an eight-part series about how to be a successful self-published author. The series will include tips, tools of the trade, and other useful information on your journey toward self-publishing sucess.

Part I: Preparing Your Manuscript

Just about everyone knows how to use Microsoft Word. In today's world, no computer application has a better stake in the word processing market. It may not be the easiest program to use, but a general knowledge of formatting and manipulation of Microsoft Word will make your path to publishing much easier.

If you have written a manuscript in another program, there are plenty of tutorials out on the Web that can assist you in converting your files to a current Microsoft Word version. If you don't have a copy of Word, you can download it for free from the Microsoft Web site. For those authors planning on continuing with writing, obtaining a copy of Word is strongly recommended.

In addition to writing in Word, there are few formatting tips that will make your life a little easier. The following are standard formatting perameters that acquisitions editors typically use, and often require, before accepting a manuscript. For self-publishing authors, a general understanding of publishing best practices will go along way in helping to make your manuscript into a professionally composed book.

1. Make sure your manuscript is composed in one MS Word file. While you may think it is easier to have your manuscript in separate chapter files, most acquisitions editors, copyeditors, and book designers prefer a single file for your manuscript.

2. Follow the rules of standard formatting. Microsoft Word is not the proper application for formatting books. Book designers use a separate program (most often Adobe InDesign or similar program) to do the layout, font styles, paragraph styles, folios, and pagination. The general formatting rules for manuscripts are as follows:

• Manuscripts should be double-spaced and set in 12-point type, Times New Roman.
• There should be no special formatting, such as space after paragraphs or before paragraphs.
• Boldface type, italics, and underlining are often acceptable. Excessive use is not recommended.
• Pages should include standard margins of 1" on all sides.
• Paragraphs should be indented using the "Tab" key.

3. Other parts of a manuscript to include in your MS Word file. In addition to the body of your work, you may also want to consider what will be included in the front matter, what typically comes at the beginning of a published book. Some of these elements include:

• Title page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents/ Chapter list
• List of illustrations
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• International Serial Bin Number (will be covered in Part IV), U.S. Copyright information
• Author's contact information (Name, address, e-mail addres, Web address, etc.)

4. In-text illustrations and artwork. As noted earlier, Microsoft Word was not designed to be a desktop publishing application. If your manuscript includes illlustrations, artwork, and/or image files to be included in the body of your work, please do not paste them into your manuscript. The best thing to do is label each file (for example, "Table 1.jpg") and mark the manuscript in the location where it belongs, enclosing it in carets:

• <insert "Table 1.jpg">
• All artwork should be camera-ready and with a high enough resolution so as not to be rendered as grainy or pixely in print.

5. Using MS Word's Spell Check Feature. While you will more than likely be hiring an editor to conduct, at the very least, a line edit of your manuscript--strongly recommended--it doesn't hurt to do a once-over with MS Word's spell check feature. Also, a quick scan of the text of your manuscript will identify words that MS Word determines to be foreign.
    Please bear in mind that this process will not replace an experienced copyeditor, as there are many other elements of manuscript editing in which a copyeditor is experienced. While MS Word will pick on mispelled words and some poor grammar, it is not designed to catch, for example, mulitple spelling of the same word.
    Part II in the series, "Choosing--and Working with--an Editor," will cover some of the important things to look for when hiring an editor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MANUSCRIPT FORMATTING: Please consult the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, Chapter 2: "Manuscript Preparation and Manuscript Editing."