Check your page settings. The body of your manuscript should be double-spaced, and the margins should be set at one inch for the top, bottom, left and right. There’s no need for extra spaces in between paragraphs, but each paragraph should be indented. During scenes involving dialogue, a new indented paragraph should mark each time the conversation switches to a different voice.
Keep your format simple. Use the default setting of black type on a white background, and choose a common font such as Times New Roman or Arial set at 12-point type. Don’t use colored or hard-to-read fonts; you want whoever reads your manuscript to have a pleasant experience free from eyestrain and headaches.
Add a cover sheet. Your cover sheet should have your name, address, e-mail address and telephone number listed in the top-left corner. In the middle of the page, list the title of your work. One line below that, write “by” and your name, otherwise known as your byline. The title and the byline should be centered on the page. The word count should also be listed on the cover sheet; you can list it in the top-right corner or near the bottom, centrally aligned.
Format the first page of your manuscript by tapping the Enter key until you reach the middle of the page. Once again, list the title and below it, your byline. These should be centered on the page. Double-space after your byline, and start your novel. All of the novel’s text from this point on should be aligned to the left.
Begin each chapter on a new page. List the chapter and the corresponding number, such as “Chapter Two,” at the top of the page. Center the chapter heading, double-space, and begin the chapter. If you need a section break in the middle of the chapter, use the pound symbol (#) on one line to mark the shift between sections. This symbol should also be used at the end of the manuscript itself, or you can write “The End.”
Add page numbers and a header to the top-right corner of your manuscript. Your word processor should have a function that automatically numbers each page for you. Most programs also have automatic header options as well. Your header should list your last name and the title of your manuscript next to the page number. This keeps your manuscript organized if it is printed out and accidentally shuffled out of order.