How to format your book manuscript in Google Docs

[@xOscarablex]

This video helped me out so much. I feel way more confident about writing when the formatting looks so legitimate. Thank you!

[@KatClay]

So glad to hear it 😀 I always love writing in MS format too, makes it feel real.

[@ambmae8]

I just got a request for a full and this is SO helpful. Thank you!

[@KatClay]

🤞 best of luck with your book!!

[@mrs.v8658]

I'm writing my first ever novel and I'm using docs , thank you for making a very clear and concise video on how to format my draft in docs. Very much appreciated and thank you for the time you put into making this video. Kind regards Sam .V

[@KatClay]

Thanks so much! Best of luck with your manuscript.

[@roysmith8879]

Our go-to tutorial for setting google docs up for our projects. Great video. thanks very much!

[@KatClay]

Glad to hear it! You're very welcome. 🤗

[@MikeDacameraman]

Thank you for making these videos to help out new writers, effectively giving back to the community! 💛

[@KatClay]

My pleasure! It makes my day to hear comments like this. I remember being a new writer not knowing anything about the process, so I like to pay it forward.

[@StacyKinyanjui]

I just found this video. I like the fact that 1 year later and the information is still very helpful and straight forward.

[@KatClay]

I'm so glad you found it helpful. Best of luck with your writing :D

[@darrellwhitney185]

My manuscript looks way better than what it did! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this!

[@KatClay]

No problem! Glad it helped

[@jose11032]

Amazing! Very to the point and easy to follow, thank you so much. I would love some more tips and tricks for writing in google docs :)

[@KatClay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardmitchellcoaching]

Thank you so much Kat! This was a very helpful video!

[@KatClay]

So glad it could help you!

[@StormGod-X]

This was very simple to understand and apply. Thank you. I was wondering what you do once you need to input the 7th "Heading Style" since it stops at 6?

[@KatClay]

I don't usually use that many headings! For a novel you usually only need 1-2 headings. Is it non-fiction?

[@StormGod-X]

@@KatClay yes, it's a non fiction book.

[@KatClay]

So Heading 2 should be used for chapter titles. There's no need to use a new heading style for each chapter. Heading 3 would be for subheadings within the chapter. These are actually for both style and accessibility purposes, not to label chapters in order.

[@jessicalarios717]

Thank you so much for this video! It was soooo helpful. I was ready to toss my laptop out my window when google docs wasn’t cooperating, but you showed me things I didn’t even know I could do with the doc! Now my manuscript looks beautiful and I’m excited to keep working on it. Thank you again!! ❤

[@KatClay]

I am super glad you didn't throw your laptop out the window 😄 so glad you're feeling inspired again.

[@heathermooney7013]

Thank you, straight to the point.

[@KatClay]

Thanks Heather 😊

[@gloomydays7356]

This was so helpful thank you so much! Though I have 2 questions: For a collection of short without chapters, would we put each title of the story as a "header" on the left hand side instead of chapters. and what if each story had chapters? If that's the case, would have to write a cover page for each individual story?

[@chelseymorgan4529]

Thank you for this video :) I was wondering how to add more than the given six headings to list my chapters?

[@KatClay]

I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to do that! Six headings are a lot already... Is it a non fiction book?

[@chelseymorgan4529]

Hi. Yeah. I've been each chapter under a new heading. I am clearly a little clueless on certain aspects of using Google Docs. Would you have any suggestions on how I'm able to navigate each chapter more effiiciently ? @@KatClay

[@KatClay]

Ahhh! So each chapter should only use Heading 2 - you don't need a new number for each chapter heading style. Heading 2 indicates style and size, not what number chapter it is! If you had subheadings in the chapter you'd then use Heading 3 for subheadings.

[@tearstoneactual9773]

This is quite helpful. Thank you for the time and energy you put into this. Short, concise, easy to follow. Excellent guide. You have my sub.

[@KatClay]

Thanks so much, glad it helped!!

[@BeeFunKnee]

I'm not exactly sure why my Google Docs application looks quite dissimilar to your own, but the things you explained were helpful. I was able to muddle through things I needed quite well and good. I have Windows 10 Home, by the way. Maybe you have something different? My menus are not like those you show on yours, but are similar enough that I could hunt things down and apply them. That "undo" arrow helped me not get frustrated also. Thank you! Hello from the state of Maine. And "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"(I wanted to put that last bit in italics, but KZbin comments wont let me)

[@KatClay]

Thanks so much! I did this on a browser so that may be why it looks different. Also using Windows as well. Hope it still helped and happy new year back to you!

[@ambermariemalone]

Thank you for sharing this! Will it also work for Amazon self-publishing?

[@KatClay]

It may work, but I'm not sure as I haven't self published that way. I've used Draft2Digital to set up my books and it works well.

[@t0dd000]

No. Primarily because Google Docs can't do hyphenation. If it could, it would probably be sufficient for prepping your novel for self publishing. I don't know why they have not implemented this feature. Every other word processor can do this.

[@cletehelton5618]

Kat! Thank you so much. Your video was sooooo helpful.

[@KatClay]

No worries!

[@kia958]

Thank you! This video helped me a lot! Question for you, Do you do photo books the same way?

[@KatClay]

If I was doing a photo book I'd probably use InDesign or go directly to a photo book site like Blurb. It's quite hard to do well if you're planning on self publishing. If you're just setting up the manuscript to send to a publisher then it might be okay - you may wish to check their guidelines.

[@kia958]

@@KatClay okay, thank you so much!

[@valeriebike]

This is very helpful information. Thank you so much.

[@KatClay]

Thanks Valerie!

[@smilesformiles8]

Thanks you - this video helped me tremendously! I have a query, if I may. When setting the paragraph indenting, an error pooped up saying 'For this selection, the start and special indents must both be set' - not sure how to navigate this if you have any ideas, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

[@KatClay]

Agh sorry, I'm not sure. Did you find anything on a google search? I've never encountered that issue myself.

[@abhis8308]

Is it applicable for non fiction too, like a self help or marketing book or are the rules different for that?

[@yazeedzailaee7215]

Thank you this helped me so much

[@Gardensoftheheart]

Thank you so much. What a great help!

[@KatClay]

Glad it could help!

[@WediDebas]

Thank you very much indeed this is awesome, but how can we make the size in 5.25 x 8 inch?

[@MrsVerniciaTGreen]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@KatClay]

You're welcome! 🤗

[@bram7118]

Thank you very much! This video was very helpful! I do have one question. I have written my entire manucript in PT Serif, I think the manuscript looks better that way. Should I stick to PT Serif or is submitting a manuscript in another fond than Times new Roman a no-go?

[@rosyvivz]

tried this with my 120k+ words manuscript, my laptop couldn't keep up and it took me two hours...

[@jessicalarios717]

I just have a quick question, as I progress with each chapter, do I have to keep selecting heading 2? Or do I select, heading 3, heading 4, and so on?

[@KatClay]

Hey Jessica, the Headings denote priority, so H1 is your book title and H2 are chapters. No need to go further unless it's a non fiction book where you might have subheadings in a chapter.

[@PhotoBombomb]

Thank you this was very helpful!

[@KatClay]

No problem! Glad it could help.

[@victoria-no3vu]

Are formatting espectations very different for something other than a novel, for example a book of poetry? I want to keep one poem per page and in that case should I center the poem?

[@KatClay]

Yes I would say so! A lot of poetry is not formatted in a traditional way, so you do what's best for your poem. If you're submitting it to a poetry publisher I'd check their guidelines as well.

[@victoria-no3vu]

@@KatClay okay, thank you! That's very helpful!

[@Oh_ItsClips_ItsClips]

Found this very very helpful. So thanks. But can I ask is it definitely double spaced ? As I see that many different opinions online. Some same single space.

[@KatClay]

Absolutely double spaced. Single spaced is not industry standard.

[@Oh_ItsClips_ItsClips]

​@@KatClay please could you help me. I have just self published two books, and amazon printed them. I used 12 point text times new roman. And the book trim is 5x8. But the text in the book is far too small ?

[@legendarysermons9621]

Only use double line spacing if sending to an agent so they can revise and add notes, never do any of this if formatting for a KDP print or e-pub book

[@t0dd000]

​@@Oh_ItsClips_ItsClipsThis is for manuscript formatting. Typesetting a book is a different beast.

[@nickiparsons9205]

You did not mention how to format a manuscript in Google docs so that it has mirrored pages. The publisher I plan to use will need me to submit my manuscript in mirrored pages. Do I have to do that formatting once the manuscript is otherwise ready to submit?

[@KatClay]

Hi Nicki, most publishers would provide a designer or typesetter to do that for you in a professional design program, so I'm not sure how to do it in Word.

[@t0dd000]

Google Docs is fine for developing a manuscript. It is not adequate for typesetting a book.

[@augusto2006-amg]

Thank you so much❤

[@KatClay]

No problem 😄

[@BuchBarde]

Thank you so much for the video!

[@KatClay]

Glad it could help!

[@erikrenner]

How do you set up a custom paper size of 6" x 9" in Google Docs? The default is 8.5" x 11". I want my book to be in the 6" x 9" format.

[@murphyjammusashi]

Thank you, Kat.

[@KatClay]

No probs!

[@meghanwilliams9203]

This video was super helpful thank you! Does it matter what size your page is? I've seen a few people suggest letter size paper and others say A5 is the way to go, does this matter?

[@KatClay]

It depends on what your output is. If you're sending to an agent or publisher, I usually do A4. If you're self publishing you'd need to look at the formatting requirements for the platform you're on

[@Olegator170]

Hello! On the second page: The content of the book, shouldn't the subheadings and content sections be clickable? They are only clickable in the Google document on the left. and when downloading a book in word format, does the content remain clickable so that the buyer follows the links to the desired section?

[@KatClay]

Hi there, this video isn't meant to be how to lay out the manuscript for sale, it's how to get it into professional MS format for submission along trad publishing routes. You'd need to look into formatting ebooks for what you need.

[@Latoshajsinspiration]

Thank you so much for sharing ❤😊

[@KatClay]

Glad it could help!

[@xthefordx]

Hello Kat! First of all, thank you so much for the help! I have a question: I am writting my first non fiction book to publish. I have written other stories and songs but never have sent them to publishers or have released the songs. I am a screenwriter and I'm only used to that, really. This book that I am writing will have a different format cuz it's a dystopian world and I'm writing rules, describing pictures, etc. Much like The Handmaid Tales. My question is: would it be okay for me to use another font choice and be creative with the format? In your experience, how well does that go with publishers and is it seen as unprofessional? Thank you so much and sorry for the long reply!!

[@KatClay]

Hello and thanks for watching the video! I wouldn't get creative with the fonts at all. If you're sending it to publishers, the number one thing they need it to do is be legible. Which means Times New Roman. If it's picked up by a publisher, their typesetter would do any creative typography for you. Best of luck!

[@WibterSoring]

I think it's time to see about getting my story out there so there is no more room for questions

[@KatClay]

Good luck!

[@NakedSageAstrology]

Thank you, I am excited to publish my book tonight.

[@KatClay]

Good luck!

[@NakedSageAstrology]

@@KatClay Two copies sold already on the first day! Thank you for your wonderful advice. :)

[@thegreenprincessbookworm]

@@NakedSageAstrology what is the boook called?

[@NakedSageAstrology]

@@thegreenprincessbookworm Thank you for asking, it is called *Codex of the Celestial Dream; Secrets of the Multiverse Hidden in Vedic Astrology.* By Andrew Green.

[@thegreenprincessbookworm]

@@NakedSageAstrology Thank you

[@f.agberemi]

Thank you so much. Really appreciate it!

[@KatClay]

No worries! Glad I could help.

[@luisbarrera4548]

Is this format the same as publishing your self publish book on like kdp for example? Or is this format only a format to send to a publisher?

[@KatClay]

This is for publishers not kdp

[@zacks1690]

Hi Kat I’ve got a Chromebook, I thought I’d have to exchange it for a surface, thank goodness I can change it to Microsoft docs on Google docs. 😅❤

[@KatClay]

That’s great news, glad it could help!

[@luisbarrera9350]

Do you have a video on how to format your self published book using google doc for kdp?

[@Lernen_mit_Janette]

Do I have to use A4 or can I use A5, if I want to write a paperback or ebook?

[@karenlindsay7285]

HI- loved the video- I cant get my name and book title on each page.Can you please help ??? xx

[@ilovegarradors]

Brand new writer and I have a question. I have a co-author. For the header on the cover page do I just put a slash between my name and his, as well as address, phone numbers, etc?

[@KatClay]

I think that would be fine. Most publishers don't need an address these days anymore, email and phone is fine.

[@ilovegarradors]

@@KatClay Wonderful, and thank you so much for responding. Especially given this is an older video. I really appreciate it.

[@dominicamponsahkwameboadus7929]

Hello Kay, thank you so much for your Video, full of Value, how do I get you to help me out , I live in Sydney

[@KatClay]

Thanks so much, unfortunately I don't do freelance work at the moment. But I hope you can find someone to help.

[@spudspuddy]

Only use double line spacing if sending to an agent so they can revise and add notes, never do any of this if formatting for a KDP print or e-pub book

[@KatClay]

Yes that's correct! Thanks for the tip 🙂

[@t0dd000]

You don't send manuscripts to KDP. So ... moot point.

[@spudspuddy]

@@t0dd000 you do, you upload your manuscript to kdp, its even electronically scanned for spelling mistakes, rejected if any found so you can correct, clearly you have never used KDP

[@t0dd000]

@@spudspuddy But that's not a manuscript that you are uploading. Manuscripts are for humans. Also. I once worked for a very prominent self-publishing tech company and I currently am an editor for a literary journal that we then publish via, you guessed it, KDP.

[@JustinB_Oz]

Great tips

[@KatClay]

Thankyou!

[@mfs5493]

Why does Google Docs not have a template for this?

[@KatClay]

🤷‍♀️

[@t0dd000]

I create a generic manuscript document and label it "manufacturer template". And then when I start something new, I just duplicate it and use the new copy.

[@Oh_ItsClips_ItsClips]

Please could you help me ? I want to upload a manuscript to kdp . The paperback size is 5.25 x 8 inches. Upto 400 pages. But within Google docs I am unsure what numbers to put into the margins. Top bottom left right. I'd really appreciate it.

[@KatClay]

Hi Angie, I can't give you advice for KDP as it's a completely different type of formatting. This is the format to send to publishers, which would then be typeset by a professional. I'd look at hiring someone who is experienced in setting up books for kindle to help you out with the formatting.

[@t0dd000]

You don't upload manuscripts to self publishing platforms. You upload typeset book text. Google docs is not designed to produce that. The manuscript instruction here is for standard manuscript formatting so you can share your work with agents, critique partners, and editors.

[@cb.denson8256]

I’m adding content and what I already have typed is moving the headings how do I stop that :(

[@Cathiemullen]

Fantastic! Very clear! What a helpful video!

[@KatClay]

Thanks Cathie! 😊

[@TheSwwiss]

what should be the page size?

[@t0dd000]

In the US, US letter.

[@HANNYPUFF]

may i know which page setup you use

[@KatClay]

I use A4 page set up. Note that this is for traditional manuscript submission and not ebook publishing.

[@jessdils]

Here's my issue; I recently upgraded my MacBook Air and I no longer have Microsoft WORD. The Apple version is now "Pages" which isn't as easily accepted, I imagine. When I get to the last step of formatting my GoogleDoc and need to choose an option, what should I do? I am trying to avoid having to buy Microsoft Word. Thank you!

[@KatClay]

Unfortunately I'm not a Mac user, but I suspect if you export it as a text file it would open in Pages. Open Office is another free program that could help as an alternative to word. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[@t0dd000]

I haven't used Word in thirty years. LibreOffice or Google Docs can't export to .docx

[@orangebuddha-gm8ku]

I am looking everywhere on how to resize. I am writing a Novel Paperback Not EBook and I would like to size it 5 x 8 inches . How do I do that in Google Docs, NOT WORD is it possible because I cannot see custom sizes Only in M.s Word Please help?

[@karenBarr-e1c]

If you deleet one header because of typo error or you want a different title it deletes all the headers, goole docs is working on novel writing softwear. one is free the other will all the bells and whistles will have a monthly subscription

[@drkalidandfamilypediatrics1586]

Thanks

[@KatClay]

No problem!

[@mdwag57]

I have been writing for some time, and decades ago moved from paper to typing and editing by computer. I've been writing in google docs. I am a writer. I am completely unqualified to be a secretarial technician. I have no ideas how to make the pages lay out as I'd like to see them, once all the poems are written. Must I hit th space button forever , that seems cumbersome. When I add a poem, or a line, the entire book needs adjustment. Who do you pay to do the digital layout?

[@KatClay]

I don't think it's too onerous - it's part of the process of being a writer. I don't pay anyone to do it, just do it myself.

[@t0dd000]

Learn the tools of the trade.

[@MattyPitt]

Quick question Kat. My eyesight is horrible. In between your name and your title on the header is that a "/" in between it, or am I just seeing things? lol.

[@KatClay]

Yes there is a slash between each one. Not completely necessary just a part of the manuscript template on word

[@astroheavenxo]

thanks!

[@Prophecy-Foretold]

Does anyone know how to add gutters to my doc? I've reached that point in my editing and i cant figure anything out. (If you know any tricks that work the same as a gutter please let me know! Im probably overreacting but i feel like my life is slowly unraveling because of this 😅)

[@KatClay]

Do you mean margins? Is there an example use case you have?

[@Prophecy-Foretold]

@@KatClay I have the margins. Gutters are the part of the book where they bind it. Authors don't put words there because it would be hard to read. I can't find anything on Google docs for gutters.....

[@KatClay]

@@Prophecy-Foretold Yeah this video is about manuscript format for submission to publishers and agents, not for formatting it for print. MS format is different to typesetting, which is what you'll need to do for publication. I've used Draft 2 Digital before which might be a helpful tool for you to do your own formatting.

[@derrickayers122]

Thank you for sharing. Great I will share this. Keep faith in God.

[@KatClay]

Thanks!

[@Jesus_is_savior]

This is impossible to do on mobile I don’t have a pc 😭😭

[@KatClay]

Ahh yeah, it's probably pretty hard to do on mobile. Do you write your whole book on the phone? Maybe an internet cafe or tablet could be helpful to sit down and format it.

[@t0dd000]

You are not going to be able to format your document to meet manuscript standards on your phone. Go to a library and use their computers.

[@ericapereira6924]

Books are always aligned with Justify (aligned to left and right) NOT left aligned...

[@MikesPOV]

"Google Docs documents are strictly cloud-based, and if you try to move them to an external hard drive, they will corrupt and become permanently unusable. If you want to store Docs files offline you must first download them to a format that can be stored locally, such as .docx, PDF, .rtf, and so forth. You can then move the downloaded version to your external hard drive."

[@TuneTales_Kids]

I’m so tired going through this..

[@gabrielswingsmystory]

I want to start numbering from page 14 and make that my page 1. I don't want the table of content or disclaimers or all that stuff please help

[@t0dd000]

That's not standard manuscript formatting which is what this video is about.

[@daveloewenstein9669]

Thank you very much for such a helpful video!

[@KatClay]

No problem!