The Best Format for your Manuscript

[@SpiralMagic]

Thank you so much for putting these out. Advice from within the industry is invaluable, and it's nice to see the faces and personalities behind the names.

[@MrDanroche]

Ooooh, contact info at the top and double spacing. Thought contact info on the query was enough, but I’ll definitely be placing it on the manuscript for now on. Double spacing, too. Thanks!!

[@SiiKei]

Thank you, that clears up some stuff! I was always super confused when sending email queries, whether the query and synopsis should be single-spaced, as opposed to the double spacing of the sample pages. Now I know!

[@lostgoth3980]

I love the storm of videos you're having.

[@BrittanyArtPoetry]

Can you give the standard manuscript requirements for a children’s book manuscript, I want to assume it’s not a stack of pages with four or so lines on each of them, and right now I’m just structuring each page as a block paragraph to show where I imagine the split would be, that being said is there a proper way I should be doing this?

[@ericwoodhouse3792]

Just finishing synopsis. Grateful for the guidance & guidelines.

[@JumpCutProYT]

Christmas came early! Thanks for all the videos guys!

[@Ruthie888]

That was very important for me to hear. Thank you.

[@davidoskutis6290]

Thank you SO much!! I have found so many guidelines for mail-in/paper manuscripts when looking this up, so I am eternally grateful for this video expressing what is the same (and different) from paper copy and electronic copy. One question, on the author contact info, I've generally included all the contact in the querry letter, are you saying the contact should be on the manuscript cover page as well? I believe that's what you're saying, but just want to clarify. Thanks again for this video!!

[@emberstonequest]

Just rewatched this to prepare to send queries in January. As always, your videos are my go-to source because they're so informative, clear-cut and it's a joy to watch you two interacting. Two questions: Can you do a version of this that is specific to query submissions done via Querytracker? Why: it asks that we copy and paste what you and other agents need, and warns it'll break indentations. It advises we should split paragraphs into blocks, but then what do you do if you left a space on purpose in the MSS for a time skip? Do agents take this into account when reading submissions via Querytracker? Another question on querying but also manuscripts line spacing and pacing - how far into the three act structure do agents expect to see in the first ten/requested pages? Why: for example, the project I'm sending out in January when single-spaced has the Disturbance, the Established Friend, Trouble Brewing and the start of the First Doorway. When it's double-spaced the sample gets to Trouble Brewing. I know advice for act length normally uses percentages, but I've never found any advice from agents regarding how much of that would/should be in the sample (especially depending on genre). Thanks as always for your videos.

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

I love your channel. Thank you for sharing!

[@StevenMathews-tz8to]

Oh, so you don’t mind a 3 page synopsis? I’ve tried to get mine to less than 2 pages, but find getting all the cogent plot twists and such into that. Also, I have always wondered whether the synopsis must be double spaced as well?

[@augustastories]

Thanks! Should the actual query letter be single-spaced like a typical letter, or is double-spaced preferred? 🤔

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Single Spaced!

[@shannamix]

I love how much fun you have in your videos. What do you do when an agent requests your manuscript and you get so excited, you forget to change the page color? I write in Comic Sans font on a pale blue screen because of some vision issues. I remembered to change the font but I'm 99% sure I forgot to change the color. Am I totally sunk?

[@snovid3306]

What about the lines in the printed copy? Should they be stretched from margin to margin or each ending differently as it happens naturally?

[@kryssastevenson7880]

Thanks for the video! Quick question--do agents like it when you put a table of contents with your submission or is it not necessary?

[@flaxbank2185]

Can you do a video on subrights? I'm wondering if you ask writers to license them all to you when you sign them up? If I ever got an offer of rep there are some subs that I would rather hold onto.

[@teresajones5973]

I’ve noticed that if you use Grammarly it stays on in Query tracker. I don’t know if y’all see corrections on your side, but as a writer I make sure Grammarly is turned off in Query.

[@mundushanbepushkina5410]

It's seem like people last time commented on this video half a year ago. I am going to go ahead and ask anyways: You briefly touched upon synopsis. Do picture books generally need them? How long should it be? Much appreciated.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Nope! We can't speak for every agent ever, but usually not.

[@caninekool2843]

Good job guys

[@EDDIELANE]

LOL I’ve been writing my latest book in size 16 Comic Sans as an expirament, BUT, I won’t be querying it like that.

[@allymonte7295]

Most agencies want the manuscript in the body of an email. When I do this, the heading disappears. Is there a way to correct that? And why don't agencies want attachments. It keeps the manuscript in document form. Thanks, Al Monte

[@BookEndsLiterary]

It depends on your email server unfortunately. And we don't want attachments because it's another few steps to download and open, plus we never know if the attachments are harmful to our computers. Those are all things we have to think about. It's just easier for it to be in body of eail.

[@solaerisfey]

Hi, what about alignment of the text? Do you prefer left aligned or justified? Is it different for a query letter or proposal or manuscript?

[@FF-FAN9999]

Justified or aligned left?

[@mininovaband]

Please help, I got a request from an agent but I can't figure out how to fulfill this guideline. "Auto Return: 0.5” (no tabs)" Thank you. I'm writing in Google Docs.

[@brodor6277]

I may be four years too late but I think this means that when you start a new paragraph on the manuscript, you should have the settings be set so that when you press enter, the first line of the new paragraph is automatically aligned half an inch in, rather than pressing tab to get the indent.

[@nathan.heinrich]

So helpful! Thank you! I’m going to meet up with you two one of these days and take you out for drinks! 🥃🍸🥂🍾🍷

[@johnclarke4701]

What the heck are track changes????

[@WolfyAteUrSocks]

Wait you mentioned footers Is that where you prefer page numbers? I looked it up in the CMS and I'm pretty sure it said upper right corner Which didnt make sense since I had also read to put the contact info on top

[@WolfyAteUrSocks]

@@TackJorrance Thanks, that is helpful

[@ClintLoweTube]

I absolutely hate standard manuscript formatting. I never write in it.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

You don't necessarily have to write in it, but we do suggest reformatting before querying and submitting.

[@robertnegron6804]

If you're requesting the full manuscript why is a synopsis even necessary? A query letter I get, but why a synopsis?