Manuscript Formatting in MS Word

Some fun tricks for formatting a novel manuscript in Microsoft Word using structure and styles. Special bonus: navigating your manuscript with the new structure you just set up!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Microsoft
• Word
• Writing
• Manuscript
• format
• WordsForWriters
• Tips
• and
• Tricks

[tvproducersm]

Bill - Great tutorial. My question is how to get the top heading that has our name / title / and page numbering? Is that possible to set up from our template here or is that something to use much later after completing the novel?

[WFWomack]

The header info is in the template as well. You access it by going to the Insert --> Header and Footer menu (at least that's where it is in Word 2007).

[WFWomack]

Billy, I was showing the ability to easily change fonts in a properly structured document. I've spoken to a number of agents, and the love of Courier New is hardly universal. Some prefer Times New Roman, some don't care. The point isn't the font choice, it's the ease of formatting the manuscript to fit changing requirements once you've structured it well.

[Sprecked]

Agreed, awesome video.

[tastelies]

I cannot tell you how much I have searched for a way to format a manuscript. This is fantastic, as are you! Thank you so much for sharing this video. I've tried some freeware writing programs but they all seemed to be lacking something and so I'd go back and forth. I could go on with my frustration but I will not--instead I will say thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Trelli28]

never take this video down.

[mrballa23]

I was wonderig if I write a book novel double space and its 300 pages how long would it be when it get formatted by the book publishing company in book form ?

[atimholt]

Users of Word 2007 don't have to hunt. Styles are right there on the home tab. I love it.

I also use a format for 'emphasis,' so underlined/italicized headings are changeable separately from the same in the body.

[Naked45]

Thank you, great video.