Manuscript FORMAT Guidelines

Home , Manuscript (publishing), Title page

for poetry short stories essays children’s books novels nonfiction books and plays

Writer’s Relief, Inc. 18766 John J. Williams Hwy. Unit 4, Box 335 Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 (866) 405-3003 www.WritersRelief.com

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Published by: Writer’s Relief, Inc., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Poetry Format 1 First page of a poem Second and subsequent pages of a poem

Short Story, Essay, or Children’s Book Format 3 First page of a short story, essay, or children’s book Second page of a short story, essay, or children’s book Last page of a short story, essay, or children’s book

Novel Format 6 First page of synopsis for novel Subsequent pages of synopsis for novel First page of an adult or young adult novel, cover, or title sheet First page of an adult or young adult novel Subsequent pages of an adult or young adult novel

Nonfiction Book Format 11 First page of chapter outline for a nonfiction book Subsequent pages of chapter outline for a nonfiction book First page of a nonfiction book, cover, or title sheet First page of a nonfiction book—table of contents First page of a nonfiction book Subsequent pages of a nonfiction book

Screenplay / Stage Play Format 17 First page of a screenplay / stage play Second page of a screenplay / stage play SAMPLE—First page of a poem—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOT number first page. Your Full Name 1-inch Your Street Address margins Your City, State Zip Code all around. Your Telephone Number

Start Your E-mail Address title 3 single- line spaces TITLE OF POEM (all caps, bold, left justified) from e-mail Text, Text, Text, Text, address. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Start text of poem one New Stanza Text, Text, single-line Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, space Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, after title. New Stanza Text, Text, Left Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margin Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, justified or center entire New Stanza Text, Text, poem and Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, title. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Do NOT New Stanza Text, Text, justify Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, right Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margin. New Stanza Text, Text, (continued) should be Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, in 10 pt. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, italics, right-flush New Stanza Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use only Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1 space at the end of New Stanza Text, Text, each Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, sentence. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

(continued)

Use “m” dash instead of hyphen, hyphen.

-1- SAMPLE—2nd and subsequent pages of a poem—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

(Last Name, Title of Poem, page (Last Name, Title of Poem, page #, new stanza or stanza continued) #, new stanza or stanza New Stanza or Stanza Continued Text, Text, continued) Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, should be in Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 10 pt. italics and right New Stanza Text, Text, justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, New stanza or continued New Stanza Text, Text, stanza is Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, two single- Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, line spaces after New Stanza Text, Text, header. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1-inch margins all New Stanza Text, Text, around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Left margin Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, justified or center New Stanza Text, Text, entire Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, poem. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text

Do NOT justify right margin.

Do NOT staple or fold pages.

-2- SAMPLE—First page of a short story, essay, or children’s book—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOT number first page. Your Full Name Word Count: 1-inch Your Street Address margins Your City, State Zip Code all Your Telephone Number around. Your E-mail Address

Left margin justified. 6 single-line spaces Do NOT justify right margin. TITLE (all caps, bold, centered)

Use 1 Left by (centered) Tab (½ inch) for Your Name or Pen Name paragraph (upper and lower case) indent. Do NOT use space Double-spaced Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, bar.

Use only Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1 space at the Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, end of each Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, sentence . Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Use “m” Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, dash instead of Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, hyphen, hyphen. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

-3- SAMPLE—Second page of a short story, essay, or children’s book—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top of page Your Last Name/Title of Story/page 2 and ½ inch from text. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Use 10 pt. italics Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, font. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, **Use header Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, function in your word processor Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, to insert. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1-inch margins Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. all around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Left Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margin justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Do NOT justify Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, right margin. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Use 1 Left Tab Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, (½ inch) for Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. paragraph indent. Do Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, NOT use space bar. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

** DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is difficult to remove headers from each page when repaginating unless you have used the header function in your word processor.

-4- SAMPLE—Last page of a short story, essay, or children’s book—FORMAT Use same font as previous pages. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top Your Last Name/Title of Story/page 3 of page and ½ inch from Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, text. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use 10 pt. italics font. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

1-inch Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margins all Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Left margin justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Do NOT Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, justify right margin. THE END (all caps, centered) Use 1 Left Tab (½ inch) for paragraph indent. Do NOT use space bar.

Double- spaced text on all pages.

Do NOT staple or fold pages.

-5- SAMPLE—First page of synopsis for novel—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOT number first page. Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. words Your Street Address Word Your City, State Zip Code Count is Your Telephone Number right- Your E-mail Address justified.

1-inch margins 6 single-line spaces all around.

Left margin Synopsis (italics, centered) justified. TITLE (all caps, bold, centered) Do NOT justify by (centered) right margin. Your Name or Pen Name Use 1 Left (upper and lower case) Tab (½ inch) for paragraph indent. Do Double-spaced Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, NOT use space bar. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Synopsis Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, should not exceed Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, three pages. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Use only 1 space at the end of each sentence. Use “m” dash instead of hyphen, hyphen.

-6- SAMPLE—Subsequent pages of synopsis for novel—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top Your Last Name/Title of Book—Synopsis/page 2 of page and ½ inch from Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, text. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use 10 pt. italics Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, font.

**Use Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, header function in Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, your word processor Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, to insert page Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. numbers.

1 inch Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margins all Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Left margin Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Do NOT justify right Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margin. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use 1 Left Tab Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, (½ inch) for paragraph indent. Do Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, NOT use space bar. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

** DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is difficult to remove headers from each page when repaginating unless you have used the header function in your word processor.

-7- SAMPLE—First page of an adult or young-adult novel, cover, or title sheet—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOT number title page. Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. words Your Street Address Word Your City, State Zip Code Count is Your Telephone Number right- Your E-mail Address justified.

1-inch margins all around.

Left margin 11 single-line spaces justified.

TITLE (all caps, bold, centered)

by (centered)

Your Name or Pen Name (upper and lower case) (centered)

-8- SAMPLE—First page of an adult or young-adult novel—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top of page. Your Last Name/Title of Book/page 1

Use 10 pt. italics font for header.

**Use header function in CHAPTER 1 (caps, bold, centered) your word (about six single or three double spaces from top of page) processor to insert page

numbers . Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1-inch margins all Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Left margin justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Do NOT Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, justify right margin. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use 1 Left Tab Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. (½ inch) for paragraph Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, indent. Do NOT use Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, space bar.

Use only 1 Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, space at the end of Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, each sentence. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

** DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is difficult to remove headers from each page when repaginating unless you have used the header function in your word processor.

-9- SAMPLE—Subsequent pages of an adult or young-adult novel—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top of page and ½ inch Your Last Name/Title of Book/page 2 from text.

Use 10 pt. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, italics font for header. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

**Use header Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, function in your word Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, processor to insert Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. page numbers. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

1-inch Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margins all around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Left margin justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Do NOT Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. justify right margin. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Include no more than 15 pages (including synopsis and query letter) in your query packet to agents.

-10- SAMPLE—First page of Chapter Outline for a nonfiction book—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or another easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOT number first page. Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. words Your Street Address 1-inch Your City, State Zip Code margins Your Telephone Number all Your E-mail Address around.

Word Count is right- 6 single-line spaces justified.

Left margin Chapter Outline (italics, centered) justified. TITLE (all caps, bold, centered) Do NOT justify right by (centered) margin. Your Name or Pen Name Use 1 Left (upper and lower case) Tab (½ inch) for paragraph indent. Do Chapter 1 (bold) NOT use space bar. Synopsis of chapter one Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Use only 1 space at Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, the end of each Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. sentence. Chapter 2 (bold)

Synopsis of chapter two Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use “m” dash Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. instead of hyphen, Chapter 3 (bold) hyphen. Synopsis of chapter three Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

-11- SAMPLE—Subsequent pages of Chapter Outline for a nonfiction book—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top Your Last Name/Title of Book—Chapter Outline/page 2 of page and ½ inch from Chapter 4 (bold) text. Synopsis of chapter four Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text Use 10 pt. italics font Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, for header. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. **Use header Chapter 5 (bold) function in your word Synopsis of chapter five Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, processor to insert Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, page numbers. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. 1-inch margins Chapter 6 (bold) all around. Synopsis of chapter six Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Left Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margin justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Do NOT justify right margin. Use as many pages as necessary for your chapter outline.

Use 1 Left Tab (½ inch) for Marketing Potential: After the last chapter synopsis, include marketing paragraph potential (e.g. the type of audience your book would appeal to and the indent. Do number of people who would buy your book). NOT use space bar. About the Author : Six- to eight-line third-person bio including information that sells you as a dependable writer; should list any publication credits in alphabetical order.

**DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is difficult to remove headers from each page when repaginating unless you have used the header function in your word processor.

-12- SAMPLE—First page of a nonfiction book, cover, or title sheet—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Times New Roman, CG Times, Arial, or an other easy-to-read font. Do NOT use Courier.

Do NOT number title page. Your Full Name Word Count: or Approx. words Your Street Address 1-inch Your City, State Zip Code margins Your Telephone Number all around. Your E-mail Address

Word Count is right- justified. 11 single-line spaces Left margin justified.

TITLE (all caps, bold, centered)

by (centered)

Your Name or Pen Name (upper and lower case) (centered)

-13- SAMPLE—First page of a nonfiction book—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from Your Last Name/Title of Book/Table of Contents/page 1 top of page.

Use 10 pt. italics font 6 single-line spaces for header.

**Use header function in your word TABLE OF CONTENTS processor to insert page numbers. Introduction ...... 1

1-inch Chapter One ...... 5 margins all around. Chapter Two ...... 12 Left margin justified. Chapter Three ...... 20

Do NOT Chapter Four ...... 29 justify right margin. Chapter Five ...... 36

Use 1 Left Chapter Six ...... 50 Tab (½ inch) for paragraph Chapter Seven ...... 58 indent. Do NOT use Chapter Eight ...... 72 space bar. Chapter Nine ...... 91 Use only 1 space at the end of each sentence.

** DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is diffic ult to remove headers from each page when repaginating unless you have used the header function in your word processor.

-14- SAMPLE—First page of a nonfiction book—FORMAT Use same font as page 1. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from Your Last Name/Title of Book/page 1 top of page.

Use 10 pt. italics font for header.

**Use header CHAPTER 1 (caps, bold, centered) function in (about six single or three double spaces from top of page) your word processor to insert page Double-spaced Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, numbers. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1-inch margins all around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Left margin Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, justified. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Do NOT justify right Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, margin.

Use 1 Left Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Tab (½ inch) for Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, paragraph indent. Do Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, NOT use space bar. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Use only 1 Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, space at the end of each Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, sentence. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

** DO NOT manually insert headers on each page. It is diffic ult to remove headers from each page when repaginating unless you have used the header function in your word processor.

-15- SAMPLE—Subsequent pages of a nonfiction book—FORMAT Use same font as sample pages. Do NOT use Courier.

Header should be 1 inch from top Your Last Name/Title of Book/page 2 of page and ½ inch from Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, text. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Use 10 pt. italics Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, font for header. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, **Use header Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, function in your word Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, processor to insert Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text. page numbers. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, 1-inch margins Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, all around. Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text,

Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text, Text.

Include no more than 15 pages (including chapter outline and query letter) in your query packet to agents.

-16- SAMPLE—First page of a screenplay / stage play—FORMAT Use 12 pt. Courier or Courier New font ONLY.

Do NOT number title page.

1 inch top, right, bottom margins; 1½ inch left for all pages.

Screenplays and stage plays are printed on white 3-hole- punch paper TITLE OF PLAY / SCREENPLAY and fastened (all caps, bold, centered) with brass by (centered) fasteners available at Your Name any office (upper and lower case) supply store. (centered)

-17- SAMPLE—Second page of a screenplay / stage play—FORMAT Use 12 point Courier or Courier New font ONLY.

Page numbers should be ½ inch from top 1 of page and ½ inch from text in top right corner. FADE IN:

EXT. YOUR SETTING IN ALL CAPS — NIGHT **Use page numbering Description of setting. Introduce each CHARACTER in all caps function in at first mention only, thereafter initial cap. SOUND EFFECTS your word in description area in all caps.

processor to Double space between action elements or descriptions where insert. needed.

Character NAME 1 names start 4 Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, inches from dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.

left edge of Use (V.O.) after name if dialogue starts as a voice-over. paper. Further description of action. Try not to break dialogue or Dialogue is action descriptions across pages. indented right INT. YOUR CHANGE OF SCENE — DAY and left to be centered on New CHARACTER NAME introduced as they appear. page and 3½ inches wide. NAME 2 Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. Parentheticals

one tab left of NAME 1 character name. (Laughing) Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, Left margin dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. justified. Descriptive text that interrupts above character’s dialogue. Do NOT justify NAME 1 (cont.) right margin. Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. Use only 1 space at the Descriptive text followed by an CHARACTER introduced as an end of each off-screen voice.

sentence. NAME 3 (O.S.) Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, Use “m” dash dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. instead of hyphen, Ideal page length for a feature film or stage play script is 110 to 115 pages, about 2 hours. Television movies should run hyphen. about 105 pages.

-18-