So far in this series, we've learned how to format:
Now we're going to talk formatting the manuscript itself. You'll notice in the title that I've specified fiction because there are some small differences between a fiction MS and a non-fiction MS. Here you'll find out how to do line indents, add page breaks and get your MS ready for publishing.
1. Highlight your whole MS by pressing CTRL and A.
2. Go to your 'paragraph' tab at the top of the screen, click and look for 'line spacing'. Choose 'single'. (This makes your MS single spaced.)
3. Look for 'special' and choose 'first line'. In the 'by' box next to special, alter it so it reads 0.6 (doing this tells your doc to put in a first line indent measuring 0.6).
4. Go to the 'spacing' box and alter so it shows '0' in the 'before' and 'after' boxes.
5. Right underneath spacing is 'don't add space between paragraphs of the same style. Check this box. (This makes sure your paragraphs run together instead of leaving a line space between them.)
Note: For non-fiction, omit the 'first line' and the 'don't add space' steps. Non-fiction is best without line indents and as the text can be more dense a line space between paragraphs makes sense.
Another note: You can highlight certain portions of your text that you want to look different eg. some authors prefer to have the copyright page 'middle' aligned.
Okay, now we need to add page breaks so that your chapters don't all run together. The page break ensures a reader can click their next button and start a fresh page at the beginning of every chapter. You will need to use a page break after every section where the next section needs to start on a new page. Something like this:
Title page [insert page break]
Copyright page [insert page break]
End of every chapter [insert page break]
Here's how to do it:
Before you start, activate your pilcrow button. This is the button that looks like the Pi symbol on the paragraph box (it's next to the A/Z button). This shows you the hidden formatting of your document and you'll be able to see when you've correctly added the page break. Ready? Let's go...
1. Go to the last line of the section you are working on.
2. Click 'page layout' at the top of your Word doc.
3. Click the tab that says 'breaks' and scroll down to 'next page'. Click this and your page break is inserted.
4. Repeat throughout document.
Troubleshooting tips:
If you're document isn't playing nice. CTRL and A (copy) and then CTRL and P (paste) into a text notepad. Close your Word doc. Open a new word doc. CTRL and A again to get the text (now stripped of any formatting) from Notepad and CTRL and P into a new Word doc. Repeat instructions above, remembering to re-insert any italics and bolds.
Click your 'Find' option and type in a double space. Literally click your space bar twice and then click find. You probably have some accidental, almost invisible, double spacing in the MS somewhere and now you can correct that.
Don't leave too many space lines at the top of a new chapter. The Kindle and other screens have small screens so one or two line spaces will appear a lot larger on the e-reader screen.
Note: You can upload a Word doc straight to Kindle and Smashwords (not sure about PubIt - anyone?) but do check your documents in preview to ensure that they look how they are supposed to. If you have a Kindle or Kindle for PC, I do recommend emailing a copy of the document to your Kindle so you can check how it views there too.
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