If you submit manuscripts to publishers or agents, you have probably come across the demand that you use “standard manuscript format” (or “SMF”) for your submissions. However, it isn’t always spelled out what this actually means. Generally speaking, the term indicates that you should format your document with the following guidelines in mind:
Type your document, don’t write it.
Use a single, clear font, 12 point size. The best to use is Courier or Courier New. At the very least, ensure you use a 12 point, serif font and not something like Arial.
Use clear black text on a white background.
If you are printing out your submission (rather than submitting it electronically), use good quality plain white paper and print on only one side of each sheet.
Include your name and contact information at the top left of the first page. Put an accurate word count at the top right. Put the title half-way down the page, centred, with “by Your Name” underneath. Start the story beneath that.
If you write under a pseudonym, put that beneath the title but your real name in the top left of the first page.
Put your name, story title and the page number as a right-justified header on every subsequent page, in the format Name/Title/Page Number. Generally, you can also just use a key word from your title and not repeat the whole thing on each page.
Left-justify your paragraphs. Right margins should be “ragged”.







