You have finished writing your book. That is a huge achievement in itself. But before you send your manuscript to a publisher or a professional publishing service, there is one step that most first-time authors overlook — formatting your manuscript correctly.
Manuscript formatting might sound like a technical or boring task, but it matters more than you think. A poorly formatted manuscript is harder for editors to read, looks unprofessional, and in some cases can even get your submission rejected before anyone reads a single word of your actual writing.
In this complete guide, we will walk you through exactly how to format your manuscript before submitting to a publisher — covering everything from font choice and line spacing to chapter headings, page numbers, and file format. Whether you are submitting to Astitva Prakashan or any other publisher in India, this guide applies to you.
Why Does Manuscript Formatting Matter?
Think of manuscript formatting as presentation. If you walk into an interview in crumpled clothes, the interviewer notices even before you speak. Similarly, a messy manuscript signals to a publisher that the author may not be serious or detail-oriented.
Here is why proper formatting matters:
- It makes your manuscript easy to read and evaluate
- It shows respect for the editor’s and publisher’s time
- It helps accurately estimate word count and page count
- It reduces the amount of work needed during the editing and layout stage
- It increases the chances of your submission being taken seriously
Whether you are submitting to Astitva Prakashan or exploring how to publish a book in India, a clean and properly formatted manuscript is your first step toward a smooth publishing journey.
The Standard Manuscript Format — What Publishers Expect
There is an industry-standard manuscript format that most publishers and editors expect. It is not complicated — it is just consistent. Here is what a standard manuscript should look like:
| Formatting Element | Standard Requirement |
| Font | Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt |
| Line Spacing | Double spaced (2.0) |
| Margins | 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides |
| Paragraph Indent | 0.5 inch first-line indent, no extra spacing between paragraphs |
| Alignment | Left aligned (not justified) |
| Header | Author name / Book title / Page number |
| Chapter Headings | Centred, same font, Chapter Number + Title |
| File Format | .docx (Microsoft Word) preferred |
| Word Count | Stated on title page |
Step-by-Step: How to Format Your Manuscript
Let us go through every element in detail so you can format your manuscript correctly from start to finish.
Step 1: Set Up Your Page Layout
Open your manuscript in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Go to the page layout settings and apply the following:
- Page size: A4 (for India) or US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches)
- Margins: 1 inch on all four sides — top, bottom, left, and right
- Orientation: Portrait (vertical)
Do not use narrow margins thinking it will reduce your page count. Standard margins are expected and make the document much easier to read.
Step 2: Choose the Right Font and Size
Use a standard, readable font. The most commonly accepted fonts for manuscripts are:
- Times New Roman — 12pt (most traditional and widely accepted)
- Arial — 12pt (clean, modern, also widely accepted)
- Courier New — 12pt (traditional for screenplays, sometimes used for novels)
Do not use decorative or script fonts anywhere in your manuscript — not even for chapter titles. Stick to one consistent font throughout the entire document. Mixing fonts looks unprofessional and distracting.
Step 3: Set Line Spacing to Double
Your entire manuscript body text should be double-spaced. This means there is a full blank line between every line of text. Double spacing makes the manuscript much easier for editors to read, leave comments, and make corrections.
In Microsoft Word: go to Home > Line Spacing > 2.0. In Google Docs: go to Format > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Double.
Do not use 1.5 spacing. The standard is 2.0 and anything else signals that the author is not familiar with publishing norms.
Step 4: Set Up Paragraph Indents Correctly
Every new paragraph should start with a 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) indent on the first line. Do not press the Tab key to create indents — use the paragraph settings in your word processor to set a consistent first-line indent.
There should be no extra blank line between paragraphs in the body text. The indent alone signals the start of a new paragraph. This is different from how emails or blog posts look — in manuscript format, blank lines between paragraphs are not used in the body text.
The only exception: after a chapter heading or a scene break (marked with # or ***), you do not indent the very first paragraph.
Step 5: Set Text Alignment to Left (Not Justified)
Set your text alignment to left-aligned, not justified. Justified text — where both left and right edges are perfectly straight — looks good in final printed books but creates uneven spacing between words in a manuscript. Left-aligned text is easier for editors to read and is the standard for manuscript submissions.
Step 6: Create a Proper Title Page
Your manuscript should begin with a title page. The title page should contain:
- Your full name (top left corner)
- Your email address and phone number (below your name)
- Your city or state (for context)
- The title of your book (centred, in the middle of the page, in CAPS or bold)
- Your pen name or author name as it should appear on the book cover (below the title)
- The genre of the book (e.g., Literary Fiction, Self-Help, Poetry)
- The approximate word count (e.g., Approximately 72,000 words)
The title page does not have a page number and is not counted in your page numbering.
Step 7: Add a Running Header
Every page of your manuscript (except the title page) should have a running header in the top right corner. The standard format is:
Author Last Name / BOOK TITLE / Page Number
For example: Sharma / THE LAST MONSOON / 14
This header helps if the manuscript is ever printed and pages get mixed up. In Microsoft Word, go to Insert > Header and add this information. Set the font to the same as your body text at 12pt.
Step 8: Format Your Chapter Headings
Each new chapter should start on a new page. Use a page break (Ctrl + Enter in Word) to move to a new page — do not just press Enter many times.
At the top of each new chapter page:
- Drop down about one third of the page (roughly 6 to 8 blank lines) before your chapter heading
- Centre the chapter heading
- Write: Chapter One (or Chapter 1) and on the next line, the chapter title if you have one
- Use the same 12pt font — do not increase the font size for chapter headings in a manuscript
- After the chapter heading, skip one or two lines and begin your chapter text
Step 9: Mark Scene Breaks Correctly
If your story or chapter has a scene break — a jump in time, location, or point of view — mark it clearly. The standard way to mark a scene break in a manuscript is to type:
# (a single hash symbol, centred on its own line)
Some authors use *** (three asterisks). Either is acceptable. Do not just leave a blank line — it can get lost in formatting and confuse the editor.
Step 10: Check Your Word Count and Page Count
Before submitting, note your word count and page count accurately. Use the word count feature in your word processor (Tools > Word Count in most applications). Include this on your title page.
General word count ranges for reference:
- Short stories: 1,000 to 7,500 words
- Novellas: 20,000 to 40,000 words
- Novels (fiction): 70,000 to 100,000 words
- Non-fiction books: 40,000 to 80,000 words
- Children’s picture books: 500 to 1,000 words
- Young adult fiction: 50,000 to 80,000 words
Formatting for Hindi and Regional Language Manuscripts
If you are writing in Hindi or another Indian language, manuscript formatting follows the same principles — but there are a few additional considerations:
- Use a Unicode-compatible font for Hindi — Mangal, Noto Sans Devanagari, or Kruti Dev (though Kruti Dev is an older encoding and may cause issues with some publishers)
- Make sure your font is installed and readable on both Windows and Mac systems
- Submit in .docx format and also as a .pdf to ensure fonts display correctly
- Clearly mention the language of your manuscript on your title page
- If your book mixes Hindi and English, mark clearly which sections are in which language
Astitva Prakashan works with manuscripts in Hindi and multiple regional Indian languages. If you are unsure about formatting for your language, reach out through astitvaprakashan.com and the team will guide you.
What File Format Should You Submit Your Manuscript In?
For almost all publishers in India, the preferred file format for manuscript submission is:
- .docx (Microsoft Word document) — the universal standard
- .pdf — sometimes requested as a secondary copy, especially for Hindi and regional language manuscripts
Do not submit in .pages (Apple Pages) format unless the publisher specifically accepts it. Do not submit a scanned PDF of a printed manuscript. Always submit an editable digital file.
If you wrote your manuscript in Google Docs, go to File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx) before submitting.
Common Manuscript Formatting Mistakes to Avoid
Here are the most common formatting errors Indian authors make before submitting:
- Using a decorative or display font instead of a standard readable font
- Single spacing or 1.5 spacing instead of double spacing
- Using the Tab key for paragraph indents instead of the paragraph indent setting
- Adding blank lines between every paragraph instead of using first-line indents
- Submitting in .pages or .odt format without checking if the publisher accepts it
- Not including a title page with word count and contact information
- Using ALL CAPS for entire sections rather than just titles where appropriate
- Inconsistent chapter heading formatting across chapters
- Not using page breaks to start new chapters — just pressing Enter many times instead
- Submitting without reading through the final document at least once after formatting
Does Astitva Prakashan Help With Manuscript Formatting?
Yes. When you submit your manuscript to Astitva Prakashan, the publishing team reviews your manuscript and helps identify any formatting issues before the editing and layout stage begins. Interior formatting and typesetting are handled professionally as part of the publishing process.
That said, submitting a clean, well-formatted manuscript makes the entire process faster and smoother for everyone. You can explore the full process and available packages at astitvaprakashan.com/packages.
Quick Manuscript Formatting Checklist
Before you hit submit, go through this checklist:
- Title page with name, contact, title, genre, and word count
- Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt throughout
- Line spacing: double (2.0) for all body text
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Paragraph indent: 0.5 inch first-line indent, no extra blank lines between paragraphs
- Text alignment: left-aligned
- Running header on every page except title page
- Each chapter starts on a new page with a page break
- Scene breaks marked with # or ***
- File saved as .docx
- Spell check and grammar check completed
- Word count confirmed and noted on title page
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Does manuscript formatting affect my chances of getting published?
Yes, it can. A well-formatted manuscript does not guarantee acceptance, but a poorly formatted one can create a negative first impression. Publishers and editors receive hundreds of submissions. A clean, professional manuscript shows that the author is serious and has done their homework.
2. Should I format my manuscript before or after editing?
Format your manuscript before submitting — but do your self-editing first. The order should be: write your draft, do your own editing passes, then format the manuscript properly before submitting to a publisher or editor. Formatting a rough draft that still needs significant editing is wasted effort.
3. What is the difference between manuscript formatting and book interior formatting?
Manuscript formatting is what you do before submission — it is about readability for editors and publishers. Book interior formatting (also called typesetting or layout) is what the publisher or designer does after the editing is complete, to prepare the final print-ready or digital files. These are two completely different stages.
4. Can I submit a handwritten manuscript?
No. All publishers in India today require digital manuscripts in an editable format. If you have handwritten your book, you will need to type it up in a word processor before submitting. Some authors hire typists for this, but it is a necessary step for any modern publishing process.
5. My manuscript is in a mix of Hindi and English. How should I format it?
Format the document the same way as a standard manuscript — standard font, double spacing, proper margins. Make sure your Hindi font is Unicode-compatible. Clearly label on the title page that it is a bilingual manuscript. If you are mixing scripts within the same paragraph, make sure both fonts are at the same size and render correctly when the document is opened on different computers. Submitting a PDF alongside the .docx file is a good precaution for mixed-language manuscripts.
Ready to publish your book? Submit your manuscript today at astitvaprakashan.com
Also explore: How to Publish a Book in India | Self Publishing in India | Publishing Packages & Costs
