August 2021 – Unblocked Writer

August 18 2021

How to Format Your Manuscript

Knowing how to format your manuscript can save you hours of work and loads of money.

The best time to format your manuscript is before you type the first word. If you’ve already started your manuscript, don’t worry you can still get it formatted to perfection.

The recommended formatting is:

1. 12-point type
2. A serif font; like Garamond
3. Double spaced type
4. Indent each paragraph with a tab set at .05 inches with no space between paragraphs

How to format your manuscript to automatically indent the first line of every paragraph in word:

– Open the Paragraph dialog box
– Choose the Indentations section under “Indents and Spacing” tab.
– Click the special drop down box. Select “First Line” to automatically indent the first line of each new paragraph.
– Enter the indent size. This is the indent amount. The default is 0.5”. Leave that number or type it in if it’s different.
– Click Okay.
(For visual instructions)
Download the template

1. Start a new paragraph for dialog; each speaker starts on a new line. If you set the paragraph indent, your dialog will automatically indent.
2. Use one space after a period.
3. Align paragraph to the left only (ragged right justification). Leave justification for your published book.
4. Mark scene breaks with a scene marker before the next paragraph. The best marker is one to three asterisks.
5. Black text on a white background only
6. Use one-inch margins
7. Set page to 8.5 X 11

If you are sending the manuscript to an agent or publisher:

Add a Title Page. Put your contact information in the top left corner. Include your name, address, phone number and email address. (I’ve seen some put the address in the right corner of the footer)
Change the header to show your proposed title followed by your last name and the page number (Best Title Ever / Last name 1). The header should appear on each page after the title page.

A Final Note

I like to work with an A5 formatted document. The smaller pages allow me to navigate the document better. Additionally, it gives a more accurate approximation to the number of pages of the final printed A5 book. The template I supply is A5. If you prefer, change the page layout to 8.5 X 11 (letter size).

Now that you know how to format your manuscript how about getting some tips on How to Be A StoryTeller from Mark Twain.

August 5 2021

10 Writing Style Rules Every Writer Should Know

Aspiring Writer, On Writing, Writing Style

This post is the first in a series using John Delvin’s book How to Speak and Write Correctly. Over the course of many posts, I will discuss various aspects of writing beginning with the Ten Commandments of Style. For convenience, I refer to Delvin’s list as 10 Writing Style Rules Every Writer Should Know.

As with most skills, it’s essential to learn the rules. Perfectly understanding the rules makes it easier to break them. In this way, your work becomes authentic and more interesting.

I do wish Delvin’s rules had a more positive spin. As they are, we get a list of Don’ts. Even so, know the rules. Although these rules consistently apply to most non-fiction, when it comes to fiction, it is essential to know how to break them.

1. Do not use foreign words.

The exception to this rule is, limit foreign words or phrases to those commonly used in English. Whatever you choose to do, remember if you use foreign words, use them with purpose to enhance the narrative. For clarity, where appropriate, follow foreign phrases with a translation. When used correctly, for the right story, foreign words can improve your work.

2. Do not use a long word when a short one will serve your purpose.

Fire is much better than conflagration. One of the common ways writers break this rule is by using facilitate instead of ‘ease’ or ‘use’.

The police facilitate their safety with protective weapons.

Much clearer to write:

The police use weapons to protect themselves.

Bigger or more complex words are not necessarily better. Clarity is the goal. In every scenario, know how to choose the best synonyms and let clarity be your guide to less obscure or vague words.

3. Do not use technical words.

Avoid technical words or those understood only by specialists in their respective lines, except when you are writing especially for such people. Just don’t do it.

4. Do not use slang.

Slang is not all bad. Especially when used in dialog or for first person POV to help create the mood and tone you want. When you match the narrative tone to the dialog, it sounds very natural.

Examples:

I went on out the door, knowing it was time to bail on the whole damn project. Finding another gig wasn’t gonna be easy and I wanted to beat the other Preppers to the work office. As far as I knew, wasn’t going to be new jobs for Preppers in a long time.

I saw Henry on my way out. “Okay, I gotta bail,” I told him. “But we’re gonna meet up later, right?” I said, trying to sound real natural. If he couldn’t see it was over, I wasn’t giving him a heads up. He was a better Prepper.

5. Do not use provincialisms

Avoid provincialisms such as “I guess” for “I think”; “I reckon” for “I know,” etc. This advice is good for most non-fiction writing. Yet, if you’re writing a provincial novel or historical fiction do your best to add a delicate balance of provincialism to capture the environment, the places and any necessary aspect of the time to make your writing feel real.

Careful use of provincialisms can give the reader the feeling of being immersed into a different time and place. This is especially important when you create your own world as in some fantasy and science fiction novels.

6. Do not in writing prose, use poetical or antiquated words

Some example words: “lore, e’er, morn, yea, nay, verily, peradventure.” The same exceptions apply as in rule 5.

7. A Writing Style Rule to Break

Do not use trite and hackneyed words and expressions

Some example words: “on the job,” “up and in”; “down and out.”

Hackneyed words and expressions are sometimes the backbone of making characters real. Use them sparingly to lend a sense of authenticity to your characters.

“Well, I was on the job for pert near twenty years before the machines came.”

The hackneyed express ‘pert near’ makes the dialog sound more real.

8. Do not use newspaper words which have not established a place in the language as “to bugle”; “to suicide,” etc.

Yeah, don’t.

9. Break This Writing Style Rule With Care

Do not use ungrammatical words and forms

Ungrammatical words and forms such as, “I ain’t;” “he don’t.” are good in dialog. If important to the first person POV, they might work there too. Mark Twain certainly didn’t take this rule seriously and he ain’t no fool. Of all the 10 writing style rules, this is the one I break most often.

10. Do not use ambiguous words or phrases

Example of ambiguity: ”He showed me all about the house.”

This might be a perfect statement for one of your characters to make when it fits. Such variations in dialog should reflect time-period, social economic status, regional dialects and education.

If you do decide to use ambiguous words or phrases, use the context to make the meaning clear for the reader. Who knows, using ambiguity as a part of your writing style may lend authenticity to your characters.

These writing style rules represent guidelines for improving your writing style. I suggest, the number one rule is to know the rules. Obey them, unless you have reason to break them.

If or when you break a rule, do it deliberately to achieve the desired effect. Remember, there are all kinds of books on writing with varying opinions. For a list of my favorite books on writing see 7 Must Read Books On Writing.