From the Edit Desk: Before Sending Manuscript to Editor or Publisher

One of the steps writers take before sending a manuscript to an editor or publisher is the final read-through. Here's a quick list of things to check before you hit 'send':

Spacing - check for both line spacing and word spacing.

• Word spacing: If you've used double spacing after sentences, get rid of those. In today's computer world, double spacing is a no-no. You can easily get rid of the double spacing using the Replace feature in Word: click on Replace, then put the cursor in the Find box and hit the space bar twice. (Don't type any letters, your just typing spaces.) Then, in the Replace box, just hit the space bar once. (If you've used the Replace button recently, you might need to erase anything that is there - make sure you erase everything, then put in the one space.) I recommend doing this two or three times, because sometimes writers use three or four (or more) spaces. Do it until there are no more double spaces between anything.

• Line Spacing: Industry standards use double line spacing. Publishers will adjust that spacing to meet their particular publishing needs, but to submit, use double spacing. When you start a new chapter, use Page Breaks, not line spacing, to put the new chapter on a fresh page. 

Repetition - as you read through the manuscript, look for pet words or phrases that you use too much. Eliminate or rewrite as needed. Use the Find feature to locate all of them.

Punctuation - Read through the manuscript for missing or incorrect punctuation, especially at the end of sentences. Most writers tend to fret over commas, and while that is an issue, it's surprising to discover so many instances where a period is missing or a question mark has been used incorrectly. If you overuse exclamation points, get rid of them. Check for proper usage of single and double quotation marks.

Fonts - Industry standard font is Times New Roman. Most of the time, only one font is recommended, although there are instances where a publisher may want to change fonts in the final production of the book. (One example of this is when an author includes a text message in the story - the publisher may offset and change the font to designate it as a text message.) But leave it to the publisher to make the change.


But don't let the edits and fear of making a mistake hold you up. Give it your best then hit SEND.


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