Novel Manuscript Formatting

I’m a novelist preparing a completed manuscript for literary agent submissions. The text itself is final, but the Word document has accumulated formatting inconsistencies (mixed paragraph spacing, manual line breaks, inconsistent indents) from drafting and revisions.

I am not looking for print-ready book layout or interior design. I only need a clean, standard U.S. literary agent submission manuscript.

Scope of work includes:

Clean up paragraph formatting and spacing

Remove manual line breaks, extra paragraph returns, and stray spacing

Normalize styles so the document reflows cleanly

Apply standard manuscript format:

Times New Roman, 12 pt

Double spaced

1" margins

First-line paragraph indents (except chapter openings)

Ensure consistent chapter starts

Deliver a clean, submission-ready .docx file

Out of scope (not needed at this stage):

Print trim size or binding setup

Gutter or mirror margins

Interior book layout or design

E-book conversion

Headers/footers for publication

Printer validation or production formatting

Manuscript details:

Genre: YA Thriller / Speculative

Length: ~90,000 words

Software: Microsoft Word (.docx)

What I’m looking for:

Experience with literary manuscripts and agent submission standards

Ability to work efficiently and keep scope focused

Clear communication if any questions arise

Please include:

Your estimated hours

Your flat-rate or hourly quote

A brief note confirming you understand this is submission formatting only, not print production

Apply Now

Apply Now

Ready to Apply?

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!