Should A Novel Be Double-Spaced? – Writers Edit

If you’re in the process of formatting your novel for submission to a publisher or publisher, or in preparation for self-publishing, you may find yourself stuck in space.

double-spaced or single-spaced: that is the question!

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Editors will most likely discard a manuscript that doesn’t follow their preferred format. Don’t risk it!

The wrong choice can waste your editor’s time, which means a loss of money for you. And if your plan is to venture down the self-publishing route, bad formatting can lead to bad reviews.

When it comes to spacing your novel, there is a general industry standard that most publishers want to see. it’s easy to learn and fairly simple to remember.

Keep reading to find out if your novel should be double spaced, single spaced or in outer space!

double space: the industry standard

Most publishers and publishers follow the industry standard, which is to double-space the novel.

double space means your manuscript will have extra space between lines.

While this is a general practice, it is important to check each publisher’s submission guidelines as some may deviate from the crowd on this rule.

Similarly, ask editors what format they prefer if you’re not sure, or check their websites for a style guide. Fortunately, you can find most of the information you need online these days.

where does this industry standard come from?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the industry standard of double spacing came from and why it has become such a common practice.

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Of course, impeccable grammar and spelling have always been expected, but why is it so important that a novel is double-spaced? why not single spaced? or 1.5 spacing?

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The fact is that the industry standard for novel publishing is as pervasive in its definition as it is in its origin. which means your desired publisher or publisher may not follow you to the letter.

As with the process of writing your first novel, it can also be helpful to adhere to established guidelines when formatting.

There’s always time to break the rules later as you gain more experience.

why is double spacing important?

Most writers understand the importance of following grammar and spelling rules. the same mindset must be applied to format your work correctly.

If you haven’t adhered to industry standards, editors, agents, and editors will need to reformat your manuscript before they can begin work.

For publishers, this means wasted time fixing formatting that you could have done yourself, and if this is factored into the cost of the project, it’s also a waste of money for you.

Most publishers and literary agents receive dozens, if not hundreds, of manuscripts each week. if your manuscript doesn’t meet their formatting standards, it will give them a reason to discard it.

Always do your research to make sure you’re submitting your novel in the right format for the publisher or agent you want to work with.

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What about self-publishing?

If you want to self-publish your novel, it’s still important to follow the industry standard and double-space your novel for editors, proofreaders, and typographers. but why?

Doing as much formatting as you can yourself will help make these professionals’ jobs easier and could save you money.

They may charge more if you haven’t submitted your novel in a working format, because it will take them longer to reformat it before they can get on with the job you actually hired them to do.

how to double space your novel

in microsoft word, press ctrl-a (windows) or command-a (mac) to select all the text.

then select format > paragraph > spacing. choose the double space option.

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in google docs, select all the text again and navigate to format > line spacing.

If you’re using a writing program like scrivener, the formatting will likely be done for you when you export your manuscript. however, it’s always a good idea to double check!

are there any exceptions?

If your novel is just for your friends and family to read, you don’t necessarily have to double-space it. you can format your script however you like.

keep in mind, however, that even they can be distracted from your fantastic story if the format isn’t what they’re used to, or if it’s compressed into a single space and therefore harder to read.

Beta readers, on the other hand, should be treated like editors, since they’re critiquing your story instead of just reading it. format your manuscript as you would for an editor.

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but what about e-books? novel? short stories? poetry? flash fiction? blog posts? email newsletters? essays?

double spacing is also an industry standard for e-books and novellas. otherwise, it depends on the purpose of the text or where you send it.

Check your style guide or ask them if you’re not sure. the publisher, shipping manager, or marketing manager is usually the person to go to.

***

The simple answer to whether you should use double spacing in your novel is: yes.

longer version is: yes, but don’t assume it’s the rule for all publishers, agents, and publishers.

Research and consult their submission guidelines, style guides, and websites. when in doubt, ask.

The good news is that once you know how to format your work properly, you can feel more confident about presenting yourself to professionals and wowing them with your perfectly formatted work.

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