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 tot his job