If you’ve written a fictional novel, please use the following guidelines to apply the final formatting touches to your book. Please read each guideline carefully to be sure your book complies.
Your book does not need a table of contents.
Chapter Titles: If your chapters have titles, they should not be numbered. If they do not have titles, they should be numbered in regular numerical order (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, etc.).
Narrative Breaks: If your book contains narrative breaks—a symbol and space between paragraphs to signify a scene change within a chapter—replace these breaks with five Xs (XXXXX) on its own line. Our graphic designers will search the manuscript specifically for five Xs and replace with the appropriate design element.
Xs should only be used when there is a scene change without reasonable transition. For instance, a new paragraph that begins “The next morning…” does not need a narrative break before it. “The next morning” is a sufficient transition and does not constitute a scene break. Scene breaks are needed for abrupt transitions or when the point of view is changing within the chapter. An example is provided below.
Karen knew John didn’t have long. She knew she needed to say her goodbyes while she still could.
XXXXX
John lay in his hospital bed thinking about the long life he’d led and how much happiness he’d had. He knew he was ready to let go, but he was trying to hang on for Karen. He didn’t want to slip away before she got to say goodbye.
BACKMATTER
The term backmatter refers to the text that will appear on the back cover of your book. This always includes a short teaser about the book and an author bio about yourself. Sometimes this can include endorsements, but endorsements are never necessary. Please be aware that because of limited space available on the back cover, backmatter must adhere to specific word count limits depending on the length of the manuscript. Typically, these are what those limits are:
Manuscript length: 0–20,000 words → Backmatter length: 200-250 words
Manuscript length: 20,001–80,000 words → Backmatter length: 225–275 words
Manuscript length: 80,001–up → Backmatter length: 300–325 words
Teaser: Your teaser should be a short paragraph that immediately hooks the reader by providing a small amount of information about what can be found in the book. A teaser should include the name of the book at least once and may or may not include the author’s name. In the editing phase of production, your editor will work with you, using the teaser you provide, to revise and refine it. Your editor may only use elements of the teaser you submit to make the back cover as marketable and intriguing as possible while adhering to the word count limit.
Sample Teaser:
This is just a dream…It’s not real…
In The Chronicles of Jah, Brendan wonders how the vivid dreams he keeps having can remain etched in his memory in such detail. He starts to think he might be going crazy when the characters from his dreams begin to appear in his waking life, but Brendan soon realizes that they are as real as they seem. As the chosen hero of an alternate realm, he must choose a side and prepare for battle alongside the warriors of this other dimension. With help of Jah, the warrior commander, Brendan trains and prepares for battle, but how will he know he is on the side of truth? Is it Lilith or Jah who is trying to deceive him?
Author Bio: Your author bio should be a short paragraph that provides information about yourself as the author. This can include but is not limited to: work experience, field experience that pertains to the subject matter of the book, education experience and achievements, current place of residence, and family information. Your editor may also work with you to revise the author bio to make it relevant and interesting and, again, adhere to the backmatter word count limits.
Sample Bio:
Author Brenda Scruggs is a full-time office manager whose passion has been turned to writing to glorify the Lord. Brenda is active in her church and passionately in love with the Lord. Brenda lives in Tennessee with her husband, Wayne, and their son, Cody.
ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements are never necessary, but if you have one or two to include, please click the Endorsements link and follow the guidelines provided there. If your endorsement(s) cannot meet the criteria set forth in the guidelines, please revise it or omit it.
Congratulations! You’ve finished the last formatting step! Please proceed by clicking the Submit Your Manuscript link at the top of the page.