Customer Reviews

The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book in late 1999, as it was one of the only guides to formatting manuscripts and other writer-related documents I was able to find.
Since then, I've found several others, but not many that were better. The only other book I like as much (okay, maybe a little better) is Jack Neff's book, Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript. One of the reasons I like it better is that it's newer, and follows some of the changes that have occurred in the publishing industry since this title was written in 1988.
I have used it as my primary reference when writing my novel manuscripts, as well as my query letters, although I've used several other books for them.
If you can get this book used, and save a little $ off the cover price, by all means do it, but if you can't I would recommend Jack Neff's book since, like I said, it's newer and covers the current requirements publishers and agents have.

This is a great book for any writer. From poetry, novels, or screenplays to query letters, this book addresses almost any writing format you can think of with clear and illustrated examples. While the advice sections, such as how to write a query letter, are a little weak, the formatting sections are invaluable. I pick this book up often.

Most formats are correct, however screenwriters get short shrift, the chapter on feature film scripts is woefully incorrect. It says a screenwriter should use scene numbers and cont'd's, which to anyone besides an out and out neophyte, is totally WRONG. The sections on short forms and novel length manuscripts is spot on. Altogether, an excellant guide to manuscript formatting for fiction and non-fiction formats but screenwriters are advised to look elsewhere.

This is it. THE book on manuscript formats. Easy to follow, easy to read, with lots of pictures and diagrams to let you *see* how things are going to look. I'd be lost without mine.

While the formats are helpful, the biggest problem is that ALL the margin settings for the various formats are for typewriters: in other words, settings by the pica or character space, rather than by ruler measurements like inches. (This was fine in early versions of Word and WordPerfect, but most word processing programs these days only have "ruler" style settings.) Given that the whole book is about formats based on margins, it renders the content more difficult and time-consuming to use than it should be.

I was just taking this down today to brush up on a couple of points. It dawned on me that I have had this volume for over twenty years now and never felt the need for another book on the subject. It is very concise. So many textbooks pad pages with discussion or vacillate between popular fads of the moment rather than define a standard method. Not this one. Here you get standards defined. Nothing more, or less.

As well, at the time this book was published, much of this information was rare to be found outside the internal documentation of various companies.

The only reason I dock a star is that The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats, published way back in 1987, is becoming dated. Although this has had no impact on my own application, it predates all current word-processing softwares. As such, it could be a chore and even a bit of guesswork setting up formatting properly in modern programs using the information provided (as other reviews have noted). Also, even strong traditions can shift over time. In a lively industry adapting to new technology and production methods, it would be surprising if some details have not changed in the space of a generation.

So, if there is an update to this guide, that would be the better route. Otherwise, this may still be a worthwhile addition to your bookshelf, just for an overview of so many manuscript formats in one volume.

I bought this book a few years ago and had to replace it. It is a MUST have for any writer, published or unpublished. The authors cut to the point and give GREAT examples!

This is a great source if you are submiting a manuscript to a publisher, and want to know how to format your submission.

"Angles In Pink" This book is truly a great story between three friends that become volunteers for a summer program at their local hospital. They had been friends since the 6th grade and had just finished their sophomore year. They planned on going to college together. Each of the girls had their own story. Their lives were so different and that is what makes this story so great! Kathleen enjoyed working in admissions. Her mother had MS and had been in remission but things got worse. Holly enjoyed volunteering on the pediatric floor. Raina's mother was head of nursing. This story is a combination of love, friendship, and emotions. By reading this book, there are many simple lessons learned. For example follow your heart and even when life seems hard always remember that you have friends and family to lean on. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an interesting and suspenseful story.

The book is copywrited in 1987. It tells you how to set up your paper on a typewriter. There is one section that is relevant to today, but other than that, it is too outdated to be of any help.