Proper Format

[scfirenice]

I got a nice rejection today. One of the comments was that my formatting was incorrect. I am using Blythe Camenson's book on formatting as my guide. My rejection specifically said my chapter formatting and scene breaks were wrong. What is the correct way to do these? Is this subjective? I thought it was weird that I am using a professional guideline and being told it is wrong.
Thanks

[ecouteuse]

I'm not familiar with Camenson's book. Can you give the general idea of what you're doing? I should be able to help with that.

[Cathy C]

The proper formatting for scene breaks is a hard return, three number signs (normally centered, but this is optional) and then another hard return. So, if you're already double-spacing, it would look like this:


The car screeched to a halt.

###

Mary woke up, and it was dark outside.




For chapter formatting, you should use a hard page break at the end of the previous chapter, space down at least one hard return, center the words, Chapter 2 (underscored or not, at your choice), and then insert another hard return before beginning typing.

At least, this is what my editor requests. Hope that helps!

[azbikergirl]

I've heard that some editors also like the chapter heading about 1/2-way down the page. Is that fairly common?

[scarletpeaches]

I have never heard of an editor being willing to accept MSS with the chapter starting after the previous one; they all seem to specify starting a new chapter on a new page.

[Jamesaritchie]

Every editor I've ever worked with wants chapters to begin on a new page. All teh format books also say to do this. It would be a true pain in the rear to have one chapter end and another begin on the same page. That would make the editing process a nightmare. It would also make it impossible to keep chapters separated, which is often essential. I can't imagine why any editor would request this. A new chapter should always begin on a new page.

For many formatting problems it pays to know proofreaders marks, which is what editors and copy editors use to edit a manuscript. When, for example, you underline something, that's a proofreaders mark.

http://www.m-w.com/mw/table/proofrea.htm

The proofread mark for a scene break is a # centered on the page. To an editor, # means "insert a space," be it in a word, a sentence, or lines on the page.

[azbikergirl]

My question must not have been clear. I was asking if the chapter heading should start halfway down a NEW page, not the same page as the end of the previous chapter.

[James D. Macdonald]

Yep. Half-way down a new page is where you start the new chapter.