Manuscript

A manuscript from olden times, published by Skylar Kang in 2020.

A manuscript is the original author's work that they send to a publisher. The manuscript is not the final published work; it still needs editing before being released to the public. Manuscripts are valuable because they are what the author originally intended for their work. Manuscripts have been used since Ancient Egypt (1571) and can be typed or handwritten. Manuscripts can be created using paper, bark, cloth, ink, pen, pencil, leaves, papyrus, and leather. Manuscripts can reveal culture and thought while serving as sources for future historians to analyze.

Manuscripts serve as rough drafts that need to be edited, formatted, and revised to become a book that can be published. Once this foundation is in place, the author should research which publisher to use, potential design ideas, and which media or marketing outlets to use. While a manuscript will be edited and changed by editors and the publishers, a manuscript is commonly defined as the legible, fully written work ready to be evaluated.

Things a manuscript should have

Manuscripts must include essential elements such as the author's name, contact information, book title, a legible font, standard margins, double-spacing, and chapters. These components help editors and publishers navigate the work. Formatting may vary by genre, with nonfiction often including references. You can also add an author's note at the end if you want to.

Manuscript examples

The series "Harry Potter," known worldwide, started as draft pages by J.K. Rowling. Her manuscript led to a book series that went on to become movies and tv shows. Within her manuscript are handwritten lines and illustrations that show the reader her thought process and creativity while writing it. Rowling has also used her manuscripts to attract readers by giving out copies to early fans as collector's items and selling others to organizations.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's book "The Great Gatsby" is read in many high schools. The manuscript is currently being held at the Princeton University Library for preservation and access to the public. Within the manuscript, there are side notes, scratched-out sentences, and passages that differ from the final version. People interested in book publishing can also look at manuscripts like Fitzgerald's and see that even writers who went on to create revolutionary books started with a rough sketch that had many mistakes.

Tips for a manuscript

Each manuscript is unique, so seek feedback from fellow writers. Maintain consistent formatting for smoother editing and always keep multiple backups. You never know when something could get lost or destroyed. When approaching editors, prepare a proposal to attract their interest. Give them a reason to want to look at your work and help you.

Use tools like Microsoft Word for formatting and Google Docs for collaboration. Technology is a big part of our society, so finding ways to integrate it into your manuscripts and writing process can be very beneficial for productivity and getting your book published more quickly. Remember, editing is a process; don’t get stuck on minor details. A manuscript can never be perfect, and that is fine. Manuscripts are rough drafts that will be tweaked, but you cannot nitpick details until the story is unrecognizable to the author.

From manuscript to published book

Once you have made a manuscript, you should reread it yourself to look for errors in storyline progression, repetition, and anything that does not feel like it fits to drive the story. Then you give the manuscript to beta readers, who are meant to track the pacing of the story, reading accessibility, and anything that is confusing or should be taken out. Once the beta readers clear your manuscript, you will have a professional editor take over. The editor takes care of proofreading and editing lines and tweaking the development of the book.

From this point, the structure of the book has been established. Now we have someone working on the graphic designs and the typesetting. They figure out what designs relate to the book and ensure that the interior layout is neat and digestible for readers. The designers are thinking about what elements of the book they should use as a visual identity to associate the book with, while typesetters are making sure that the interior of the book is appealing to readers. The last step is choosing between self-publishing and finding a publisher. Self-publishing is cheaper, and you have full control of the creative process, but it can be harder to market. Publishers take care of marketing and have experience publishing to readers.