This is a really pointless question

[Washington]

If you're looking to be published . . .

Here is an excellent guide for submission at John Wiley & Sons (other publishers will have slightly different requirements)

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-301843.html
Click on "Preparing Your Manuscript"

BTW, No publisher will accept single spaced copy. It has to be double spaced. And do not bold the title unless asked to.

And don't take all the advice given in this thread as gospel, each publisher has its own requirements. Things like margin spacing and page numbering can vary quite a bit. What almost all publishers will be looking for is a good sample of your writing in hard copy, (Your agent will help you with this) which upon acceptance will require the full ms on computer disc. Among the major publishers there is no more blue pencil. All corrections will be done on their computer, printed out and sent to you. You then make whatever changes you see fit in pencil and return it. Of course, small publishers will likely have less stringent requirements. And, if you are going for commercial publication an agent is almost imperative. very, very few publishers bother with unagented manuscripts.

Here's a page from the manuscript for a book of mine published by John Wiley & Sons.

.

 

[Lindon Tinuviel]

Trust me, the blue pencil still exists among even the largest publishers.

What may be even more disconcerting is that many electronically edited manuscripts go back with the edits suggested in a blue font. Old habits and all that.

 

[LadyMarion52]

When writers are discussing the lengths of their works in process, and are measuring by page numbers, is there any particular font that is "proper" to use? Or any particular type size? Is this measurement done double-spaced or single? I'm just wondering, as the title says, this is a pointless question - I go by word count

Hi i'm not a published author yet but I am working on a novel and I did some research before I started. It said that most publisher companies require a double spaced manuscript. I don't know much else. I have gotten some good feedback already on what i've done so far but no one has mentioned to me anthing about word count. Did you find out anything about it that will help us aspiring writers out here? I hope you are well. God bless Lady Marion

 

[Washington]

Hi i'm not a published author yet but I am working on a novel and I did some research before I started. It said that most publisher companies require a double spaced manuscript. I don't know much else. I have gotten some good feedback already on what i've done so far but no one has mentioned to me anthing about word count. Did you find out anything about it that will help us aspiring writers out here? I hope you are well. God bless Lady Marion

HERE'S a pretty good book on manuscript construction.

 

[LadyMarion52]

HERE'S a pretty good book on manuscript construction.

Thank you i'll look into it. I really looks interesting. Hugs Lady Marion

 

[Tariel]

I know how to prepare a manuscript for submission. We've had three lectures to date on how to format them correctly. What I want to know is if there is a norm OUTSIDE of the publishing world. From young clueless writer who doesn't know any better to young clueless writer who doesn't know any better - because there are one heck of a lot of those around and I'm trying to figure out how to effectively communicate how much I am writing to them in ways they can understand because word count means nothing to them and I know that they don't care enough to worry about publishing guidelines at this point.

 

[Washington]

I know how to prepare a manuscript for submission. We've had three lectures to date on how to format them correctly. What I want to know is if there is a norm OUTSIDE of the publishing world. From young clueless writer who doesn't know any better to young clueless writer who doesn't know any better - because there are one heck of a lot of those around and I'm trying to figure out how to effectively communicate how much I am writing to them in ways they can understand because word count means nothing to them and I know that they don't care enough to worry about publishing guidelines at this point.

Ask them. "How do you judge the length of a submission, and what are the minimum and maximum limits if any?"

 

[Tariel]

Ask them. "How do you judge the length of a submission, and what are the minimum and maximum limits if any?"

We're not using the word "submission." This is PERSONAL writing we're discussing.

 

[Lindon Tinuviel]

I'd probably compare your writing to something they've read. "About as long as a Stephen King novel" or "an entire magazine page, front and back" or whatever comparison would be easily understood. Novels generally contain about 250 words per page, while magazines, due to their visual nature, are pretty much all over the spectrum.

If it gets too exasperating, you could always make up a Lemony Snicket description: "It would make a book as thick as a phone book, if that phone book's pages were only printed on one side, and the front cover was removed."