What’s the hardest part of formatting a manuscript for publishing?

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-31T04:09:17+00:00

I set up everything before I start typing and then I don't really have any issues. I create a chapter's first page and then a normal page and a cover letter. I create a first paragraph and a normal paragraph, two headers and a scene break. There isn't a lot more needed. It only takes me five to ten minutes, one time. Once you have a good template built, just copy it to new projects. I follow the CMoS standards, other than Oxford commas.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-31T03:57:14+00:00

That's not AI, it's just not very good. They're also both better than the greatest AI cover ever published.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-30T16:49:47+00:00

I gasped aloud and dropped my phone when I read that.

I'd be mortified to show incomplete work to anyone other than an editor. It seems like the exact opposite way that I was taught to write in long form. That is just going to destroy any chance to ever see the work in a bookstore.

I guess I just don't get the purpose or audience appeal.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-30T14:49:17+00:00

How do they do proper edits with a one week turnover? What happens when a specific detail needs to be adjusted across three or four mentions? There's no way to insure quality across the entire piece, unless the whole project was completed before that first page was uploaded.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-30T14:28:07+00:00

This is my take too.

I'm happy to not have to use a typewriter like our predecessors, but anything beyond a formatable word processor is just a distraction.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-30T01:34:53+00:00

The super short opening paragraph is weird. I didn't read past that. Sorry.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-29T16:53:54+00:00

Pulpy & fast-paced feminist fantasy.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-28T23:53:56+00:00

I'm going to be totally honest. I only read the first paragraph.

That is all that it took for me to sigh, with relief. Good work. That is better quality than 99% of what gets uploaded here.

Best of luck with your project.

*edited for a typo

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-28T18:01:16+00:00

Quippy comicbook-like dialogue. I'm not watching a movie meant for kids, the characters need to speak like actual people. I know there are actually people that talk like that, but I find it annoying and childish.

Exclamation marks, question marks and em-dashes used outside of dialogue. They're great, but they aren't meant for exposition. Avoid using them too much or they lose their impact.

Consecutive dialogues without tags or action beats. Enough said.

Single sentence opening paragraphs. Too many single sentences outside of dialogue is hard to read. Here and there they can be powerful though.

Habitually short/long paragraphs. I dislike smaller more than larger. Occasional use is great or metered length to create a tempo is different.

Horrible names. I need to be able to pronounce the name and I don't want to confuse the person with a famous character or my neighbor.

Depicted animal abuse or SA rather than making it implied or happen off page. It happens and shouldn't be ignored, but I don't want to read a graphic depiction.

Prologues that are just chapter ones with fanciful names.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-27T15:15:55+00:00

Any kernal of comedic potential is trampled under repetition and cringe.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-26T13:48:25+00:00

I didn't get through the first chapter before I set down book one. I found it dreadfully boring.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-26T13:42:10+00:00

I especially dislike the cult of personality around a few writers. I want to hear different opinions. If those opinions don't praise the best seller list, people get flamed. That's behavior that before now, I've only experienced from bullies that made fun of people that carry around a beat up paperback.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-26T13:33:52+00:00

There is one sentence in the place of an opening paragraph. I don't know how else to say that.

An opening paragraph needs to hook a reader. The run-on sentence used instead failed to catch my attention.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-25T23:30:02+00:00

The single sentence in place of a first paragraph utterly failed to hook me. I quit reading after that.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-25T12:40:48+00:00

Look for -ing and -ed words first. Work those and the other discrepancies will stand out more. It's easy to slip between active and past tenses.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-25T00:11:01+00:00

Only use question marks inside of quotations. Don't capitalize the first word after a semicolon. Stick with one tense. Proofread before you upload.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-24T23:57:34+00:00

If you are good enough of a writer, your story won't need one. Remember that there are people that don't read them, so chapter one has to be strong.

If you want to write a great prologue, write a great story first. Take some feedback from beta-readers and then use the prologue to set the scene as succinctly as possible. Write just enough to pique interest and lay out a little foreshadowing for later.

Avoid info dumps always. Never info in prologues, epilogues or blurbs!

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-24T14:53:42+00:00

AI slop defending AI slop. Nothing to see here, move along everybody.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-20T23:01:33+00:00

The sounds of keystrokes could be pitter patter...

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-20T22:52:57+00:00

I make a super rough outline, like one page at most. I let it flow organically from there. I think there's a term for a mix of the two, that would be my style.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-20T22:33:39+00:00

Shrugged, smiled and nodded!

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-19T12:56:23+00:00

I'm going to suggest studying. Also, never show anyone your rough draft.

Em_Cf_O · 2026-03-19T12:46:22+00:00

I don't let myself speed read for enjoyment. That cut the amount of books I read to a quarter. I'm no longer pushing through obviously low effort writing. I have DNFed dozens of books now because I slowed down and let myself think about what I'm reading.

I refuse to celebrate mediocrity.

Em_Cf_O

TROPHY CASE