Manuscript Contents File Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines in preparing the document with your students' work. This will enable us to prepare a PDF file of the contents of your book within two to three days for you to review.

Contents should be prepared in a single file for uploading or e-mailing.

We can process files that are in Microsoft Word (doc and rtf), Acrobat PDF, Quark XPress, or PageMaker formats. With formats other than Microsoft Word, please include all fonts and picture files.

Your Document

Please include a title page. You may include other front matter (for example, dedication, table of contents).

Please use hard page breaks only where you really want them. Allow your software to wrap paragraph lines.

We highly recommend paginating your document. (Please add any front matter or blank pages to the total when ordering.)

Margins should be at least 1.25" all around for large format books and at least 3/4" all around for small format books.

Your document can include partial or full-page graphics, within the above-mentioned margins. Please "anchor" your graphics to the accompanying text. This will ensure that the graphics are appropriately placed even if you move or reformat the text. (Pay special attention to the placement of graphics when you receive your PDF file for review.)

Please think twice about using small fonts to reduce the length of your book. Much depends on the font itself, but in general smaller format books (5.5" x 8.25") look best with fonts ranging from 10 to 12 points. Larger format books (8.25" x 10.75") look best with 12 to 14 point fonts.

Finally, if you opt for a smaller format book (5.5" x 8.25"), you should still create normal size pages (8.5 x 11") in your contents file. We will reduce the pages. Therefore, please make sure you select a larger font with this reduction in mind.

Sending the Contents File to Us

When your contents file is ready, you can upload it or e-mail it. Either way, please be sure to include your order number.

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