This is one point I've always kind of winged it on--but with these partials going out I want every detail "right" so I'm asking.
Is there any format guidline for chapter headings? I've always centered mine in the same 12 pt as the rest of the ms and spelled out the number 1/3 of the way from the top of a new page then double space and start the new chapter. But is this the usual way of doing it? IS there a usual way of doing it?
None of the novel formatting guides I've checked mention this--except some do say to start 1/3 of the way down. Anyone have anything "authoritative" on this?
Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :
Yes that's exactly right. Now quickly, send them out before anyone else replies to your topic.
[This message has been edited by Doctor (edited March 17, 2008).]
Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :
Ha! That's probably a good idea.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Don't know if it's right, but I usually put CHAPTER "X", centered, right at the top of the page, the chapter title (if any) on the line below that, also centered, then go down five double-spaced lines and start there. (Does that constitute a third of the page?)
Regretfully, I can't recall the last time I saw guidelines on this sort of thing---or even if I ever saw any. I remember clearly how to format the title page of a short story, but that's a different matter. (It's all back in the dark ages before computers and word processors were born, so maybe it's all changed now.)
Must've missed the last discussion on formatting. That or I plain forgot it...
Posted by Tiergan (Member # 7852) on :
I’ve read the same, although I don’t remember where. I center the chapter heading, the same font and point, 1/3 the way down. Drop down two more lines and begin. For me that puts the heading on line 8, and the body beginning on line 10.