How To Write A Book In Google Docs – The Basics Of Formatting A Manuscript

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So if you want to learn how to connect with readers and sell more books.
Make sure to subscribe and get new content to your inbox every Tuesday.
But in this video, I'll be sharing the basics to writing a book in Google Docs.
These tips will help new writers who have a desire to write a book but don't know
how to begin.
So I've done a previous video on formatting a book in MS Word and I'll link that for
those of you who missed it.
But I wanted to provide another option for those of you who may not have access to MS
Word and are looking for a good free alternative.
Now to be clear this video will focus on how to format a manuscript.
Once your manuscript is completed, you'll share your formatted manuscript with your
writing coach, beta readers, editors, and for those of you who seek to traditionally
publish, you will share your manuscript with your agent and then later a publishing company.
So… here's why I like Google Docs for new writers. First of all, it's entirely online!
Which means that you can be anywhere with Internet access and have the ability to update
your manuscript.
It also saves your manuscript automatically… Now if you've ever lost your manuscript and
didn't have a backup, then you'll understand why this is such a huge huge bonus!
So now let's get into how to format your book in Google Docs.
Now of course I'm going to be sharing the basics…the things you need to know in order
to get started.
Let's start with the page setup.
Click file, then page setup and just confirm that there is a one inch margin on the top, bottom,
left and right.
This should be set as the default for a page size of 8.5x11 but I just want you to confirm it first.
Next is the font.
So the most common font for formatting a manuscript is Times New Roman.
You can also use Arial and Courier New.
But for the sake of this video, we're going to select Times New Roman.
The font size should be 12.
Again, we're trying to make it as easy as possible for the person reviewing the document.
Now on to the title page.
On the very first line you're going to include your first and last name.
You're going to tab over to the right and type word count.
Now this is important because your writing coach, editor and formatter will provide you
a quote based off this word count.
An agent also needs to know your word count to determine whether your manuscript falls
within the word count of the genre you write.
So to determine your word count, you want to go to the Tools menu and then select word
count.
On the next line you're going to include your address and on the very next line you're going
to include your city, state, and zip code.
Then on the next line add your email address.
Now when you're including your email address, make sure that it's an email that you check
regularly.
This is going to be the email that you're going to share with your editor, writing coach,
an agent or publishing company.
Drop down to the middle of the page and you're going to put the title of your manuscript
in all capital letters.
Then you're going to drop down two lines and type 'By' and then your author name.
This is your title page.
Go to insert, break, page break.
Once your title page is complete you'll want to insert a page break.
This ensures that your next page starts on a new page.
We're going to click insert, header and page number. Choose header and then enter your name and
the title of your manuscript on the left and the page number on the right.
Go to insert, header and page number, page number,
and then choose the second option on the top right.
Next we're going to go to format, line spacing, and then choose double.
So that's the basics for how to format your document and write a book in Google Docs.
If you want to write a book that helps you to connect with readers and sell more
books!
Make sure to subscribe!
But in the meantime check out my video How To Write A Book In Word,
if you're looking for an alternative to Google Docs.
As always all of my social media links will be in the description box below.
If youre looking to hire me as your writing coach, you will find that information there
as well.
And I look forward to talking with you in my next video.
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How To Write A Book In Google Docs – The Basics Of Formatting A Manuscript

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