Manuscript format guide

Short Story Manuscript Format for Magazines, Contests, and Anthologies

Short story manuscript format is close to standard manuscript format, but first-page details and market-specific anonymity rules matter more.

Format a short story See credits and pricing

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Quick answer

Use a clean title and byline, approximate word count, double-spaced body text, readable 12 pt font, first-line indents, page numbers, and simple scene breaks.

Best for

Writers submitting fiction to literary magazines, genre markets, contests, and anthologies.

File policy

Temporary downloads expire after about 12 hours.

Formatting rules

What to check before you use this format

Short story writers need a compact submission format with clear first-page details.

Title and byline

Clear title with author name unless anonymous submission is required

Word count

Approximate word count near the title or contact details

Body

Double spaced, 12 pt readable font

Paragraphs

First-line indents for story paragraphs

Scene breaks

Simple marker such as # or a clear blank break, used consistently

Headers

Follow market rules for surname/title/page number

Step-by-step formatting workflow

Step 1

Read the submission guidelines

Short fiction markets often specify anonymity, file naming, and header details.

Step 2

Format the first page

Put title, byline, and word count where the editor expects them.

Step 3

Standardize the story body

Apply readable type, double spacing, and paragraph indents across the story.

Step 4

Check scene breaks

Make transitions clear without using decorative dividers that can break in submission systems.

Magazine submission cleanup

Before

A short story with decorative separators, no word count, and inconsistent indentation.

After

A clean file with title, byline, approximate word count, double spacing, and simple scene breaks.

Common formatting mistakes

Including identifying details in an anonymous contest submission.
Leaving inconsistent scene break markers.
Using a book-style chapter format for a short story.
Skipping word count.

Frequently asked questions

Does a short story need a title page?

Many short stories use first-page information rather than a separate title page, but follow the market's guidelines.

Should I include word count?

Yes. Most short fiction submissions expect an approximate word count.

What format should short story submissions use?

DOCX is common, with standard manuscript formatting unless the market asks for something else.

Check your DOCX before paying

Upload a DOCX to scan formatting issues for free. If you choose to auto-format, 1 credit covers up to 20 pages. Files are not stored as document history.

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