| Whether you are writing a non-fiction or a fiction | | | | to parts of speech; from quoting without |
| book, there are guidelines you must follow, both in | | | | permission to how to read an editor's proof |
| creating your text and formatting your | | | | marks on your hard copy; and from punctuation |
| manuscript. Help is available in the form of | | | | to common terminology. Both books are well |
| stylebooks that give writers such information as | | | | designed for quick and easy reference and |
| when to capitalize certain words, how to cite | | | | certainly worth purchasing. |
| sources in text, where to use italics, and so forth. | | | | In addition to following the style and usage advice |
| If you have written and sold newspaper or | | | | found in these books, you will be required by a |
| magazine articles, you are no doubt familiar with | | | | publisher to set up your manuscript in a certain |
| the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, | | | | way, called "formatting" in the trade. Each |
| the mainstay of reporters everywhere. Although | | | | publisher has different formatting guidelines. Make |
| AP style is acceptable for book-length publications, | | | | sure you review these guidelines before you |
| the Chicago Manual of Style, published by the | | | | submit your prized work. Following style and |
| University of Chicago Press was recently updated | | | | formatting guidelines will quickly become second |
| for users who also work with electronic | | | | nature to new writers. So get out there, write |
| publications. | | | | your heart out, do your research on publishers, |
| As does the AP stylebook, the 956-page Chicago | | | | format your book, submit it, and have fun |
| manual covers subject matter from word usage | | | | becoming a best seller! |