The nuts and bolts of
style-sheets
A beneficial tool that keeps you organised and your manuscript neat.
I am so excited to introduce you to style-sheets!
If you haven’t met one yet, then you’re at the right place to see the creation and benefits of a reliable tool for both writers and editing professionals.
Style-sheets come in different designs, and you can shape them to your own taste, but the basics are more or less the same – and you can find a free template at the end of this article that you can change to your liking.
But what is a style-sheet?
It is a fantastic summary of formatting, spelling, and stylistic choices, plus a collection point of the who, when, and where of your novel. At the different stages of editing, you will receive editorial reports which tackle the same issues in more depth – however, there are advantages to create your own one.
In the template below, you can see multiple tables which are dedicated to different aspects of a novel. In this case, these are fairly simple.
- A little bit of everything: language preferences, narrative viewpoint and tense, the kind of dashes you used. The list can go on, and you can include choices regarding serial commas, or abbreviation; even an extended table for spelling preferences.
- On the next page, you can make a list of your characters and their key features. No more forgetting whether Mary was the neighbour of Jack who either had purple or black hair. It’s all in there!
- Key locations can be either places or buildings; or maybe a street, a multi-storey apartment block, a small family home with two rooms – it doesn’t matter. You can make a note of their names and features here.
- World rules are not only handy for the fantastical or futuristic novels. You can put factual details here from your research, or the laws you’ve created for your story.
- A timeline or chapter summary, that can always refresh your memory of what’s happening to whom and where.
You might need more rows here or fewer there, but it’s okay. A style-sheet belongs to you as much as your manuscript! Create your own one or use a template, and you’ll see what a difference it can make.
The advantages of a style-sheet
1. It’s great – I know, this is just my opinion.
2. It helps you stay consistent and on track.
Whether something – like the colour of a wall, the spelling of a name, or your preference of using full points after Mr and Mrs – slips your mind, an organised style-sheet will guide you to a solution. For one book, but also for series and trilogies, it saves you from mistakes like misspelling names, typing e.g. ‘learned’ then ‘learnt’, or mixing up timelines.
3. It’s a great tool for self-editing.
At whatever stage you create your style-sheet, it will be your buddy in your subsequent drafts. When in doubt, use it as a checklist: do a search for the names, check your dashes are the same; chapter by chapter, or on the whole book, whatever way works for you. You practice, and at the same time further develop your writing skills – constant learning pays off in the long run.
4. It’s useful for your editor.
The more information you gather, the happier your editor will be since they will know what to look out for, what inconsistencies to note or change, and their work be more flawless. What’s the point, you ask? Since your preferences are recorded, the work you’ll receive from an editor or proofreader will be more to your liking. Also, if you carried out a basic check on the manuscript, it could potentially save you money on editing – the neater your manuscript, the less time we will need to spend on it.
Are you ready to make a style-sheet?
Yes, you are!
Open your favourite word-processing software or download this Microsoft Word template, and dive in! It doesn’t matter what stage you start filling it out: before you begin a new story, at the second draft, or while you write your manuscript. You will have the greatest advantage of it, so do it however you like it.
Looking for more guidance about the different levels of editing? Follow the link below to learn about the amazing editing professionals and their services.
More free stuff is available on my Services page, where you can find a handy little booklet about proofreading. Take a look!
Is your manuscript edited and ready for publication? Then look no further for a proofreader! Click on the button below and send me a message!
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view the translations.