# Formatting A Novel in Pages 09

**URL:** <https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038>\
**Category:** Other Software & Development\
**Created:** [June 30, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038 "2009-06-30T17:37:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anne](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Anne](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Anne)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038/1 "2009-06-30T17:37:02Z")

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Hi! I just finished a novel and I’m working on minor revisions. I’m beyond the point where Scrivener could help,so I’m using Mac. But I’m a new user and can’t figure out all the formatting issues (chapter headings, new chapter indentations, Table of Contents, etc). Can anyone out there help? Thanks. 😕

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**Author:** ![howarth](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@howarth](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/howarth)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038/2 "2009-06-30T18:02:23Z")

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Novel format is quite basic.  
Header: date on left, short title in center, last name, page # on right  
Body text: 1-inch margins (left/right), double-space, 12-point font (Courier or Times New Roman)  
Chapters: Title in bold face or bold italic, one blank space, then body text. (no ch. numbers in fiction)  
Indentations: 3 to 5 spaces, but no more.  
Table of Contents: generally not used in fiction.

Courier is not attractive, but it provides a quick count for publishers as to book length.  
Good luck!

PS: in Pages, make yourself a Novel and/or Chapter template and save it in Template Chooser.

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**Author:** ![Anne](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Anne](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Anne)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038/3 "2009-06-30T19:59:30Z")

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Thank you so much!

How do I set up a chapter template? I bought this Mac because I thought it would be easier and friendlier than my PC, but now I’m not so sure… 😒

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![howarth](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@howarth](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/howarth)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038/4 "2009-06-30T20:42:00Z")

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The Mac is much easier, but it helps if you speak to it with a Scottish brogue.  
Just kidding. 😮  
To make and save a template in Pages, do this:  
Launch the program.  
The Template Chooser asks you to make a choice.  
Choose Blank.  
In that file, enter the formatting I previously described.  
Then File: Save As Template.  
Call that file Novel or Chapter, as you wish.  
From that point on, Select Chapter when you need it.  
The template file lives at  
root: Library: Application Support: iWork: Pages: Templates: My Templates  
You can modify and rename those files as you wish.  
root is the little house icon, with whatever name you’ve given it.  
It’s a really good idea to use the Pages tutorial and Help files, often.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Anne](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Anne](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Anne)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038/5 "2009-07-01T06:48:44Z")

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Hey Druid!

I’ll try it all - if it doesn’t work - can I adopt you?

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**Author:** ![anon56686023](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anon56686023](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/anon56686023)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/formatting-a-novel-in-pages-09/6038/6 "2009-07-01T07:02:27Z")

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Here’s a sample Pages template for a book. Note though, that the paper size is U.S. letter paper, a size not used for publishing books. Here’s the link: [rapidshare.com/files/250576075/s … plate.html](http://rapidshare.com/files/250576075/simple_book.template.html).