Style Sheets for Authors

If you’re writing a novel, you’re probably already keeping lists of your characters. Their physical descriptions, personality traits, and maybe even their accent or speaking style could be on it. A style sheet can contain these details and more. It is usually the job of the copy editor to create the style sheet. Not all copy editing assignments will require them, and not all copy editors create them. But for a book-length manuscript, most do. Those that don’t probably should.

A typical style sheet developed for a manuscript will include a list of words that might trip up an editor. For example, words that can be spelled more than one way, like “blond” and “blonde,” would be included. They also include decisions made on style and formatting, like whether the name of a fictional planet is italicized or how to set up email messages on the page. A style sheet usually lists the geographic locations that are mentioned in the book. This can be particularly helpful when these are in locations or languages unfamiliar to the editors.

Why would the development of the style sheet fall to a copy editor rather than the author, a developmental editor, or a line editor? Anyone in these roles can create a style sheet. Even portions of a style sheet, like a character list, can serve as a useful guide. But there are so many changes to the manuscript during the writing and revisions done prior to copy editing that this becomes a safe place for a more formal, complete style sheet to emerge.

If this seems late in the process, remember that part of the development of a style sheet is agreeing on the terms specified within it. This is where the author can review the copy editor’s sheet and discuss any needed changes. It should then be adhered to by all future editors and proofreaders.