Wow, there is a lot of variation...just trying to get a clearer picture. I've decided I'm going to use "Perfect" to start from, which I should probably call "Imperfect" but, you know.

Wow, there is a lot of variation...just trying to get a clearer picture.

Yep. Courier, for instance, is a gigantic font -- at 12 point, doublespaced, you'll get about 250 words on a page. Times runs closer to 300-350. Using something smaller and prettier but still fairly "standard" like Garamond, you can easily hit 400. Foofy script fonts tend to be absolutely tiny. And some people like to write singlespaced stuff, or triplespaced, or masochistally enjoy reading 8-point type, and so on. So, page count really isn't an accurate measure of anything.

Yeah.

I mean, I know pretty well that with my settings (single-spaced trebuchet ms, 10pt), 6-7 pages = 3000 words, but it's variable.

I'm addicted to my word count button.

Note that 'professional' format is Courier font, double-spacing, one-inch margins on sides and bottom, 1.5 on top. This is what editors would like to get for submitted manuscripts, makes for easier markup and length estimation, also their eyes get used to reading that way. (The rule of thumb is "anything that makes the editor's job easier gives them less reason to reject you.") This reliably comes out to around 250 words (a word averaging six characters long) per page.

Note that Stephen King or Anne Rice could submit on old shopping bags in red crayon. Note also that no rule prevents you from writing in any font or format if it's easier on your eyes/saves paper/you think it's prettier.

Me, I've taken to always writing in professional format because a) it really is easier to mark up that way, especially because in my rewrite phase I often cross out whole sentences and phrases, and scrawl in something else, and b) then I don't have to reformat the whole mess if I submit it to a professional market.

What Theo Said.

On my machine, Word defaults to "manuscript submission" (no I do not mean porn) setting. I don't average 250 - more like 232, because I tend to user longer words.

Note that an editor will NOT read a single spaced printout in tiny pitch, and I don't blame them. My eyes go ballistic at the thought...

Note that an editor will NOT read a single spaced printout in tiny pitch, and I don't blame them.

Seriously. I can't bear teeny tiny type in LJs -- let alone something I'd be reading hundreds of pages of.

Reformatting takes me three minutes top.

Typing or reading in that format, however, is unpossible for me on the computer screen.

I suppose I could write a macro so I could buttonize the process.

"Manuize" or "Readble"

Actually, not a bad idea...

PMM, if you use Word styles instead of typing everything into "Normal", it takes two seconds to change the output format.

Onscreen, it's easiest for me to read single-spaced paragraphs (courier, size 10) with an extra space between paragraphs. On paper, the traditional manuscript submission format is easiest to read.

BTW, I have registered for NaNoWriMo under my "Sophia P." pseud.

PMM, if you use Word styles instead of typing everything into "Normal", it takes two seconds to change the output format.

For various reasons, I prefer to keep styles off on this machine. It's a personal preference. Word has some style bugs I'd rather not deal with if I'm not getting paid to deal with them.

For me, given what I do for a living, it's quicker and easier to just make myself a button or two to automate the process.