Headers in Word Manuscripts
I generally consider myself a power Word user – until I get to inserting running heads in a manuscript. Google offers this definition of a running head: Lines of type that run at the top of the book page, usually the book title on the left-hand page and the chapter title on the right-hand page.
Word does some things I consider totally strange. First of all, every time the text in the header changes you need a new section break. That’s not too odd, come to think about it. But it’s not that straight forward. Instead of letting you put this section’s text in this section, Word puts it in or changes it in the previous section. And of course, I don’t want headers text on the first page of chapters… I’ve made this work in the past, and always with roughly the same drama I’m going through now, which consists of searching for instructions on the web. Maybe this time when I get it figured out I’ll post my own set of instructions for people who think like I do!
Write well and often,
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POSTED IN: The Kitchen Sink
2 opinions for Headers in Word Manuscripts
Jenn
Jan 26, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Framemaker is a better choice for large manuscripts.
Yvonne Perry
Jan 27, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I can help you with this problem. What you need to do is make sure your headers and footers are not “same as previous”. How? Open your header/footer and look outside the dotted box. If you see the words “same as previous” your section is joined to the one previous so whenever you change one, it automatically changes the other. There’s either a floating tool bar or a new tool bar that appears only when the header/footer is open. Find it, then count from the left four icons and click. You can make sure you have the correct icon by holding your mouse over it until you see the words “link to previous”. By selecting this icon, you will disengage the two sections from one another.
I will be teaching a Writers on Call class on the advanced features of MS Word as part of the 8-week series on “How to Write a Book”. Sign up for the classes while they are only $9.99 per month. After January 31, they go up to $37.
http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writersoncall.htm
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