Manuscript Preparation, Copyediting, and Proofreading
Q. What are the guidelines for submitting the manuscript of a book for publication?
A. The Chicago Manual of Style has general guidelines for manuscript preparation. See chapter 2, which includes an extensive discussion of this topic.
But you should check with your publisher for any other requirements specific to that press.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Hello. Are there any samples of manuscript formats for fiction writing in your new updated book?
A. The Chicago Manual of Style does not include guidelines for submitting manuscripts of works of fiction. Following a long tradition, the manual provides
guidelines for editing and writing and publishing works of nonfiction. Most of our rules on punctuation and capitalization
apply to all writing, and we do include recommendations for styling such things as direct and indirect discourse, but the
“nuts and bolts” information about publishing and editing is primarily geared
toward nonfiction articles and books.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]