You are probably best to create a template for these purposes. There are a
few links below that will help you. Basically, all you have to do is open a
blank document, set up all the formatting you want, including such as
margins, page numbering 9f desired, etc. Modify your Normal style for
double spacing, font etc. and you are most of the way there. If you want
headers or footers add them. You might want to enter some text to be sure
you have it right or you can paste insome other text, such as a prior
article (do yourself a favor--instead of "paste" use "Edit, paste special"
and select "text" to be sure you don't inadvertently import some other
formatting. Once everything looks fine delete all text you don't want in
your template and save your document as a template by switching "Save as
type" to "document template *.dot". Give it a name, of course and save it.
JNow you have a template. To open it click File, New and you should see it
among your templates. Where are your user tmeplates? Click Tools, Options,
File Locations and check your setting for User Templates. You can modify
the location if you want but there is probably no specific reason to do so.
Later on you can modify the style(s) in the template just by clicking on
save to Template when you make any changes to the style(s). For other
changes you have to navigate to the folder where the templates are stored
and open the template as you would any Word document. Hope this helps.
Creating a Template - The Basics (Part I)
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/Customization/CreateATemplatePart1.htm
What is the relationship between a Word document and its template?
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/templaterelations\index.html
What do Templates and Add-ins store?
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/WhatTemplatesStore.htm