Did you know that mostly negative reviews of self-published books are about bad formatting? You spend so much time writing your book, and then readers get frustrated with unclean text, non-functioning layouts, and untidy presentations. Even when you have an amazing story, these problems will damage your credibility and sales. The good news is that these problems can be solved by learning how to format a book properly.
This article provides a clear and concise guide to the entire process. We will explain the difference between print and e-book formatting, using easy-to-understand language. You will receive professional tips and learn about the most common errors to avoid.
By the end of the blog, you will feel confident about your skills in producing a professional and polished book, so that your writing will receive the attention and respect it deserves.
First, understand what book formatting is. Simply, it is structuring the inside of your manuscript (the text, pictures, and chapters). You make it clean and easy to read and right for stores like Amazon KDP.
Think of it this way: writing your book is like constructing a house. Formatting is the interior decorating and the wiring of electricity. Formatting makes your book comfortable and functional for the reader.
There are two types of formatting. It is very important to know the difference:
Print Book Formatting: This is a static layout. You have control over the appearance of each page. You set the margins, page breaks, and where everything goes because the typical result for printing is a PDF.
Ebook Formatting (Reflowable): This is a fluid layout. You give up control. The text is adaptable to the screen size and font settings in the device of the reader (phone, tablet, e-reader). Your task is to design a clean, rational structure that can be changed easily. The last file is an EPUB (which Amazon translates to their own format ebook for Kindle).
Trying to get a messy manuscript into a formal look. The first step in learning how to format a book occurs in your word processor, before you change any margins.
Start Fresh: Begin by erasing all the old, hidden formatting in your document in Word or Google Docs. Select all and click the “Clear All Formatting” button. This provides a clean start and removes outdated formatting, which can cause issues.
Use Styles, Not Manual Changes: This is the best tip from professionals. Do NOT just highlight your chapter title and make it big and bold. Instead, select the Styles menu in Word or Google Docs. Your chapter titles should be typed in “Heading 1” and the main body using “Normal” font.
Why? These style labels give a clean and well-organized layout. When you convert your file to an EPUB for an ebook, the software reads these tags. It knows, “This is a chapter heading,” and uses that to create a clickable Table of Contents.
Use One Enter Key: Never press Enter many times to make space between things. This will make huge, ugly gaps in an ebook. Instead, use the “Paragraph” settings to create space after a paragraph or heading. This space is designed to be smart and will adjust correctly on any device.
Do Not Use the Tab Key: Avoid using the Tab key. Using tabs to create indents for new paragraphs will create a messy ebook. Instead, choose the ruler in your word processor or set automatic first-line indents in the Paragraph settings. This ensures that every new paragraph has the same perfect indent.
Keep Everything The Same: Look at your manuscript one more time. Check that all the spacing, hyphenation, and special characters, including ellipses (…), are consistent. Small differences appear unprofessional to a reader.
The ideal for print is complete control and precision. Your PDF should be a polished, professional plan for your physical book.
Trim Size: The final size of your book, normally a dimension (e.g., 5×8 or 6×9). This is the one that you need to choose initially, as it influences all the other things.
Margins and Gutters: Margins are the space around your text. The “gutter” is the inside margin. It requires additional space (around 0.2 inches more than the outside margin) for the book’s binding. This prevents text from vanishing into the middle fold.
Front Matter: This contains your title page, copyright page, and table of contents.
Body Matter: Your actual chapters, with chapter headings and page breaks to match so that a new chapter begins on the right page.
Back Matter: This is where you place an “About the Author” section, thank-you notes, a message to solicit reviews, and a preview of your next book.
Page Numbers: Make page numbers in your headers/footers. Ensure that they are similar, and that they start on the first page of your story (page 1 is Chapter 1, the front matter is generally written in small Roman numerals).
The Final Look: After saving as a PDF, review every page carefully. Go through all pages carefully to check for any layout errors that could make your book appear unprofessional. Also, ensure that all images are in the correct place and that your margins are perfectly even.
Formatting for ebooks requires a new way of thinking. You are no longer in control of the look. You are creating a strong, flexible structure.
Understanding Reflowable Text: It is in the control of readers to modify. They can change the font and size. Your job is to ensure that, regardless of their choice, your book’s structure remains strong. Paragraphs stay together, chapters start right, and pictures look good.
The Magic of the Navigational Table of Contents: This is very important for an ebook. A good TOC, created from your “Heading 1” styles, creates an “NCX” file. This file enables users to access chapters directly from their device’s menu. It is not merely a list; it is a helpful map. Some information suggests that ebooks with a well-structured NCX TOC can have a higher completion rate, as they are easier to use.
Keep It Simple: Do not confuse the ordinary reader with fancy fonts, excess pictures, or involved text boxes! Use plain, web-safe serif fonts. The reader will likely change them anyway.
Use limited Images: Limit a few pictures and make sure they are web-ready (72 DPI, JPG or PNG) to prevent huge file sizes. Big files can be more expensive to deliver on Amazon and take longer for the reader to download.
Hyperlinks: If you mention your website or another book, ensure the hyperlinks are functional. Most word processors have an “Insert Hyperlink” feature for this purpose.
You Have to Test It: Never publish an ebook without testing it first. Amazon offers a free tool called Kindle Previewer, which is very useful. Put your file in it for formatting a book for Kindle, and see how it looks on a Kindle, a phone, and a tablet. This is the only way to discover problems before your readers discover them.
Here are the most common mistakes that can make your book look unprofessional.
There are a number of ways of getting a professionally formatted book. It will be based on your budget, your technical skills, and the availability of time.
The DIY Path (Free & Paid Tools): Microsoft Word/Google Docs: If you are familiar with Styles, you can create effective files.
Kindle Create (Free): Amazon’s free tool is great for simple novels. It is easy, works perfectly with KDP, and helps you create a high-quality EPUB file.
Draft2Digital’s Free Formatter: This is a great, free online tool. You can upload your Word document, and it will provide you with a clean, sellable EPUB and PDF document for free. It is a good way to know how to format a book safely.
Paid Software (Vellum, Atticus): These are the best software options for authors who plan to publish multiple books. Vellum (for Mac) and Atticus (for Mac and PC) make it easy to create very professional print and e-book files. They are not free, but they save you much time and ensure that the outcome is good.
Your time is precious, and learning can be difficult. Hiring a professional format helps you to get the perfect result and saves you from stress and technical problems. In the hiring process, seek an individual who has a solid portfolio, has experience working with your kind of book, and understands what you need.
You have now learned how to format books and how to prevent the most frequent issues. You find out the reason why styles are strong, why testing is important, and why you want a clean structure. This information will enable you to create a book that is as professional on the inside as it is on the outside, with a beautiful cover.
When the technicalities involved in formatting a book distract you from your actual job of writing the next book, you can seek assistance. If you prefer your book to appear highly professional without the effort, consider hiring professional book formatting services.
No. Print requires a fixed PDF file. Ebooks need a fluid EPUB file. You will have to create two files. The process of creating both files becomes very easy, though, using a manuscript that has styles.
Formatting of both ebook and print may require hours or even a day as a beginner to do it properly. It can be done within an hour with practice and the use of tools such as Vellum.
Bleed is an additional space (generally 0.125 inches) upon which an image or colour should extend beyond the cut line. This ensures that none of the white edges remain at the end of cutting the book. Bleeds are only necessary when the design extends to the maximum edge of the page.
When you are going to publish lots of books, it is a very good idea to purchase professional formatting software. It is time-saving and ensures professional quality, making it highly desirable among serious authors.
A widow is a single line of one paragraph at the top of a new page. The first line of a paragraph that stands alone at the bottom of a page is referred to as an orphan. You can correct these in print formatting to make it cleaner.
An International Standard Book Number is a number assigned to your book. Each store has different rules. Amazon (KDP) will provide you with a free ASIN for your ebook. Depending on your printing version, you may be required to purchase an ISBN.
Many stores offer free templates. Amazon KDP offers download templates for various book sizes, enabling you to begin with the correct margin and page format.
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