Ten Tips on Formatting Your Book for a Self-Publisher

If you have decided to self-publish your book, then you might have bitten off more than you originally thought. Most authors who choose to self publish don't realize how important it is to format your book correctly for submission-otherwise, it might not come out how you want, and you don't want to write another check to have it reprinted. So in the interest of saving you time and money, here are a few tips on formatting your book for a self-publisher.

Formatting Your Book for a Self Publisher: Fonts

Some self- and vanity publishers only allow you to print your book in certain fonts. Others allow you to pick and choose, but make sure you find out ahead of time. The standard is to put your text in a serif font-Times New Roman, Garamond, Palatino-and your chapter headings in a sans serif font, such as Arial or Verdana. Some fonts won't print correctly with certain presses.

Formatting Your Book for a Self Publisher: Paper Size

Many of the self- and vanity publishers are allowing their clients to upload their manuscripts online, which they then convert to a PDF file. This works well when you are offering your manuscript as both an eBook and as a paperback or hardcover. However, you must make sure that your document is the same size as the book it will be printed in.

For example, if you have chosen a 6"X9" paperback, then you should change your document settings to reflect that. To change the document size on Microsoft Word, simply go to File > Page Setup > Paper, and change the width and height.

Formatting Your Book for a Self Publisher: Header

Typically, paperback and hardcover books are printed with a specific header. On the left page of the book (even numbers), the page number is in the top left-hand corner and the author's name goes two or three spaces to the right. On the right page of the book (odd numbers), the page number goes in the top right-hand corner and the title of the book goes two or three spaces before it.