Book formatting is a page-by-page process, and every layout is a custom job. No two manuscripts are exactly alike.
Making sure your readers have a seamless and pleasant experience is my goal.
I've outlined everything you need to know in easy-to-digest chunks below. Have a leisurely scroll through and see if my book formatting service is a fit for you and your self-publishing journey.
I've developed some packages to make book formatting an affordable part of your self-publishing process.
Book Formatting Service Packages
I designed the Print Basic package for fiction works up to 80,000 words. It can also accommodate non-fiction, poetry, and memoirs within the same range. I will format your print book according to industry standard with fonts, layout elements, and a table of contents. Once complete, I will deliver a PDF ready to upload as well as a source file at no extra charge. All print packages include an eBook file that is formatted and ready to upload, also at no extra charge.
Print Plus is for those who just need a little more with their book formatting service. This package includes everything in the Print Basic package, plus the inclusion of up to 10 images in your manuscript provided by you. Print Plus will accommodate manuscripts up to 100,000 words.
Are you ready to go premium? The Print Premium package includes everything you get from Print Basic plus up to 25 images and extra formatting, such as chapter headings, drop caps, and/or block quotes. This package also includes extra eBook formats including mobi and ePub so you can publish wide.
Just need an eBook? The eBook Only package will handle books up to 80,000 words and provide you with a Word document that is ready to upload. If you plan to publish a print version in the future, keep in mind that all of our print packages include free eBook formatting.
NOTE: Any images provided for inclusion in your manuscript for print must be a minimum of 300 PPI. I may request that images be provided in a separate file in addition to your manuscript file.
When you're ready to get started, just click the button and reach out to me via my contact form. We can discuss your project and make sure my book formatting service is a good fit. Once things are finalized, I will invoice you for 50% up front and 50% upon satisfactory completion.
If you are at some other step in the self-publishing process, I have knowledge and resources to help you every step of the way.
How My Book Formatting Service Works
It all begins with a Word document.
Don't have Word?
No problem.
Use a free Word compatible alternative such as LibreOffice or Google Docs. Just be sure to Save As or Export as a docx file.
Here's a free template you can use - https://heyyoava.com/formatting
Final edits should be complete, and your file should have minimal formatting. Here are a few basic guidelines:
- No tabs. Most, if not all, publishing platforms will chew these up and spit them out all wrong
- Keep styles at a minimum: title, subtitle, H1, H2, H3, normal
- Do not include a Table of Contents
- No fancy fonts. eReaders and reading apps allow the user to choose what font to read in
What I Need to Know
- Trim size (for print only)
- Preferred fonts - Traditionally, I use Arial for eBooks and Garamond or Adobe Caslon for print
- Black and white or color? - Color printing is expense. Most self-publishers go for black and white. All eBooks are formatted in color
- Any special formatting instructions you might have
What I'll Be Doing
I go through your book page-by-page looking for:
- Widowed first lines and orphaned last lines
- Line spacing errors
- Justification errors
- Hyphenation errors
- Checking for word stacks (occurrences of the same word on top of each other)
- Checking for rivers (spaces stacked on top of each other causing white space)
Most of the time, I'm working on one issue each time I go through your book. Once your book formatting is complete, I will have been through your book no less than 10 times.
Print formatting depending upon the length and complexity of your book can never be rushed and will take 2 to 4 weeks minimum.
Note: This is not 2 to 4 weeks full-time. You're looking at between 8 and 15 hours minimum.
What You Will Receive from Me
If you hire me to format your eBook, you'll get:
- A Word document ready to upload
This file can be uploaded to Amazon KDP, Google Play Books, Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, etc.
If you hire me to format your print book, you'll get:
- A PDF ready to upload
- An editable source file in case you or someone you hire works on the print book in the future
NOTE: Your PDF will adhere to typesetting standard guidelines.
This may look wrong to you. For example:
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- No page numbers on Chapter start pages
- Blank pages to allow for images or other elements to be all on one page (more common with non-fiction)
- Blank left pages to allow book sections and chapters to always begin on the right
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These are just a few of things that may look like mistakes in formatting, but aren't.
If you are publishing your print file via IngramSpark or Barnes & Noble Press, please let me know so I can provide additional files if needed.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
All of my client relationships begin with an email.
I'm also available via Discord and you'll find a link to that on my Home page.
I realize you may have questions, and that's great. I love answering them.
I look forward to hearing from you and getting started on your project.