Tag: ebook formatting

Tips for Formatting Your Book Correctly in Microsoft Word

Caleb Clayton book formattingGuest Post
by Caleb Clayton

One of the first questions authors ask after finishing their book manuscript is, “How do I format my book?” It can be confusing, especially if you’ve never done it before. I started doing eBook and paperback formatting for a small publishing company a couple of years ago and now I also have my own formatting company. I’ve discovered there are a number of things that authors are struggling with when it comes to formatting, so I thought I would share with you some of the questions I see most often asked. Whether you decide to format your book yourself, or to send it to a formatter, the following tips will help ensure you get the results you want.

1.  Why do I have an extra space between my paragraphs? Continue reading “Tips for Formatting Your Book Correctly in Microsoft Word”

Kickin’ It with Kindle Kids’ Book Creator

Kindle Kids' Book Creator LogoI never dreamed of writing a children’s book — didn’t think it was my style. Well, a little ducky changed that. Her name is Sevy, and she caused me a whole heap of trouble as a duckling. I’d posted her exploits on Facebook and everyone kept urging me to write a children’s book. Okay, I did. The print version had its headaches with formatting, bleed, and such, but it’s out there. The eBook, however: I could never get the formatting right for some reason, so I ignored it for a couple of years.

Enter the mighty Amazon and the Kindle Kids’ Book Creator. This is a free download that you can pluck from the KDP login page. There’s also a short (video) on the KDP website that’s pretty helpful.

Once you have it downloaded, open it up, kick the tires and take it for a test drive. There’re two simple prompts at the bottom: Open an existing book, or, Create a new kids’ book. Continue reading “Kickin’ It with Kindle Kids’ Book Creator”

Pressbooks: another formatting resource for Indie writers

Pressbooks LogoI recently mentioned using Pressbooks to format books in my post about memoirs. It occurred to me that I had yet to wax lyrical about this great website. So, this month I’m going to give you a guided tour.

I found Pressbooks.com a few years ago, when I wanted to generate epub and mobi files of a book that would never see a formal distribution channel. My client just wanted to be able to place files on a website for readers to download free of charge. At the time it was a new site, still in beta, and those of us who used it chatted back and forth with the developers occasionally. I found them charming, clever and helpful; I remain fond of the site as a result.

These days it’s pukka, with paid services, distribution channels and a string of glowing reviews from small publishers. Although it now goes way beyond simple ebook production, you can still access the services completely free. Who would want to though, and why? Continue reading “Pressbooks: another formatting resource for Indie writers”

What Do Formatting Companies Require from Authors and Why

john low, founder of ebook launchGuest Post
by John Low

So… you have finished writing your book, and now you would like to publish it as an eBook. You have decided that you want to contract out the formatting, but are confused as to exactly what it is that formatting companies need from you. In this article, this will be clarified for you.
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What is eBook Formatting?

What, exactly, is eBook formatting? eBook formatting is the process of turning a manuscript file (like a Word document) into a digital format that can be published as an eBook.

The Difference between eBooks and Prints Books Continue reading “What Do Formatting Companies Require from Authors and Why”