Shift in Point of View: In fiction, this can be the mistake of writing the wrong tense or style and the Character’s point of view, or POV, shifts from a single, to second and or third POV.Check Hyphenation: Sometimes words might not be hyphenated and this can throw off the look of a paragraph or drag on, in case the program didn’t catch it.Check for properly formatted dialogue: There are many rules to formatting dialogue and you need to check that each is followed in case your book has it.Look for widows and orphans: this is where a stray line in a paragraph starts the first page, or the first line of a paragraph starts at the end of a page.Here are some of the common issues you should look for when doing a final check of your work: Therefore, it is important to check your book and ensure it looks good, both grammatically and visually. Taking some of the steps we discussed, things could shift around. This isn’t just regular grammar and spelling issues, but instead, is about things that might have happened to your book after formatting the above. I cannot stress enough how important it is to double and triple check your work before you create the final versions of your formatted book. To change the trim size in Microsoft Word, go to the layout tab, click on the size option, and select more paper sizes at the bottom, as seen here: However, Microsoft Word will let you set the trim size wherever you need it. There are a few standard trim sizes, such as 5” x 8”, 5.5 x 8.5”, and 6” x 9”. The trim size refers to the literal height and width of your book. Most of these requirements relate to the print book, but a few are important to keep in mind for formatting the ebook as well. How to Format a Book in Word Formatting Requirements So, in order to ensure you’ve properly formatted your word for PDF export, let’s dive into some of those steps now. You’ll need to select your trim size and properly adjust margins and more. Later on, I’ll discuss some of the free book format software that will turn your Word doc into a proper ePub file.įor a print book, you’ll need to take many steps in order to properly format a PDF for printing presses. You do, however, have to worry about linking your table of contents, providing links to anything else that you want in your book, as well as making sure your chapter headings are correct, your images show up right, etc. To format a book as an ePub file, you won’t have to worry about trim size, margins, and font. These files are universally accepted by all markets and are the best file to target. You’re probably going to want to have an eBook and a Print book.įor an ebook, the file format you will most likely need is an Epub. When it comes to formatting a book, it’s a lot different from formatting an essay or blog post. How to Create a Book in Word The Difference between Ebooks and Print Formatting You can do it with a little know-how and the right mindset. See this tool to get a sampling of free templates for Microsoft Word, allowing you to choose between fiction and nonfiction, as well as the many different trim sizes.Īrmed with a free template, you’ll find that the below steps are much easier to do, and can build out an even more professional looking book with minimal effort.īut if you need to start from scratch, or your formatting needs are different from the templates listed above, don’t despair. Yes, it’s an inexpensive way to go, especially if you already have access to Microsoft Word, which most writers do.įor that reason, a template might be a good place to start, and then you can modify it from there. Format a Book in Word from Scratch or Get a Template? In this article, we will discuss how to format a book in Microsoft Word, either from scratch or from a template, so you can understand all the important elements of a well-formatted book and why they matter. There are many ways to format your book, from paid programs to free programs, and even Microsoft Word. However, there are several steps that need to be followed in order to have a professional product. Self-publishing a book on Amazon, as has been pointed out before, is a great way to build up passive income and support your business.
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