How to Format a Book for Publishing

Print and eBook formatting are different disciplines. Print layout is fixed — what you design on the page is exactly what prints. eBook layout is reflowable — readers adjust font size and device, so your file must adapt gracefully.

Most authors need both formats. Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital each publish print and digital, but file requirements differ. Plan for both from the start to avoid reformatting later.

Choose a trim size before you begin. Common fiction sizes are 5×8, 5.5×8.5, and 6×9 inches. Nonfiction often uses 6×9. Your choice affects printing cost, page count, and shelf presence.

Set margins to accommodate binding — inside (gutter) margins are wider than outside margins. Use professional fonts: Garamond, Caslon, Minion, or Palatino for body text at 10–12 pt. Chapter headings can use a complementary display font.

eBooks use HTML and CSS under the hood. Style headings (H1 for chapter titles), body paragraphs, block quotes, and images with CSS classes. Avoid hard-coded font sizes — use relative units (em, %) so text scales on different devices.

Build a linked table of contents in your ePub file. KDP converts ePub to Kindle format automatically, but a clean source file reduces conversion errors like broken links, orphaned lines, and spacing glitches.

Front matter includes title page, copyright page, dedication, epigraph, and table of contents. Back matter includes acknowledgments, about the author, also-by page, and calls to action (newsletter signup, next book link).

The copyright page should list ISBN, publisher name, copyright year, and a disclaimer if your book includes advice or represents real events. For USA authors, register copyright at copyright.gov for additional legal protection.

Using tabs or spaces for paragraph indents instead of stylesheet styles. Inconsistent chapter heading formats. Embedding low-resolution images. Forgetting bleed on full-bleed cover wraps. Using multiple font families that clash.

Upload a proof copy before approving print distribution. Order a physical proof from KDP or IngramSpark and read it cover to cover. eBook errors are harder to catch — use Kindle Previewer and Apple Books validation tools.

DIY tools include Vellum (Mac, popular for fiction), Atticus (cross-platform), and Reedsy Book Editor (free, web-based). Adobe InDesign offers maximum control for complex layouts.

Professional formatting services handle the technical details and platform uploads for you. Authors Pilot formats manuscripts for KDP, IngramSpark, and wide eBook distribution — ensuring your book looks polished in every format.