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Build Your Book - Format a Paperback Manuscript (Word for Mac)
Contents
- Setting page size and margins
- Modifying styles for a custom look
- Formatting chapters (section breaks and chapter titles)
- Formatting front matter
- Adding pagination
- Adding headers (advanced)
- Formatting chapter title pages (advanced)
- Adding images (advanced)
- Creating a table of contents (TOC)
- Proofing and exporting to PDF
Setting page size and marginsA few key terms before you start:
Step-by-step instructions: Setting page size and margins (no bleed)
Tip: If your page count changes, go back and check the inside margin because it may also need to change. Step-by-step instructions: Setting page size and margins (bleed)
Tip: If your page count changes, go back and check the inside margin because it may also need to change. |
Modifying styles for a custom lookUsing the styles function in Word can help you ensure your book's font and spacing is consistent. You can use the preset Styles in Microsoft Word or modify them for a custom look. Using styles also saves you time because you don't have to format the font and spacing for each part of your book.Step-by-step instructions: Setting and applying stylesModifying the Normal style for book bodyThe Normal style is used for your book's body text. You'll pick your font and font size as well as the alignment of each paragraph, spacing between paragraphs, and the indentation of the first line of each paragraph. These are all style choices, so choose based on your genre.
Applying the Normal style to book body
Tip: Depending on whether the font you choose is large (example: Arial) or a small (example: Times New Roman), you should size between 9 and 12 point. Amazon recommends 9 point for a larger font and 12 point for a smaller font. Setting the Heading 1 style
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Formatting chapters (section breaks and chapter titles)Why this step matters:
Step-by-step instructions: Adding section breaks
Step-by-step instructions: Formatting chapter title pages
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Formatting front matterFront matter are the sections that come before the first chapter. Some elements are expected and others are optional, but there is a standard order. Learn more about front matter elements.Tip: Right-facing pages are odd numbered pages in printed books because the first piece of paper is on the right side, facing up from the open, printed book. The back of the cover is the left-facing page. Step-by-step instructions: Formatting front matterAdding section breaks and blank pages
Formatting front matter pagesHalf title page
Title page
Copyright pageTo format the copyright page, highlight all of the copyright content. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, select Center. If you don't have a copyright page, you can use a template like this:
Copyright © 2019 Author Name
Tip: To make the copyright symbol, hold down the CTRL + ALT + C keys. If you choose a KDP ISBN, it is your ISBN-13. If you have a 10-digit ISBN, change "ISBN-13" to "ISBN".
All rights reserved. ISBN-13: Dedication
Table of contents (TOC)You'll add and format the TOC in Step 9.Preface, acknowledgments, and prologue pages
Tip: In Step 2, you modified Heading 1 for all chapter titles. Using the Heading 1 style also pulls anything tagged Heading 1 into the Table of Contents (Step 9). Use Heading 1 for any front matter pages that you want in your TOC. |
Adding paginationSome books have different pagination styles between the front matter (Roman numerals) and book body (Arabic numerals). If you're unsure whether to use different pagination styles (it's not typical for novels), find books with content similar to yours to get an idea of what readers expect. To achieve different pagination styles, you have to use section breaks (see Step 3).Step-by-step instructions: Adding pagination
Step-by-step instructions: Adding Roman numerals to front matter
Step-by-step instructions: Removing page numbersRemoving page numbers from certain pages of front matter is a design choice and requires more Microsoft Word skill and time.Unlinking footers between front matter and book body
Removing page numbers from certain front matter pagesTo remove page numbers from certain front matter pages (example: title page, half title page):
Tip: It may seem confusing to add page numbers individually and then remove some. We recommend this so that the page numbers flow consecutively whether they are displayed or not.
Fixing page numbering issuesYou may notice that the pagination is restarting at 1 at the beginning of a chapter or section. To fix this:
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Adding headers (advanced)Alternating headers between the book title and author name is common in book design. To achieve different headers for the book content and front matter, you have to set up your file using section breaks (see Step 3).Step-by-step instructions: Adding headersAdding headers
Removing headers and footers from chapter title pagesIt's common for chapter title pages not to include headers. Here's how to remove them:
Tip: You might find it more efficient to perform the tasks for each chapter title page (applying Heading 1, first paragraph, drop cap, and removing headers and footers) before moving on to the next chapter title page. This is covered in Step 7. |
Formatting chapter title pages (advanced)Using a First Paragraph style and drop caps (a large capital letter typical for the first letter of the first word in a chapter) gives your chapter title page a professional look. If you want to use a drop cap, you might want to create a First Paragraph style with no indentation so that the drop cap lines up with the paragraph alignment.Step-by-step instructions: Formatting chapter title pages
Step-by-step instructions: Applying drop caps
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Adding images (advanced)This step shows you how to insert images for books with and without bleed. It also shows you how to positon and styles images. Before you insert images, make sure they are high resolution.Step-by-step instructions: Sizing and positioning images (no bleed)
Step-by-step instructions: Sizing and positioning images (bleed)
Step-by-step instructions: Inserting images
Step-by-step instructions: Styling images
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Creating a table of contents (TOC)Not all paperbacks have a TOC. If you're unsure whether to include one, find books with content similar to yours to get an idea of what readers expect. If you also want to publish your book in digital format, creating a TOC now will save you time. Why? Because Amazon requires all Kindle eBooks to have a TOC, which allows readers to navigate between chapters easily.Step-by-step instructions: Creating a table of contentsAdding an automated table of contents
Updating the table of contents
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Proofing and exporting to PDFNow that you’re done formatting, it's time to do a final check and adjust some settings to ensure your file works with the KDP website.Step-by-step instructions: Proofing and exportingTurning on paragraph marksTurn on hidden formatting symbols by clicking the paragraph symbol on the Home tab. Scroll through the document looking for any spacing issues. Embedding fonts
Turning off downsampling
Exporting to PDFTo export as a PDF, go to the File tab, click Export, and then click PDF under Export Formats. You're now done formatting your interior file! To upload it to KDP, go to your Bookshelf. |