Formatting your book’s text is crucial in turning your manuscript into a print publication. It ensures that your content looks consistent throughout the book.
Discover the key components of a book’s front and back matter and valuable tips for textual substitutions like converting to typographer’s quotes and proper hyphenation techniques.
The Title Page
How to format a book for printing? Making a manuscript appear like a book is known as book formatting. Page numbering, paragraph arrangement, font size, and style are included.
Creating a title page for your book is the first task that needs to be completed. It should be consistent with the rest of your front matter, but genre often influences it.
For example, if your book is an ABC book, the title page should use the same font as the chapter headings throughout the book. It will help readers find their way through the text easily. The title page should also contain the author’s name and publisher.
The Front Matter
The front matter of a book is the preliminary material that comes before page 1 of the main text. It includes the title page, copyright information, a list of the author’s previous books, and a foreword or preface.
It also contains the dedication (if there is one), an epigraph, and the table of contents. It’s important to remember that the front matter must be tightly written and that it should be formatted in the same way as the rest of the book. That means avoiding widows and orphans and using the same font for chapter headings. This consistency is vital in creating a professional and engaging presentation.
The Back Matter
The back matter consists of the pages following the main text body. It can include an about the author page, discussion questions, a bibliography, a coda (epilogue or afterword), and more.
Unlike the front matter, which has a more standard flow, these can be arranged in any order. An essential piece of back matter is an Acknowledgements page that rewards everyone who helped make the book possible. It can also briefly summarize the author’s professional career, education, and certifications. Back matter can also include footnotes or endnotes to help clarify information without distracting readers from the main content. These are usually found in nonfiction books.
The Contents
The content of a book is usually divided into chapters. However, some books don’t have chapters, such as concise children’s stories or brief photo books illustrating related subject matter.
The contents page is an integral part of a book, telling the reader what topics are covered, how many chapters are in the book, and where they can find specific information. It may also include a table of contents, dedication, and epigraph.
For example, a simple alphabet book may follow the classic pattern of “letter-is-for-noun” and offer a predictable pattern for children to learn their letters. It may also include text that shows both upper and lower-case letters.
The Table of Contents
When you publish your book, whether it’s in paperback or as an eBook, there are formatting rules that you must follow. These include line spacing, margins, font size, word count, page number, and chapter titles.
For instance, the title of your book should appear in heading 1, and your chapter titles in heading 2. It will help readers find the information they’re looking for easily. You should also decide on a consistent paragraph style, such as indenting or spacing them out, and stick with this throughout your book. It will add consistency and make your book look more professional. Your readers will appreciate it.
The Index
Book formatting may seem tedious or superficial in manuscript submission, but following industry standards is an excellent way to demonstrate your thoughtfulness and care as an author. It also ensures that your editor and readers will take your work seriously.
Chapter heading fonts are an opportunity to set a distinct and stylish tone for each scene of your story, but consistency is critical. Choose one style (indented or spaced paragraphs) and stick with it throughout the manuscript to ensure continuity. Page layout involves the manipulation of white space to define and separate sections and create breathing room for the reader. These two processes go hand in hand with typesetting and are integral to creating a beautiful book.
The Appendices
Not all books need an appendix page, but it is an integral part of the back matter for those that do. It can include survey results, questionnaires, raw statistical data, maps and other images, or interview transcripts.
Appendices should appear after the bibliography but before the notes and references section. It is also an excellent place to include any supplemental information too lengthy to fit in the footnotes or endnotes. Each appendix should begin on a new page with the label centered and in bold, followed by the title. If the appendix contains tables or figures, number them as they appear in your text’s body.
The Cover
The cover is what people see first, and it’s the most significant factor in a book’s success or failure. It should evoke a strong emotion while providing clear information about the content.
Several steps must be taken before a book can be published, including a table of contents, colophon page, and copyright page. Often, these pages need to be formatted to ensure consistency and accuracy.
This process can be daunting, but it’s essential for a professional finish. It’s important to take the time to research and choose the right book designer, interior formatter, or both. Then, make sure you keep communication lines open to avoid any issues.
