While formatting my manuscript, does Wordclay have any suggestions to help create a clean and professional layout?
Yes, there are a few things to keep in mind when preparing your manuscript that will greatly increase the overall professional appearance of the book.
Consistency throughout the book goes a long way to adding to the professional appearance of your book. Consistency applies to various levels including the font throughout the body, line spacing and justification, paragraph indents, spacing after a period, chapter starts, dashes, and other kinds of punctuation. The line spacing and font size and style should be consistent throughout the main body of the text, although bold or italics can vary. (However, it is best not to overuse bold, italics, or underlines, which can be very distracting to the reader). To ensure that paragraph indentation is consistent, use the same spacing each time using the tab key (not by pressing the space bar, which can cause inconsistent spacing). Or, some authors prefer to have a space in between each paragraph instead of an indentation. Just make sure you are consistent each time. If you incorporate scene breaks in your book, use a consistent number of spaces or a glyph for each break, whether it is one or two lines, or three or four asterisks. Some authors use one space after a period, and others prefer to use two spaces. Decide what you like better and keep it consistent. The same rule applies for punctuation styles, like an em or en dash, smart quotes or straight quotes, ellipses, etc. You can use the "find/replace" function in Microsoft Word to assist you in locating and changing these details so they are consistent. See our help video library for a video tutorial.
The readability of a book is extremely important since it is the means through which you will reach your audience. The main aspects that affect readability are font style, font size and line spacing. While your chapter-start titles, title pages, etc., can use more decorative and ornate fonts, the main body text should be something standard and easy to read.
Typically, the main body test is a serif font, which means that there are little marks, or "serifs," on the ends of letters; for instance, the tiny marks at the top and bottom of an "l." Some suggested serif fonts to use include, Adobe Garamond Pro or Garamond, Adobe Caslon Pro or Caslon, Adobe Jenson Pro, Minion Pro or Times New Roman. San-serifs are not typically used for the main body of the book, but there is no "rule" against it. If you prefer a san serif font, some possibilities are Century Gothic, Arial or Helvetica. For a complete list, download our allowable font list (PDF). Make sure to review the available styles or variations of the font, since some only have "regular" style (no bold, bold italic or italic).
Line spacing plays a big role in readability and most books are easiest to read with 1.5 lines. This allows enough room for readers' eye to easily find the next line without effort. However, some authors prefer more or less space between lines. Experiment with single and double line spacing, or somewhere in between and find the line spacing right for you and your readers.
Font size plays a role in readability. While specific fonts appear slightly smaller or larger at the same point size, most books are between 11 to 12 points. Some authors prefer a larger font if their book is geared for an older or younger crowd, or some authors use a smaller font if they have a very long novel. However, it is best to keep the font size 10 points or above for the main body.
There are a lot of formatting tricks and standards that are so common, many people do not even notice they are there. For instance, it is common to see headers at the top of every page that list the author name and book title (name on one page, title on the other). Page numbers are usually also listed on each page, except for certain special pages, like the title page, dedication page or any blank pages. You might find it handy to spend some time looking through books you have at home or browsing through books at a store. Keep in mind the type and style of book and the various aspects of the page layout and take notes of your likes and dislikes so you can try to emulate the preferred design.
If you are including images in your book, consider the quality of the images. A low quality, low resolution, pixilated image will bring down the professional appearance of the book, no matter how well the text is written. Only use high resolution images, 300 dpi or higher.
Download a simple guide to Microsoft Word and Manuscript Formatting Help by clicking here (PDF file).
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Do you have a basic technical requirements guide for Wordclay's DIY publishing?
Yes, you can download a PDF of the technical requirements guide, or click to follow the link to the FAQs section regarding this topic.
Do I need to adjust the page/paper size of my Microsoft Word document before uploading it in the DIY wizard?
No, you do not need to adjust the page/ paper size before uploading your manuscript from Microsoft Word's standard setting of 8.5 x 11 inches paper size. However, if you have already adjusted the paper size to something else, you must adjust the paper size back to the standard setting of 8.5 x 11 inches.
Here's how:
- Open your document, then look under the "File" dropdown menu and select "Page Setup.".
- Under the "Paper size" tab in the popup window, enter the "width" as "8.5", and height as "11".
- Make sure that under "apply to" the "whole document" option is chosen, then click "OK".
- Review your manuscript and make any formatting changes as needed, as the paper size change may affect the flow of your text.
- Save your changes.
Should I include my cover in the manuscript?
No. The cover will be designed separately from the body of the manuscript during a different stage in the production process.
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How should I set up my title page within the manuscript?
The title page, which typically includes your book's title, subtitle (if it has one), author/pen name, can be located in two different positions depending on your personal tastes: The very first page when you open the cover of your book, or the third page in your book (which is the second right-facing page).
If you want your title page to be the very first page, then place your title page on the first page in your manuscript. Once you upload your manuscript using our publishing wizard, the copyright page will be inserted after the title page, so that it's the second page in your book. You do not need to leave the second page blank in your manuscript for the copyright page – we will make the adjustment automatically by inserting a new page. The content that was on page two of your manuscript will then be shifted to the following page (page three).
If you do not want the title page to be the very first page when you open the cover, then leave the first page of your manuscript blank (by inserting a page break), then place the title page on the second page of your manuscript. When the copyright page is inserted, it will be placed on the second page, pushing your title page to the third page. Our interior book templates are setup in this style.
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What kinds pages and information are typically included in a book?
When you begin formatting your manuscript, there are a few basics all books should have, plus there might be items you wish to include in your book that you previously had not considered when writing the work.
First, every book should have a title page, listing the title of your book and author name. Second, every book must have a copyright page.
Next, there are a few optional items to consider. The first optional page is a dedication page, which many writers choose to include. This is usually a simple sentence on a page by itself, such as "For my wife," or "This book is dedicated to my mother, who always believed in me." The dedication is different from an acknowledgements page, the second option, which is usually longer and lists people who you would like to thank for their input, support, or assistance while writing your book. Decide for yourself if you wish to include one or both of these pages.
A table of contents is another optional feature, which lists the chapter names and/or page numbers on which the chapter can be found. It is common in non-fiction books, but is often left out of fiction novels or shorter works because it may not be necessary.
Last, many authors choose to include an "about the author" page. If you wish to include one, a great place for it is after the main body of text in your manuscript, or one of the last pages in the book. Some authors also include a photograph of themselves along with the text.
What is the proper order for the beginning of my book, or front matter?
The beginning of your book, or "front matter," consists of the pages of information typically found before the main body text begins. You can decide what is necessary or unnecessary to include in your book; most books do not have all of the following front matter. Here is the general order of front matter according to the Chicago Manual of Style: 1) Half title page (just the title), 2) Series title, list of contributors, frontispiece or blank page, 3) Title page, 4) Copyright page, 5) Dedication page or epigraph, 6) Table of Contents, 7) List of Illustrations, 8) List of Tables, 9) Foreword, 10) Preface, 11) Acknowledgements (if not part of the preface), 12) Introduction (if not part of the text), 13) List of abbreviations or chronology.
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What is the proper order for the end of my book, or back matter?
"Back matter" consists of the pages and materials that generally fall after the main body of the text. You can decide what is necessary or unnecessary to include in your book. Here is the general order of back matter according to the Chicago Manual of Style: 1) Appendix, 2) Notes, 3) Glossary, 4) Bibliography, 5) List of Contributors, 6) Index, 7) Author biography and/or photo.
Do I need a table of contents?
A table of contents is the listing of chapters and/or sections and the pages they begin on typically found in the front of the book. Table of contents are useful and commonly found in non-fiction books, reference books or any other lengthy book.
Accordingly, it is unnecessary for novels to have a table of contents, because the reader will not be skipping around through the chapters, or referencing back later – they will just read the book from beginning to end with a bookmark holding their place. Be cautioned that if a novel lists named chapter titles, the plot could be revealed. Therefore, if you do have a novel and want a table of contents, you may want to consider listing the chapter titles only as "chapter 1, chapter 2 …" if you have named titles.
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Where should credits and information regarding such items as permissions, editor names, illustrators, etc., be located in the book?
Where the credit is located depends on your preference, the service provider's demands and your relationship with the service provider. The most common place to find credit information is on the lower section of the copyright page, below the publisher information. However, many people wish to give more visible credit, especially if they have a closer relationship with the service provider, such as a friend or relative, or if the individual is famous or well known.
Another factor is the degree of visibility the provider's work is in the book. For example, in a book with illustrations throughout the book on nearly every page, the illustrator credit should probably be more visible, like on the title page or cover, while if there are only four illustrations in a 200 page book, a less-visible credit on the copyright page should be adequate.
For a cover design, you could put the credit on the font cover, back cover or copyright page. Illustrations inside the book only are typically posted on the title page or copyright page. Editor credit can be given on the front cover, title page or copyright page. Credits for photos throughout the book usually depend on the copyright holder (the person who provided permission for the photos), but credit is usually given directly under the photo in a small caption, and/or on the copyright page. Authors who had a lot of people contribute to the book and have a long list of credits can make a specific page just for credits, usually found in the front of the book (see FAQ about front matter sequence).
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What is an ISBN?
"ISBN" stands for "International Standard Book Number." It is a unique, 13-digit number assigned to each book published internationally. (ISBNs before January 1, 2007 were 10-digit numbers, but switched to 13-digit numbers to allow more new ISBNs). The purpose of the ISBN is to establish and identify a title or edition of that title from a specific publisher. This allows for a more efficient mode of marketing and purchasing for retailers, libraries, universities, distributors and individual consumers.
Do the numbers in an ISBN have any meaning?
Yes, the numbers are specific to and identify four things: 1) Group identifier code, which groups nations and countries geographically that often share the same language 2) Specific publisher identifier 3) Title or specific edition of the title identifier 4) Check number, which proves that the ISBN is authentic.
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Can I use an ISBN that I previously purchased for my manuscript?
No. The ISBN is specific to the publisher. If you have an ISBN for your manuscript, it is still valid for the manuscript in an unpublished form; however, once the book is published through Wordclay, it will need a new ISBN. Although you could include it in the book if you choose, it is actually not needed and is not the true ISBN for this publication.
How can I obtain the ISBN for my Wordclay published book?
You can purchase the Wordclay ISBN and Channel Distribution service through our Services Store, and we will then obtain an ISBN for your book. You have the choice to publish under Wordclay's name, or your own with the Single ISBN: Be Your Own Publisher package. If you wish to publish your book with Wordclay as your publisher, purchase the Wordclay ISBN and Channel Distribution service for your unique ISBN and one full year of distribution with retailers such as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Before your complimentary year of distribution expires, you can always renew with our one, two or three year channel distribution services, depending on your preference. On the other hand, if you wish to publish under your own name or publishing company, you can purchase a Single ISBN (which also includes a full year of distribution) so that your book will be distributed in the retail channel worldwide. (Please note: We cannot obtain Single ISBNs for those who are not residents of the United States. If you are a non U.S. resident, you can provide your own ISBN and we may be able to arrange for you to purchase channel distribution. Contact us for more details.)
The ISBN will be inserted on the copyright page and on the back cover of the book with the bar code. The bar code is a digital image sellers can scan to identify the ISBN. Visit www.isbn.org for more detailed information about ISBNs.
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Will Wordclay format and add the ISBN on the copyright page, or should I?
When you purchase an ISBN with Distribution, we will include the ISBN on the copyright page during production. If you purchase the ISBN after you have already approved your manuscript, then you can go back to the manuscript stage in the production process, and it will be added.
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Should I use footnotes or endnotes?
We suggest using endnotes if you are setting up the formatting yourself, because they are much simpler to set up and keep consistent. Endnotes are placed at the end of chapters or at the end of the book. Footnotes are placed at the bottom of the page of the reference and can cause a lot of hassle later on after your manuscript is transferred into the book size template.
Although footnotes might appear correct in your version of the manuscript, they will shift after your manuscript is put into our template because the margins will change. The result is a reference number in the text may move and no longer be associated with the proper footnote at the bottom of the page.
There is nothing wrong with using footnotes, but be aware of the extra work involved. If you choose to use footnotes at the bottom of a page, you will need to review the referenced notes as changes are made to make sure the footnote has stayed on the same page as the reference number after the manuscript is upload and transferred into the new book size, or if you make substantial changes to the text. This, many times, will require that you review every footnote on every page. If you only have a few footnotes, it will not be a large task, but if you have many, you may want to consider endnotes instead.
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Can my title and author name be different from the cover or what is listed Wordclay's Web site on "My Account" book details?
Although the title and author name can appear different or be written slightly different from what is listed as the title and pen name on the Wordclay book details page, typically they should match in order to avoid confusing individuals attempting to find or purchase the book. For instance, if your official title is listed, "Title of My Book" in book details, it is acceptable on the cover or title page to show the title in a different style, such as "Title of MY Book" or "Title of my book." However, you should not actually change the wording of the title, such as, "Title of His Book" or "Best Title of My Book." The same rule applies for the author name. If your name is listed "John H. Smith" in the book details, you should not change it to "J.H. Smith" on the cover or title page. If you want your pen name to be J.H. Smith, you should change it in the book details.
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What fonts can I use in the book?
We have access to a wide variety of fonts. For a complete list, download a copy of our allowable font list. When reviewing the font list, please note that not all fonts are available in bold, italic and bold italic.
Can I publish my book in a language other than English?
Yes, you can publish your book in any language as long as there's a font to support it.
Can I publish my book in Hawaiian or Polynesian using characters called "okina" and "kahako"?
Yes, you can insert diacritical marks by utilizing the shortcut key functions built into Word. You can find detailed instructions on Kualono service's Web site.
Basic instructions are as follows: Under the "Insert" dropdown menu, open the "Symbol." window. You can assign symbols to other keys on an ordinary keyboard by using the "Shortcut Key" option.
For example, for the 'okina, select "General Punctuation," then locate the single, open quote character, which is "character code" 2018. Although the character used is not the preferred location of the 'okina in Unicode, it is commonly found in Windows fonts.
For the "vowel plus kahako" combinations, each uppercase and lowercase vowel has to be assigned separately. For example, to represent the kahako (A), use the "Latin Extended-A."
For more information, visit the Kualono site.
Back to top What is the average font size for the main body of text?
The average font size for the main body of text is 11- or 12-point font. It depends on the particular font and your preference whether 11 or 12 would be more appropriate. Keep in mind that various fonts can look very different at the same point size depending on the style. We generally advise against printing as small as a 10-point font for the main body, but it could be acceptable for some books.
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What is an index?
An index is most commonly found in reference books or a detailed non-fiction book that would benefit from a detailed list of topics and subjects. An index is not the same as a table of contents, which lists only chapter and sections starts. An index is found in the back of the book and can include any word, topic or term that you wish along with the page number on which it is found.
Do I need an index in the back of the book?
If your book is a complex reference, historical or educational book then an index might be beneficial. A standard novel or memoir does not typically need an index. When considering an index, be aware that they can be very time consuming and difficult to construct and update. If something changes in the manuscript, the index must be updated each time to insure the page numbers are still correct. If indexes are set up correctly, this updating process is simple and automatic. However, creating a "manual" index, or physically typing out the index cannot be updated automatically and is not recommended.
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Can Wordclay create an index for my book?
Yes, we can create a custom index for your book if you purchase the Custom Typesetting Interior through our Services Store. Additional production charge can apply at an hourly rate when indexes are requested. If you opt for this service, you supply a list of names, places, and things to include in the index and we will create it for your book with the correct page numbers.
Can I put images in my book?
Yes, you can place images in your book. We suggest using a high resolution image of 300 dpi (dots per inch) or higher at the size you would like for it to appear in the book. (We cannot accept a book with any images less than 72 dpi.) It is in your best interests to use high resolution images in your book in order to achieve a professional appearance.
Also, make sure that you have the permission to use the image if you personally did not take the picture or create the image. See our FAQ about copyright and permissions for more details. If you do not have permission to use an image, you should not place it in the book.
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How do I place images in the book?
There are a variety of ways to place your image, however the most common ways are to insert the image, under "Insert"> "Picture" > "From file." Or, you can copy the image, and then paste it into the document. If you want the picture only on a page, you can insert "page breaks" before and after the image, under "Insert"> "Break…" > "Page Break." For more detailed help, see Wordclay's help video in our video library.
Can I include links to images and files in my manuscript?
No, you cannot include linked images in your manuscript because they will not come through when the manuscript file is uploaded.
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Can I have color pictures in my book?
We currently do not offer color printing in the interior of our books. While you can actually place a color photo within your book, it will be printed in black and white. It is best if you can grayscale the image before placing it in the manuscript in order to see what it looks like and make adjustments if needed. If you don't want to bother grayscaling your images, you can leave them in color, but be aware they will be converted to grayscale when printed. The cover of the standard softcover, however, can be in full color.
What is resolution? What does it really mean?
The resolution basically means the clarity and crispness of an image, which is measured in points or pixels per metric unit (inch, centimeter, etc.) Pixels are units of a single color and value that make up an image. The more pixels or dots in a set area, the smaller the dots are, the finer the detail and the higher the resolution. You can see an example of pixel resolution on Wikipedia.
If the resolution is low, that means there are fewer pixels per inch, which means each pixel is larger. When the resolution is very low, you can actually see the blocky pixels - that's where the term "pixilated" originates.
A pixel's size is dependent on the size of the image and in relation to the density of pixels. Consider this scenario: two images of the exact same size are divided into squares. Each square can only represent one color and value and together they will be used to display the image. The first image is divided into 300 squares, and the second into 150 squares. As a result, the 300 squares in the first image are smaller than the 150 squares in the second image. Comparing this to resolution, the first image has a higher resolution than the second image because it has a greater number of smaller pixels.
But, resolution is not set. It changes when the image size changes. Imagine taking the first, high resolution image and enlarging the entire image to twice its original size. The number of squares, or pixels, remains the same (300), but the pixels themselves become larger to fill the larger area. It terms of resolution, this new larger format has lowered the resolution of the image. So what this means to you is that a high resolution image at one size can become a low resolution image at a larger size. Make sure that your images are high resolution at the size you want them to appear in your book.
Back to top How do I determine the resolution of an image?
There are a variety of ways to determine an image's resolution and size. The best and most accurate way to check is by using an image viewing program. The steps to determine and adjust the resolution and size vary from program to program. For instance, in Adobe Photoshop, you can open an image in the program, then click on the "Image" dropdown menu, and select "Image size." When using Microsoft Office Picture Manager, you can look under "file" then "properties," or you can right-click the image and open "properties". You can typically use the "help" function within a program to learn how to check the resolution and size of an image.
Another basic measure is the overall file size of your image. Not the physical size of the picture, but the size of the actual file. If your picture is around 500 KB or more, then your image is most likely high resolution. 1 MB? Oh yes, you're in the clear. But if the file is small, 10, 50 or 100 KB, then the resolution is most likely too low.
If you're still not sure, try printing your image on paper. If it looks fuzzy or grainy, then it's probably low resolution.
If you really want to use an image and you're not sure about the resolution, you can always add it to your book. During the manuscript uploading process, the publishing wizard automatically checks image resolution to determine if any images are below our printer's minimum requirement. You'll have to remove any images that are below the minimum, but at least you'll know for certain.
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What resolution should the images be?
We suggest using a high resolution image of 300 dpi (dots per inch) or higher at the size you want it to appear in the book. Any image less than 300 dpi will not look as clear as it could, but it can still be included in your book as long as the resolution is no less than 72. Depending on the degree of quality, an image less than 300 dpi will look grainy or blocky when printed, instead of crisp and clear. So, it's in your best interest to use high resolution images in your book in order to achieve a professional appearance.
We absolutely cannot accept a manuscript with images lower than 72 dpi because our printer will not accept the book for printing.
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How do I save my manuscript so that the high resolution quality of the images is retained?
You will need to adjust the picture compression options when you save your manuscript file after inserting any images. If you have already saved the manuscript without changing this option, you will need to reinsert the high resolution images again, because the file was most likely already compressed.
When saving, under "File" on the main toolbar, click on "Save as", which will open a new window. In the "Save as" window, click on the "Tools" drop down menu. Then, select the "Compress Pictures…" option, which will open a new window. Unselect the "Compress Pictures" option and click "OK". (A warning may pop-up, stating that compressing the file will lower the quality of the images, but this warning does not apply to you, and is precisely what you are going to avoid happening. Click "Apply".)
You can view a helpful video of this process in our video library.
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Can you print images "full-bleed" (images that go all the way to the edge of a page) in my book?
No, we cannot print full-bleed images in your book, so they cannot be included in your manuscript. All text and images must fit within the margins for your selected book size. If any images are outside of our margins when you upload your manuscript, they will be resized during our technical manuscript evaluation process.
Can I use an image from another book or from the Internet?
Most images from the Internet or another book, magazine or newspaper are copyright protected. You are required to get permission from the copyright owner to use the image in your book. If you have permission to use the image from a book or the Internet, then yes, you can use it in your book. For more detailed information about copyright protection and obtaining permission for images, see our FAQ section about copyright laws.
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