How to format your tiny book

Templates, publishing standards, and professionals

Drawing by me. Colors by AI.

I received this question from a Substack reader:

The main question I have is about how you format the book for publication (I would like to have it available in physical form for readers). I would think that someone has made a Word template for books for authors to use.

He then added:

The biggest thing holding me back is the whole formatting issue. If I had a template that I could use so that publishing was easy, that would greatly help. A how to format (step by step) video, using Word […] would be a big help. Also, how to upload a book cover. Thanks for your channel.

Here are a few thoughts on book design

The right template for your tiny book depends on the platform you decide to publish it with.

For example, Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) provides its own templates and has specific typesetting guidelines.

Lulu, another platform, has others.

If you’re self-publishing through IngramSpark, they provide a book formatting guide.

Using BookBaby? Here are their typesetting tips.

I think you have two options when it comes to book design

Option 1

Pick a self-publishing platform, study their typesetting guidelines, and format your tiny book using their templates. Then submit your final manuscript and see what they say.

Option 2

If you have the budget, hire a freelance book designer.

You can find one on Fiverr (a website where all sorts of freelancers post their services) or on Reedsy.

I have experience with both websites (Any Language You Want was typeset by a freelancer I found on Fiverr; Tiny Book Author by one from Reedsy.)

Fiverr can be cheap, and when services are cheap…

Reedsy¹ isn’t as cheap, but the professionals you’ll find there are carefully selected by publishing specialists and asked to show a portfolio when they apply to be listed on the website.

Another portal is ineedabookcover.com, where you’ll find some talented designers — people who even work or have worked with the Big Five.

When I was looking for a designer for Tiny Book Author, I reached out to a freelancer from this website and asked her for a quote.

This is the email I got from her:

BOOK COVER DESIGN - GBP £989 - it includes:

• ebook cover

• paperback cover (front - back - spine)

• 3D covers + social media banner

• source files (for any future updates or changes)

INTERIOR TYPESETTING - it will be approximately GBP £1289 - it includes:

• interior paperback PDF

• interior ebook EPUB

• interior ebook for KINDLE only

• source files (for any future updates or changes)

Her work was astounding, amazing, and awesome. It truly was.

But my wallet looked at me funny. 😅

I didn’t hire her.

What I would do

If I decided to take care of the cover and typesetting by myself, I’m pretty sure I’d do a mediocre job and publish a book that doesn’t look professional.

So I’d do what I did in the past: hire a professional for what I think is a reasonable price. That would save me hours and headaches, and I’d get a book that wouldn’t look like a printed Google Doc. 😄

And you?

What would you do or what have you done?

Do you have any recommendations or tips for all of us?

If so, let us know in the comments.

Thanks for reading — I hope this was helpful. 🤗

Speak soon,

Fabio

1. I’m not an affiliate