Formatting A Book In Microsoft Word

There are several choices for formatting your work before uploading it to online booksellers or printers. A quick Google search may provide practically infinite results. It’s overwhelming. But, because so many people use Word, I thought an essay on how to format a book in Word was in order.

Making a book appear good is important. Unprofessionalism makes it difficult to garner readers and create a reputation. That’s why document layout is vital. This article may help you format your work for an ebook, print book, or both!

We’ll start with an ebook, then go on to a paper book since they’re both unique. But you should read it all since formatting for an ebook prepares you for formatting for print.

Formatting a Book in Microsoft Word

First, make sure your document is ready to go. This includes the title page, introduction, and preface. Many authors are so thrilled with their finalized copy that they overlook apparently little details that might sway readers.

Font

It’s time to format your manuscript once you’ve sorted your book’s sections and established your text size and style. Using 12-point Times New Roman or Arial fonts is a good start. These will save you time and make your readers happy, whether they read on Kindle or in print.

Setting Paragraphs and Spacing

A professional ebook needs paragraph indentations and spacing. You can assist Kindle Direct Publishing (or whatever platform you choose to sell on) by keeping these under check. Make sure you’re on the Home tab.

Go to the top of your screen and choose Paragraph. Ensure the alignment is left, and the Outline Level is Body Text.

Right beneath Indentation is a Special column. Set it to First Line and indent it 0.2″.

Then make sure Line Spacing is set to Single.

Chapter Headings

The ebook reader will know when a new chapter begins when the material is converted to ebook format by properly formatting chapter heads. Put your pointer on a chapter title. Then choose Styles. A window should appear on your screen’s right.

Select Heading 1. The heading will change. Then you may alter the font style without deleting the Header 1 style from the chapter heading.

Duplicate this step for all chapter heads in your book, matching the font. After changing them all, go to the View tab and tick the option for the Navigation Pane. Your headers will then appear in a pane on the left side of your screen. You may also click a chapter title in the Navigation Pane to go to it.

Table of Contents

Next, you’ll want to create a table of contents (TOC).

Decide where your table of contents will go (after the title and copyright pages). Then go to the References tab and click on the Table of Contents. Automatic Table 1

Select Custom Table of Contents at the bottom of the menu. Set the Show Levels option to 1 when prompted. Remove the Show Page Numbers checkbox.

It will ask you if you want to replace your current TOC. Click OK.

Next, add a bookmark to the TOC. Contents are highlighted in the table of contents. Go to the Insert tab. Select Bookmark under Links. Identify the TOC.

Done! Once uploaded to Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon will convert the.docx MS Word document to an EPUB file. It’s not simple, but it’s not impossible.

Double-Check Your Work!

Now, it’s important to make sure the final products look good. One drawback of formatting with Word is that the Kindle ebooks often have some issues in formatting, so you need to go through it with a fine-tooth comb, paying special attention to the text and formatting.

Next Steps: Formatting for Print in Microsoft Word

Follow the procedures above for ebook formatting for optimal results in print. Print formatting is more complex, but it follows the same fundamental pattern. You may now proceed with the print formatting instructions below after completing your chapter headers and TOC.

The quickest option is to create a new blank document and paste your content into it. So, prepare your fresh blank document for your manuscript by doing the following.

Hint: You may also get a Word template to copy your content into. There are both free and premium templates available for MS Word. Getting the right book format generally takes some trial and error.

Book Size and Page Setup

Before you can do anything, you need to decide which size your book will be. There are several different options available. The most popular sizes in the U.S. are 5″ x 8″, 5.5 x 8.5″, and 6″ x 9″. If you’re unsure which page size to choose, pick up a book from your bookshelf that seems like a good size for your book and measure it. Chances are it’s one of the three sizes above.

If you require a different page size, check with the print-on-demand business first.

Go to the Layout tab on your blank document. To change the paper size, click More Paper Sizes at the bottom of the Size menu. For this example, I utilized a 5.5″ by 8.5″ paper.

Margins

Next, navigate to the Margins tab on the left-hand side of the Layout toolbar. Select Custom Margins from the dropdown menu. In certain cases, the word count of your book allows for smaller fonts. Making them too tiny might result in text loss when the book is bound.

You should not go below 0.325″. All margins will be 0.75″ for this book. You can guarantee that the binding doesn’t cut off any text if you preview your book before printing it.

Copy and Paste Your Book

Create separate documents for print books and ebooks. Copy and paste your manuscript into the prepared document now. Also, seeing what you’re doing and where your parts begin makes the following step easy.

Header

Then choose the Insert toolbar from the Formatted Word file. Then choose the Header tab. When you select it, a dropdown menu appears where you can pick the header style for your book.

The header usually contains the author’s name and the book title. The header text is usually smaller, but not always. It’s always distinct from the primary content. If unsure, go through a few of your books to choose your favorite style.

Footer

Next, add a footer with just page numbers. The numbers should start on the first page of your book. But, the kicker is that you don’t want page numbers for your title page, TOC, or your copyright page. How to do it:

To return to the Home toolbar, leave the Header and Footer area. Move your mouse to the final page of your book. Then locate the Breaks tab in the Layout toolbar. Select the Next Page Section Break from the selection menu (not to be confused with a regular page break).

This will generate separate sections for your front matter and main content, allowing you to set page numbers just where you want them.

Next, double-click on the bottom edge of your first page, where you want the numbers to appear. The page should alter to indicate you’ve reached the footer.

The top toolbar has been shifted to the Header and Footer tab. Highlight the Previous Link button. Deselect.

Then locate the Page Number button on the left. Click it to open the menu. Choose your preferred page number style. The numbers should begin at the bottom of the page.

After adding the page numbers, your document will be print-ready!

Triple Check Your Work!

Upload your final work to Amazon with your cover and check the printed book preview option to ensure no text is chopped off.

As you can see, using Microsoft Word to format your book is not the greatest (or simplest) option.