You’ve written a book. But now comes the hard part: making sure that your book is formatted and designed in a way that will help it find success. Here are some essential qualities of book formatting and cover design that you’ll need to keep in mind.
Quality Counts
When it comes to book formatting and cover design, quality is key. Your book should be free of typos, grammatical errors, and other mistakes. It should be easy to read and navigate, with a clear table of contents and chapter headings.
If your book looks sloppy or unprofessional, potential readers will be turned off before they even start reading. Investing in a professional copy editor or proofreader is worth it if it means putting out a high-quality product.
First Impressions Matter
Your book’s cover is its first impression on potential readers, so you want to make sure that it’s a good one. The cover should be eye-catching and visually appealing while also accurately representing the content of your book.
If your book is a lighthearted romance, for example, you wouldn’t want to use dark, foreboding colors on the cover. And if your book is a serious nonfiction work, an overly cutesy or whimsical design will probably turn readers off.
Take some time to research covers in your genre to get an idea of what does and doesn’t work. And don’t forget the back cover copy — this is your chance to “sell” your book to potential readers, so make it count!
Layout Matters
The layout of your book, which is the way that the text is laid out on the page, is important for both aesthetic and practical reasons. A well-designed layout will be pleasing to look at and easy to read, while a poorly designed one will be off-putting and difficult to get through. Again, this is something that’s worth paying for professional help with if you’re not confident in your own design skills.
