Book Setup Checklist:
- Has it been to the editor/proofer/any friends who will have input on the book (the more you do as the author BEFORE you send the book, the better). I can’t stress this enough – the manuscript should not be a work in progress. It needs to be final, or as close as you can get it to final. I typically have a 24-48 hour waiting period before I start on the book sample, just in case more changes need to be made to the manuscript before serious work begins.
- What is the book size? Typical sizes are 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9, 5 x 8, 5.25 x 8, 8.5 x 11. Bold are the most common & recommended for ALL printers.
- Where will the book be printed? (For traditional printers, I design in “signatures” of 16 pages. 16 pages = 1 signature, so the final page count needs to be a multiple of 16. For print on demand printers like KDP or Ingram Spark, they just need to be in multiples of 2.)
- I will need a copy of the front cover, if available. This will help in the design process.
Typical Workflow
- I send a layout sample of the first 20-30 pages in spreads view (because it’s easier to see what it will look like when printed if it’s in spreads view) & I will ask you for feedback. “Do you like the fonts, margins, headers, page layout, etc.?”
- Send your feedback – if it’s a green light, I’ll keep going & finish out the book. If you have tweaks, I make the changes & get the sample nailed down before I finish laying out the manuscript.
- I finish laying out the manuscript, based on the sample layout. I deliver the full manuscript.
- You can send text changes, possibly multiple rounds.
- I continue tweaking the layout until it’s complete. I’ll ask for your confirmation that the interior layout is “final.”
- I export the file to PDF-x1a in 1-up pages (not spreads), in preparation for file uploads.
- I export the book to ePub reflowable. Complete ebook conversion (as of right now, this is a hand-conversion for quality control).
- I typically upload interior, cover, and ebook files to KDP and Ingram Spark. You may purchase your ISBN for the paperback (and/or hardback) so it can be used everywhere. Alternately, you can use KDP’s free ISBN or purchase one from Ingram Spark. KDP’s free ISBN will not work on Ingram Spark. eBooks don’t technically need ISBNs to upload to the sites, although you may want to assign one anyway. Don’t purchase a barcode – I can generate that for free online.
- I check both Ingram Spark in a few days to see if the proof is ready to be approved. I approve the proofs if they’re good (electronic is usually fine).
- Now it’s probably done?