SOME CONSIDERATIONS:

​

FIND AN EDITOR FOR YOUR MANUSCRIPT

CHOOSE A TRIM SIZE

FORMAT YOUR MANUSCRIPT

CHOOSE A BOOK BINDING STYLE

DESIGN YOUR BOOK COVER

BUY AN ISBN

DEVELOP YOUR PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

FORMAT YOUR MANUSCRIPT

​

Whether you’ve written your book or are just starting, this self-publishing checklist is for you. The steps toward self-publishing a book are easy when you have a self-publishing partner. Here, we break down steps, in order, to give you a checklist of important items to consider.

 

FIND AN EDITOR FOR YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Don’t skip this step! There is nothing more depressing than seeing a mistake once your book is printed. Enlisting the help of an editor can be a crucial step in publishing a book. Editing can range from proofreading and line editing to manuscript critique and developmental editing. The level of editing you require can depend on your level of experience, your budget or other personal choices.

Many writers assume they can proofread their own book.

The truth is, the closer you are to written copy, the less likely you are to see mistakes. Professional writers enlist the help of editors, so why shouldn’t you?

 

CHOOSE A TRIM SIZE

What is the intended finished size of your book? Unsure?

There are a variety of options for your book size. Think about the intended finished product. Is this going to be a paperback? A book you want people to carry with them ora book for a coffee table display?

The most common finished size, or trim size, is 5.5” x 8.5” or 6” x 9”. Workbooks are often 8” x 10” or 8.5” x 11”.

​

FONTS

The font and font size you select for your book are very important. Readability can be the make-or-break factor between a successful book and an unsuccessful one. Most books have a font size between 10pt and 12pt. (Some genres, including children’s books, will require a larger font size). Serif fonts are considered the best option for interior pages. Serif fonts are more decorative and have higher end-stroke emphasis than sans serif fonts. That does not mean sans serif fonts don’t have a place in a book manuscript. They are often excellent choices for headers and for digital e-Book copy.

Formatting your book doesn’t have to be confusing or difficult. A book formatting template easily sets sizing, fonts, spacing and margins for you. We have book layout templates that allow you to instantly format and select from a range of approved fonts. Open the templates and start typing. It’s that easy!

 

CHOOSE A BOOK BINDING STYLE

The binding you choose for your book adds an element of style — and different book binding styles offer different benefits.

​

PERFECT BINDING: Softcover (paperback), or perfect bound, is the most popular book binding style — and with good reason! Softcover books are durable, yet flexible and easy to carry around. More facts about perfect binding:

• You need to have a minimum of 16 pages and maximum of 1,052 pages for this method.

• You want good adhesive, or the books won’t be durable. 48 Hour Books uses only PUR adhesive, the strongest available.

• You can use a variety of cover design treatments on softcover books, including our Diamond 3D effect.

 

HARDCOVER BINDING: Hardcovers give your book a beautiful, classic appeal. Hardcover books (also called case bound books) can have a full-color, printed cover or can be covered in leather, leatherette, or cloth. If you need your book to be very durable, or handed down through generations, hardcover is the way to go. Some facts about hardcover binding:

• We can print hardcover books with a minimum of 40 pages to a maximum of 1,052 pages. Smaller page counts (16-40 pages) can be printed but are not recommended.

• Again, using the best adhesive (PUR adhesive is all we use) is essential for the long-term durability of hardcover books.

• Hardcover books can be paired with a dust jacket, which also can be printed using our Diamond 3D effects of textures, raised foil, or clear gloss.

​

SPIRAL COIL BINDING: Spiral coil binding is a great option for books that need to lay flat when open. Our durable plastic coil comes in a variety of colors to match your book cover design. Some facts about spiral coil binding:

• It’s ideal for a cookbook, workbook or reference book.

• Spiral bound books range from a minimum of two pages to 350 pages. We can even accommodate up to 500 pages, in some cases, with a special-ordered coil.

• With spiral coil binding, you can easily designate sections for quick reference with tabs or dividers. Tabs and divider pages are not available in other book binding types, which makes spiral bound books a unique option.

​

SADDLE STITCH BINDING: This type of book binding produces slim, stackable books. It’s a cost-effective method for flexible, portable books and pamphlets. Some facts about saddle stitching:

• It’s ideal for handouts and magazines.

• Books must be 36 pages or less to use saddle-stitched binding.

• Make sure your final draft is at least seven inches tall and no wider than nine inches for this type of binding.

​

DESIGN YOUR BOOK COVER

A book cover truly only needs a title and author name. But we all know: people judge a book by its cover!

An eye-catching cover can make all the difference. If you want your book to stand out on a shelf, you need it to look professional. Here are some things to consider:

 

HIERARCHY: The most important feature needs to be the dominant element. Unless you’re already a best-selling author, the title should take precedence over your name in the hierarchy of the cover. Typically, the hierarchy should be: title, image and then author name. Once you have settled on the hierarchy, it helps dictate the font size and where you apply print treatments, such as 48 Hour Books’ Diamond 3D embossing texture.

 

BALANCE: If your cover doesn’t look right, consider the balance. The elements need to provide balance to be aesthetically pleasing. Make changes to font size or spacing to see if that improves the design.

 

TONE: Consider the tone of your design. Do all the elements convey a certain feeling? Font selection, color selection, image selection — all of these must work together to convey the same tone. Look at the covers of your favorite best selling books and books in your same genre. How do they effectively convey the tone of the story?

​

SPECIAL PRINTING TECHNIQUES: For a cover that mimics the best sellers, use design techniques that make your cover stand out.

​

IMAGE QUALITY: If you’re including images on your book cover, they should be high resolution for the best results.

We recommend that images be at least 300dpi at their finished size to prevent blurriness or pixilation. Sometimes this means that you need to re-take a photo with a professional camera or purchase a higher-quality version of an image online.

We offer options for custom covers, including working with one of our talented designers for a completely unique cover design.

​

BUY AN ISBN

What is an ISBN? ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, a unique, 13-digit number that identifies a book. It works similar to a serial number and establishes the publisher, author, title and even the format of the book.

Each format of your book requires its own ISBN:

• Paperback

• Hardcover

• ePub

• MOBI

• PDF

• Audiobook

​

Bookstores won’t sell a book without an ISBN. Many self- publishers are unaware that some vanity publishers own the ISBN number they purchase for you. At 1910, we purchase ISBNs in your name, so you’re the sole owner and retain complete control over the sales of your book.

We also sell ISBNs and barcodes as a package deal.

A barcode is separate from the ISBN, but an ISBN is necessary in order to create a barcode.

When you’re ready, choose from a single ISBN and barcode, perfect for just one title, or pick up a multi-unit pack and ensure all formats of your book title are covered.

​

DEVELOP YOUR PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Having a production schedule helps you meet important deadlines such as book signings and other events and promotions. You’ll need to have time for:

• Pre-press

• Proofing and sign-offs

• Printing

• Binding

• Shipping

Having a clear idea of what to expect for each step of the process allows you to plan the timeline for your finished books, manage your schedule, and be ready for any marketing/promotion needs.