Uploading books.
This is quite fiddly if it is something you have not done before and I have created a lot of sweat and almost tears over this (ok, may be slightly dramatic) but it can be frustrating trying to figure it out so I'm attempting an Idiot proof guide.
Remember there may be other ways, but this was my way. I chose to upload onto:
- Blurb
- Amazon
- I books
First of all make sure you have a PDF converter because you will need to upload docs from PDF, and microsoft word.
Formatting
eBooks do not recognise, headers, footers or page numbers. Kindle will accept Drop caps, but Blurb wont, so I would remove any of them for your eBook conversion.
If you want to do paperback and ebook, you will need two documents.
For general document layout.
- Set you microsoft word pages to your desired book size. You can do this by clicking on the layout tab, pressing the size button and going into 'more paper sizes'. You can create your page size there. Remember to apply it to the whole document.
- Pick a font and embed it into your file. Go to options on file tab, then save, then embed.
- For indentation and spacing, formats etc, I use the following:
- For fonts I use Verdana. I was actually going to buy the dyslexie font, but the verdana at point 11 with 1.5 spacing seems to be just as effective. Be aware though that my book is a 6 x 9 and 1.5 spacing. Slightly bigger than the average book on the market as I wanted it to be readable for all. It is also on cream paper.
- Most paper backs appear to be at around 5x8 and Garamond font point 9 and on cream paper. This will work out cheaper than my books, as mine has to accomodate for extra size and spacing.
- All images need to be above 300, if not it will pick it up. However if you want the image in, it will allow it, even if under the threshold.
Paperback
All of the above, including headers, footers and page numbers.
eBook
All of the above, do not include anything 'alien' into the format as the conversion will not accept it.
Book Covers
- I did mine on canva, but got incredibly confused with bleeds and margins and so on, so I am going to make this as simple as I can.
- If you creating on word you need to create a page to your document size required by amazon/ blurb/ however and then created your book cover with a 0.25 inch edge. (Your trim) If writing goes into the trim, it will spit it back out.
- I used canva as it is quick and easy to do, I made to posters. One blank at the desired size and one 0.25 inches smaller that layered the smaller one on the top. It will download it to a pdf for you as well.
- You will need to use the amazon book size creator to know the dimensions you need for the spine of the book.
Then you go to:
Amazon KDP to create an account and it is all there for you to do.
HAPPY BOOK PUBLISHING!