Creating a Book and Cover

Size

First step - know what size your book is going to be. Typically it will be 6 x 9 ... 6 inches wide by 9 inches tall ... but it can be any where from 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 to 8 1/2 x 11. That's the finish cut but far from the numbers you'll need in putting the book together. We've created a samples page to look at (link below) just to give you an idea of everything that is available, in sizes and bindings.

www.tjmfpublishing.com/bookexamples.htm

It's important to know your book size FIRST because that's what we have to know before we set page size and margins inside.
 

Once you've decided on your book size, and let's just say it's 6 x 9, then we can work on the text pages. You need to set top, bottom, left and right margins and it's a good idea to do that before you start pasting your poems into the book. At minimum you need to have a 1.50 margin all the way around. It's best if you can go 1.75. This is because when the printers 'trim' and bind your book, there will be inside edges that will cut into your text if you're not careful. This may cramp up some of your poems that take the full width but adapt by using a different size font, don't decrease your margins any lower than 1.50.
Font - use a 9 or 10 point font for normal formatting. You can use larger if your width and height allows but (unless your doing it purposely - like for a children's book) don't use more than a 12pt and not any smaller than a 9pt. 10pt is a good font. Pay attention to your font style too. A 10pt Verdana is bigger than a 10pt Times New Roman.
Take the time to understand your programs formatting tools. It will save you hours of aggravation if you do.

SET UP FILES
Organization is the key. Establish a 'work folder' so you can save the files, poems or stories you'll need in it. When it comes time to start formatting your book you'll find those folders quite handy. Be sure to date each file, it will save you tons of time later.

You'll need the proper software to create your book and cover. If you have tons of money go for Quark or Pagemaker. If not Microsoft Word works nicely for your text and Microsoft Publisher for the cover. You'll also need Acrobat Reader. You can download for free.

You can spend a lot and have someone do it for you or you can do the grunt work and save money. ALL files will need to be converted to PDF files before going to the printer (unless you have Quark Express - the other recognized printer file). We'll discuss that later. We'll do the conversion for you if you're a member of TJMF Publishing.

Just remember - organize, date and collate your files and get the right software.

Creating a Cover

Looking for a good cover software program - try MS Publisher. It's inexpensive compared to Pagemaker and others and works well.

Microsoft Publisher is great program to try your hand at designing covers. Far less expensive than Quark or Pagemaker and it's user friendly. MS Pub usually comes bundled in other programs like Office and Front Page so you may have it already, just don't know it.

One of the best features is the ability to make and adapt pages and work with photo and graphics files, like the big boys. It converts easily to PDF file format so you can transfer a pub file to almost any printer or publisher.

We accept pub files for conversion and in fact encourage you to use it. Since we use it so much, if you have problems we'd be happy to help.

A cover is best when professionally designed. That said, it can run into some money. You can certainly check around but if you decide it's more in your budget to try it yourself then give it a shot. It can save you hundreds of dollars.

To create your own cover, you'll need three templates. Front cover, back cover and spine. BUT you'll have to get out the calculator first because you'll need to figure the size of the book's spine and you need to know the printer's recommendation for bleed. Typically...you'll add a 1/4 inch for the height and about an 1/8 inch for the width...and it's always better to go a little more than not enough so make a template of 6.2 x 9.3 to be safe.

The spine will be 9.3 x the calculated width. If your using good 60# stock simply take the number of pages x .002455 to get the width. For 112 page book the spine would be 9.3 height and .2765 width.

www.tjmfpublishing.com/softcover.pdf

When you're done you'll have three separate pieces to make up your cover, front, back and spine.

You can use MS Publisher to make these templates but no matter what you use make sure your graphics are of the highest quality, at least 300 dpi.

 

ISBNs, Bar Codes and pricing

ISBN numbers are important if you plan on selling your book. In fact, it is downright mandatory if you're going to want your title in Books in Print or want to see your name at Barnes and Noble. Typically a publisher will charge for issuing you an ISBN and for creating the bar code that goes with it. Your price will be embedded in that bar code too.

ISBNs are controlled by Bowker. A publisher, like TJMF is issued a prefix along with several other numbers that identify the book they're printed on. Once a publisher registers with Bowker, they can list new books with Books in Print, the all important catalog used by book stores. The ISBN is also needed to get a Library of Congress number.

TJMF Publishing is listed with Bowker. We assign ISBN's and list them on a log kept by Bowker, register the book with Books in Print and use our access to obtain Library of Congress numbers. We create bar codes on all books we publish and list all the appropriate numbers inside on the copyright page.

The book is then official. When printed, a copy is sent to the Library of Congress in Washington DC.

 

Text Layout

Let's start planning the layout. How is your book going to look. We need to outline the pages before the main part of the book. The first right handed page will be your title page. Next would be the verso page where we'll put all the copyright information, publishing credits, designing credits etc. Following the verso page and before the first page of your main body can vary. Will you have an acknowledgement page, dedication, foreword, table of contents or illustrations? If so lay those out using both right and left side pages. The table of contents should always start on the right side. All these pages will be numbered by roman numerals (if you're numbering pages).

Illustrations and photos. If you're going to have any now is the time to plan where they will be inserted AND, more importantly make sure they are the proper set up and quality. Black and white are best, color more expensive but no matter what, resolution is important. The photos should be at least 300 dpi and sized properly to fit the spot you plan to plunk them. In other words, format your pictures and illustrations first, before putting them where you want them. make sure you know the size...if your going to put a picture on a page in a 6 x 9, with 1.75 margins that means the maximum size picture you can use is 2 1/2 by 6 and that's on the edge. If you have text on the page and you want to fit a graphic in, if you're not careful, when you plop, you'll drop and text will go flying everywhere.

For more great ideas for a successful book without buying expensive programs check this out  MS WORD and Typography

 

 

Editing

It doesn't matter where you plan on sending your manuscript editing is a crucial part of creating your book. It has been our experience that you can never have too much editing.

When files are sent to a printer, they expect the file to be 'ready'. That means free of mistakes and at this point it should be.

What we do for TJMF members is provide several 'e-galleys' or pdf files for review and editing. Each time a file is reviewed and corrected, we generate another e-galley for author review. It is best if the author uses as many sets of eyes as possible. If you can afford it, a paid editor is ideal.

After the e-galley is finally approved and sent to the printer for a hard copy proof, the author will get one more time to review the hard copy cover and text but this should be a visual. Waiting until the hard proof to find lots of errors is costly and can be a disaster for the author.

Edit, Edit and Edit again...

 

Printing and Proofing

Printing should be the easiest part. After all, someone else is doing that, your work is done. That said, you may have to make major contributions to the process. Types of paper to use and cover stock; make sure you discuss these issues and know your options.

Printing itself is probably NOT going to be your decision entirely but we should mention the different terms you may hear.

POD is print on demand. Your printer will print each book to order. Usually very expensive and not an easy sell.

Digital short run is the new art these days. This provides the author or book store the ability to inventory books. It's usually significantly cheaper than POD and runs can be anywhere from 50 to 1000, the bigger the quantity, the less expensive the cost per book.

Offset is the old style of printing with type set machine and the huge presses. High volume books use this system. Usually runs of 1000 or more are needed to make this process worth while. The cost per book is usually quite a bit lower than short run but requires inventory dollars.

 

if you have any questions - please contact us