DIY Book Formatting for Print and Ebook
A professional book interior you can fix yourself, in Word or InDesign.
Watch Promo Enroll in CourseBook formatting templates for Word and InDesign
The design work is already done. Your book goes inside.
Pick a template, paste in your manuscript and apply the styles. The margins, chapter openings and page numbers are already set up, and the video lessons walk you through the print file and the ebook.
Get the templatesPlus the video lessons · 30-day money-back guarantee
From authors who formatted their own books
When I hired someone to format my first book, it was an epic fail. Then I get these DIY Templates and was able to teach myself. Now I do all my formatting and I can't imagine not being able to make quick changes to my book whenever I need to.
After watching the extremely helpful (and easy to understand) book formatting tutorials, I was able to put out a finished paperback that looked amazing using nothing but Word and a PDF editor. Highly recommended for all authors wanting a clean, professional looking paperback without wanting to break the bank hiring someone to do it for you.
These book formatting templates are like a lighthouse in a sea storm of confusion that is associated with creating a novel. I watched the detailed easy to follow videos to format my novel. I couldn't be happier with the result.
Look inside
Pick the design that suits your book.
Four of the chapter openings from the templates, with the fonts each design uses.
Some designs use commercial fonts, like Garamond Premier Pro. If you don't own one, change the font in that style and all the text set in the style updates to match. The free font pairs video in the course helps you pick a replacement.
More chapter openings from the templates.
Why the inside matters
Formatting is boring and easy to get wrong. Readers notice anyway.
Let me start off by saying, I hate book formatting. It's boring and pedantic, and a pain in the ass. You go through your whole book applying styles, and then there's always a bunch of changes or last-minute typos to fix.
But I also like beautiful books, and readers do too. They pick up a paperback and flip through it, or click Look Inside on the ebook. If the pages look like shoddy work, they probably won't give the story a chance.
So I learned how to design books in Word and InDesign, and set up these templates so you start from a finished design instead of a blank document. Here's how the work splits:
Already done in the template
- Preset margins for the printed page
- Styles for chapter headings and body text
- A designed chapter opening, like the ones above
- Page numbers and running heads
Your part
- Paste in your manuscript, a chapter at a time.
- Apply the styles, with a page break before each new chapter.
- Export the print PDF and make the ebook, check both against your publishing service's specs, and order a print proof.
It isn't one-click software. But because the design runs on styles, you can change the font, size or spacing of a style in one place, and every heading that uses it updates to match. And it gets faster once you know what you're doing.
The catch with hiring it out
Every small fix means waiting on someone else.
I'm not against hiring a formatter. It can cost a few hundred bucks if they know what they're doing, and some people know the tools without having much of an eye for design.
The bigger catch comes later. You spot a mistake in the proof, or your editor finds one more thing, or you want to add your next book to the back pages. Every change means going back to whoever has the file and waiting for a new one.
When the file is yours, you make the change and export a new PDF yourself, for as long as the book is in print.
What's in the course
Templates, plus the lessons to use them
Start with the route that fits your book.
Word and InDesign templates
Preset margins and styles, with designed chapter openings like the ones above. Download them, pick one and work on a copy of your manuscript.
Lessons: Book Formatting Basics (download templates) · Formatting TEMPLATES (in Word and InDesign)
Formatting in Microsoft Word
If Word is where you're comfortable working, start here.
Lessons: How to format a book in MS Word · Book Formatting in Microsoft Word
Formatting in InDesign
If you already use InDesign, or want to learn it, there's a lesson for that route too.
Lesson: Formatting in InDesign
Making the ebook
How to make the ebook version of your book for Kindle and epub.
Lesson: How to make an ebook
Poetry, children's books and coloring books
Books that don't follow the novel pattern get their own lessons.
Lessons: Formatting Poetry · Formatting children's books and coloring books
Best free font pairs for book design
A 27-minute video on free font pairs, for when you want to swap a font in a template.
Lesson: Best Free Font Pairs for Book Design (27:11)
Started with my free templates on diybookformats.com? Good, then you've seen how the styles work. The free download is a starter pack. This course is the paid version: the templates plus the full lessons for using them.
Get the templatesPlus the video lessons · 30-day money-back guarantee
Is this for you?
It's a good fit if
- You have Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign, and you're willing to learn how styles work.
- You'd rather start from a finished design than a blank document.
- You want to make your own changes to the book, whenever you need to, without waiting on anyone.
- You're formatting a paperback and an ebook. There are lessons for poetry, children's books and coloring books too.
Skip it if
- You want software that formats the whole book for you in one click.
- You'd rather hand the whole job to a formatter. That's a reasonable choice too.
Hi, I'm Derek Murphy.
I put myself through grad school (PhD in Literature) as an editor and then a book cover designer, and I've worked with over a thousand writers. I really struggled when I was trying to publish my first book and had to figure it all out by myself.
A well-edited, well-formatted book with a good cover makes everything else easier. This is the formatting part, so you don't have to learn it the slow way.
The offer
Get the templates and the lessons
You get access as soon as you enroll, and lifetime access after that, so the templates and lessons are there when you format your next book.
30-day money-back guarantee
Open the templates and try them on one chapter. If the course isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
DIY Book Formatting Templates (Premium Bundle)
- Word and InDesign formatting templates
- Lessons on formatting in Word and in InDesign
- Making the ebook for Kindle and epub
- Lessons for poetry, children's books and coloring books
- The 27-minute video on free font pairs
- Self-paced, with lifetime access
List price
$47
Get the templates30-day money-back guaranteeFollowed a link with a discount code? Your price shows in the enrollment box below.
Already own the DIY Book Design bundle or Guerrilla Publishing? This course is included, so log in and check your courses before you buy it again.
Questions
Before you enroll
Does it format my book automatically?
No. These are Word and InDesign templates, not formatting software. The design work is done: margins, styles and chapter openings. You paste in your text and apply the styles, and the lessons show you how. If you're on a Mac and want software that lays out the book for you, Vellum is great.
Should I use Word or InDesign?
Use the Word lessons if that's where you're comfortable working. Use InDesign if you already use it or want to learn. You'll need the software for the template you choose; the course doesn't include a software license.
When does the course start and finish?
It's self-paced. You get access as soon as you enroll, and you can work through the lessons in whatever order suits your book.
How long do I have access to the course?
Lifetime access. After you enroll, you have unlimited access to the lessons and downloads on any device you own, so you can come back when you format your next book.
What if I'm unhappy with the course?
You're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
I already have the DIY Book Design bundle or Guerrilla Publishing. Do I need this?
No. This course is included in both. Check your course dashboard before buying it again.
Are the videos up to date?
Some videos show older versions of Word and InDesign. The steps still apply, but follow your publishing service's current specifications and check your exported file before you order a print proof.
If your book is edited, formatting is the next job.
Pick a template, start with one chapter and see how it looks on the page. The rest goes faster once the first chapter is right.
Get the templatesPlus the video lessons · 30-day money-back guarantee
Make the inside of your book feel ready to read.
I hate fiddling with formatting. I also like beautiful books. The point is to make the page comfortable to read, so nobody has to think about the layout while they are reading your story.
If you are doing it yourself, a template gives you a starting point. The lessons show you how to work with it: apply styles, handle chapter openings, choose type and prepare your files. When you find a typo later, you can open your own file and fix it.
Templates and instruction, together
The course includes Word and InDesign formatting templates, video walkthroughs, and lessons on print and ebook preparation. There are also sections on poetry, children’s books and font choices. Browse the curriculum below for the parts that fit your project.
Choose the route that fits your book
Use the Word lessons if that is where you are comfortable working. Use the InDesign lessons if you already use it or want to learn. You will need access to the software for the template you choose; a template download does not include a software license.
Some videos show older interfaces. Work on a copy of your manuscript, follow the current specifications for your publishing service, and inspect the exported file before ordering a print proof. The aim is a book you can confidently put in a reader’s hands.
If you would rather hire a formatter, that is a reasonable choice too. Understanding the decisions will still help you give a clearer brief and check the result.
Already have the DIY Book Design bundle or Guerrilla Publishing? Check your course dashboard first: this course is included in those bundles.
This course includes many hours of detailed video instruction and dozens of MS Word and InDesign templates. Others charge more for just one template, with very little support. But formatting is a valuable skill, and I want to help you actually learn how to use the programs on your own.
BONUS - coming soon, I've just made a new batch with 100+ genre-specific formatting templates, you'll get full access to all of those templates too if you buy today!
Course Curriculum
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StartBook Formatting Basics (download templates)
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StartHow to format a book in MS Word
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StartBook Formatting in Microsoft Word
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StartFormatting in InDesign
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StartHow to make an ebook (Kindle, epub, Smashwords)
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StartFormatting Poetry
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StartFormatting children's books and coloring books
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StartFormatting TEMPLATES (in Word and InDesign)
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StartBest Free Font Pairs for Book Design (NEW) (27:11)
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StartYour Bonus Course
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StartFree Books!
Get Started Now
Got Questions?
Your Instructor
Derek Murphy has a PhD in Literature and has been featured in CNN for hosting writing retreats in medieval castles. After working with thousands of authors as a writing coach and developmental author, he began developing plotting cheatsheets and advanced writing tips for authors that now have nearly 3 million views on YouTube.
Book formatting is one of the annoying things authors need to figure out before they self-publish, and it's easy to get everything wrong. For cleaner results, Vellum is great.
If you still need editing and proofreading, I hope you'll check out BookButchers.com.
I'm also working on some AI writing tools like GhosttheWriter.com or Chapterra.com
If you need a book cover, try my new book cover creator.