DIY Book Formatting for Print and Ebook

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!