As writers, we’re often so focused on crafting the perfect sentence, developing our characters, and building our plot that we forget about the final product: the book itself? The physical (or digital) manifestation of our hard work, the thing that readers will hold in their hands and judge by its cover. But designing a book can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to self-publishing or have limited design experience. Fear not, dear writer! With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can create a beautiful, professional-looking book that does your writing justice.
Choosing Your Design Tools
When it comes to designing your book, you have a few options. You can hire a professional designer (which can be expensive), use a template provided by your self-publishing platform (which can be limiting), or take matters into your own hands. For those who want to DIY, there are two main design tools you should consider: Vellum and Adobe InDesign. Vellum is a user-friendly, specifically designed for book design, and is available for both Mac and PC. Adobe InDesign, on the other hand, is a more advanced, industry-standard design software that offers a steeper learning curve, but also more flexibility and customization options.
If you’re new to design, Vellum is a great place to start. With Vellum, you can easily create a professional-looking book interior, complete with perfectly formatted text, beautiful font selection, and customizable margins. And, as a bonus, Vellum also helps you create a properly formatted eBook.
Designing Your Book Interior
Now that you have your design tool, it’s time to start designing! Here are some tips to get you started:
Choose a font that’s easy to read, and stick to it. Avoid using too many different fonts, as it can be distracting to the reader.
And don’t forget about the little things, like adding a title page, copyright page, and table of contents. These may seem like small details, but they can make a big difference in the overall professionalism of your book.
Cover Design and Production
Once you have your book interior designed, it’s time to think about the cover. Your cover is the first impression your book makes on potential readers, so it’s essential to get it right. Here are a few tips for designing a great cover:
Keep it simple. A cluttered cover can be overwhelming and unappealing.
Use high-quality images. A low-resolution image can look pixelated and unprofessional.
Choose a font that’s easy to read and stands out from the image.
Make sure your cover is clear and easy to read, even in a thumbnail size.
For a more professional look, consider hiring a professional cover designer. But if you’re on a budget, Canva is a great tool for designing your own cover.
“The goal of a designer is to listen to the mess, and then to translate it into something understandable and beautiful.” – Massimo Vignelli
This quote is so true when it comes to book design. As writers, we often have a clear vision of what we want our book to look like, but bringing that vision to life can be a challenge. But with the right tools, a bit of patience, and practice, you can create a beautiful, professional-looking book that does your writing justice.
If you’re new to self-publishing, check out our post on Self-Publishing Journey: Lessons Learned for more tips and advice on publishing your own book. And if you’re interested in chapbook publishing, be sure to check out Chapbook Magic: 5 Essential Steps.
Remember, designing a book takes time and practice, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t come out perfectly on the first try. With patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn, you can create a beautiful book that showcases your writing.