Self Publishing 101: Formatting

It's a new year and a new era for The Sinister Scoop. That is just one of the many, MANY reasons why I am so excited to be back with the 101 series, covering some more creative basics. Today we are covering one of the areas that I personally know the best, formatting.

As many of you know, I do freelance formatting to supplement my writing funds. As this is an overview article, I won't be getting into the nitty-gritty here. I won't try to teach everyone formatting in a single article, and I won't even get too into the weeds about how to hire a formatter. Like all the 101 articles I just want to give everyone a starting point to build out any formatting knowledge they might need for their project.

What is Formatting?

Formatting is basically just the presentation of your work that gets done in between your final edits and your book getting into the hands of readers. It applies whether you're talking about a physical, print edition of a book, or a epub.

Formatting can be very basic and legible with no bells and whistles, but it can also range to the more ambitious, visual components of a story.

Why is Formatting Important?

In much the same way that a cover can grab the attention of a reader, formatting can help hold the attention of a reader. If you're at a level where you're thinking about publication, your words should be able to speak for themselves, definitely. But making sure that your book is legible and glitch free is a great way to show that you have put time and care into your project.

Formatting can also be a great way to go above and beyond to set a certain vibe or tone for a given project.

Formatting is Different For Every Platform

It would be very, VERY easy to just upload a Word document to every platform that you want to distribute your work through. Sites like KDP and D2D will also have some digial editing assets connected to their previewer that will make sure that your files are legible. But aside from the fact that it will limit the potential layours, there are some places and formats that you won't be able to reach with just a .doc or .docx file.

Some places require you to have a pdf for print, and some platforms (like IngramSpark) will have additional restrictions on how even a pdf can be printed.

Every platform has its own little quirks, even for the universal types of files that it will allow.

Do I need a Formatter?

I would argue, yes.

If you're just dipping your toes into publishing to see how you like the process, or you're approaching self-publishing as a hobby, you may be able to skate by without a formatter. But if you're going into publishing as a career option, even in a side-hustle capacity, I would suggest that you consult with a formatter for at least one project. The earlier the better.

Formatting is an area of publishing where you simply don't know what you don't know until it's too late. Having someone to walk you through the process at least one time can be a tremendous help--even just in learning what files you need, what restrictions there are, and having some tether to industry standards. If you can't to hire a formatter, I'd at least try to talk to someone with formatting experience to guide you in the right direction.

Can I learn Formatting Myself?

Yes! And I highly suggest you do.

While I do always suggest having one project formatted and learning about the process in a hands-on capacity from a professional, I also think it's a great idea to try and learn formatting for yourself if it's something you're interested in or if you're going to be publishing enough that getting a formatter for each project isn't in the budget.

Paying for formatting software can be an investment, but it can easily prove worth it. Even if you don't love the process, there's always so much to learn by trying it for yourself.

When Should I Format?

Formatting should be the FINAL step. Not only will it throw the final formatting off to make changes, you'll probably want those changes to be made in your final Word doc for your records/backups/etc.

In Conclusion

It can be really easy to forget about formatting--especially if you're new to publishing. It's not as flashy as cover artwork, and it's not talked about enough, but it's the sort of thing that can have a big impact on the reader and their opinion of your work.