I’ve had several discussions in the past few weeks with other writer friends about how to best format a story for publication.
I know it might sound daunting to have to prepare your story in the right ebook format and I thought I would perhaps just try and explain how easy it actually is.
Page 1 - The first page of you ebook will have you title and authors name. Insert page break here.
Page 2 – This page will contain you copyright notice. Insert page break here. (see getting started for sample of copyright notice).
Page 3 – this page is optional. If you have any special thank you’s you would like to add, dedications, or notes about who helped with your story – ie provided a cover, or edited. Some sites recommended this be added under the Authors Note at the end of the book, however I like to thank the people who help me at the beginning of my story. Insert page break here.
Page 4 - You may wish to insert a table of contents here. (I’ve had to learn how to insert a table of contents and it has not been an easy lesson. This is not required for a PDF file, only consider this if you are submitting a story to another site, that will sell your story on your behalf). Insert page break here.
Page 5 - Begin your first chapter here. There is no real rules as to where to start your chapter on a page. However I place the title of my chapter two lines down and begin my first paragraph another two lines down. I do this for ever chapter. The format recommend varies for other site I’ve looked at, however here is guide to help. Insert a page break between every new chapter.
Font - Times New Roman – 12 (Titles no bigger that 18) (also no fancy fonts, keep you font style the same throughout your story)
Do not use spaces or tabs to indent your paragraphs – see page layout details below.
Do not use returns after you paragraphs – see page layout details below.
Page layout – I assume almost all writers use word to write their stories, so here is how to prepare you story in the right format. Once your story have been completed (or prior to starting) select ‘page layout’. In paragraphs, under indents and spacing, use the following format.
- Alignment – left
- Indentation – Special – (drop down box) First line – 1.27 cms (0.5 inches)
- Spacing – Line spacing – (drop down box) – 1.5 lines
You story is now in the right format.
Last page – this page should contain a “Word or Note from the author” – that’s you. Give a brief history about yourself, about how you came to be writing the stories you write. Also include below this, if you would like your thank you’s and dedications ( if you have not already done so at the beginning of your book. I think the the reason it is suggested to add it here is so the reader does not need to skip too many pages just to start the story)
That’s it. Now all you need to so is save your document as a PDF. Unload it to your Payhip account and provide the link, via email to me, with the details of your ebook. Then I can upload to this wonderful site and you’re in business.
It really is that simple.
Sample format for ebook
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edit – after experimenting for several hours to see just how this format looks as a PDF once downloaded to iBooks, I have discovered several things.
Only upload the ebooks you intent to sell to Payhip, although you can offer your ebook for free they will direct you to Paypal and the process is too annoying. Therefore, a direct link to your free PDF ebook can be attached to the webpage, rather than another site.
Note – This only applies to the ebooks your are offering for free and are directly linked to a PDF. Your first page needs to be your cover or the front page seen on iBooks is your title page. This does not occur with Payhip. If you would like to understand what I am referring to please download the Sample and then Time for Destiny and compare the both.
