Once in a while I like to reach into the Mailbag and answer some of the many self-publishing questions I get every day.
Here’s a representative sampling from the last few months. If this inspires you to ask your own question, go ahead and leave it in the comments where everyone will be able to profit from the exchange.
Q: When typing my manuscript I have it double spaced, but when it’s in print or on Kindle, what’s the spacing? The reason I ask is I’m trying to decided on the size, so as not to make it too bulky. It appears to me that it looks like 1.5?
A: We don’t use line spacing when typesetting books, we use “leading” which is an exact measurement between lines, and it really depends on the design, the font, and the kind of book you’re doing, but you could start with 1.5 and see how it looks.
Q: Joel, can you do a print on demand or offset run of 50 to 100 in hardcover with library stitched (not side-stitched, and definitely not a paperback with hardcover glued on like some of them)?
A: You can do a sewn book–either paperback or hardcover–with an offset printer who has a proper bindery. There may even be digital printers that I offer this service, but keep in mind that to produce 100 copies of a sewn casebound would be quite expensive on a per book basis.
Q: I am publishing by CreateSpace, I have 2 questions: I am selling digital version of a new and unpublished book to one company, for free distribution, the paper version could be for sale by Amazon and CreateSpace. Must I wait or can I have it on Amazon while I sell the digital version? Should I have a different ISBN?
A: You need a different ISBN for each different version (print, ebook, etc). You should not put a version of the book up for free if it’s for sale elsewhere. You can sell on Amazon and other locations, and you can sell print at the same time as digital.
Q: I’ve read many articles about formatting novels, the different options in regards to using a traditional word processing program like Word, hybrid choices, specific programs, etc. What I don’t understand is why a double-spaced page of a novel using Times New Roman 12 point font looks so huge when independently printed from a Word file, compared to a traditional big publisher. Is it in the layout design? Am I missing something?
A: I understand that this can be confusing. From Word you are probably printing an 8.5″ x 11″ page, which is much larger than most trade books. And most books are not typeset in Times, a font that’s not commonly used for books. Your double-spaced page also has a lot of space between the lines compared to a typeset book. And finally, most books in my experience are typeset in 10 or 11 point type, 10-20% smaller than the 12 point you are using.
Q: I have a question in regards to ISBN numbers and was wondering if you could help me. AuthorHouse published my book in print then produced a electronic copy. However I now want to publish it myself. I understand I will need a new ISBN? Can I do this? I own copyright. Can I stop AuthorHouse from providing my book on Amazon and replace it with mine?
A: You will need to have a close look at the contract you signed with AuthorHouse to discover exactly how to get the rights to your book back. You may own the copyright, but your agreement with the publisher most likely grants them exclusive right to print and sell the book, that’s the rights you licensed to them. If you have trouble with the contract language I urge you to consult with an intellectual property attorney. Be assured that you will be better off in the long run if you take control of the book yourself.
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