Perhaps not as flashy as the cover or illustration, the table of contents (TOC) is the silent guide, the unsung hero leading readers on their journey through your tome. Located right at the front, before the story unravels, it serves as the roadmap to your...
One of the worst mistakes self-published authors make is deviating too far from the conventional standards of the publishing industry (aka, what readers have come to know and expect). And one of the most common areas in which they do that is when choosing book...
The history of book printing goes back to the first Bibles pulled sheet by sheet off Johannes Gutenberg’s presses in Mainz, Germany in the late fifteenth century. The first books were attempts to replicate the handwritten books of the time, which varied widely....
A lot of authors are likely entirely unaware of common book design mistakes. People often ask me, “How can you tell if a book has been designed by an amateur? I mean, it’s just a book, right?” This reminds me of the author whose book I was designing...
Book sizes vary depending on genre, audience, and a multitude of other factors. If you are self-publishing, it’s helpful to have a firm grasp of what your book size should be before you take your book to print. If you traditionally publish, knowing what size book to...
Knowing how to create a title page is one of the first needs you have as an aspiring author. Yes, you have your book idea. Yes, you can write. But if you hope to get your book out into the world, it’s important to format your project in the appropriate way....
