Self-publishing can sound daunting, and even haunt you like that scary Halloween exhibit, especially after you start doing a little online research. That’s why I started Incubation Press. Even if prospective authors decide to hire someone else to self-publish their books—or do it on their own—at least they’ll be able to follow a streamlined seven-step process. And the best news of all is that it all starts with choosing your book format, which is both easy and free.
First, you need to determine whether you want a book that you can hold, such as a hardback or paperback (also known as hardcover and softcover). You’ll also need to decide whether you also want to publish an e-book and/or an audio-book. My vote would be to opt for a paperback and an e-book. You can add the audio-book down the line if that makes sense.
The e-book business is super easy. You’ll want to have the cover and interior designed rather than simply uploading a Word doc, since that’s a sure way to court unprofessional errors. But for now, there’s nothing to do.
So let’s assume you’re going for a paperback. It’s time to figure out the size of your book, otherwise known as trim size.
Start by checking out your own library. Find the paperbacks that appeal to you and measure them. That will give you a basic sense of the dimensions you’re looking for. While you could potentially replicate those dimensions exactly, opting for standard trim sizes will give you the option of choosing cream paper (easier on the eyes) instead of being forced to settle for white.
The graphic below shows the standard trim sizes, along with the maximum page count for that trim size. (The minimum page count is 24 pages regardless of the book’s dimensions.) Trim sizes specify the book’s width first, followed by the height.
| Trim Size | Color Interior Maximum Page Count |
Black & White Interior Maximum Page Count |
|||
| White Paper | White Paper | Cream Paper | |||
| 5.25″ x 8″ | 480 | 828 | 740 | ||
| 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 480 | 828 | 740 | ||
| 6″ x 9″ | 480 | 828 | 740 | ||
| 7″ x 10″ | 480 | 828 | 740 | ||
| 8″ x 10″ | 480 | 440 | 400 | ||
| 8.25″ x 6″ | 212 | 220 | 200 | ||
| 8.25″ x 8.25″ | 212 | 220 | 200 | ||
Once you’ve decided on your book format, it’s time to think about the design of your cover (assuming you’ve finalized your title) and your interior pages (assuming the book has been edited). I’ll talk about cover design next week and interior page design and formatting the week after that.
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.