If you are considering self-publishing, the layout of your book will be almost as important as its content. An effectively designed layout will make it easier for people to read and understand your book. A poorly designed layout, on the other hand, can drive your readers so crazy that it will make them shut the book.

Layout According to Page Size

Know the page size of your book to determine the ideal measurements of your book layout. As books tend to have standard sizes, expect to adjust your layouts to the page size chosen for your book rather than the other way around. If you choose an on-demand publisher, they will provide you with the dimensions.

Font Choices

Choose the font size that will make it easy on your reader’s eyes without increasing the printing cost of your book. Secondly, choose the font type that best mirrors the content of your book. Fonts like Times New Roman or New Courier are good matches, for instance, for non-fiction and novels with serious themes, while fonts like Comic Sans MS could be a good match for chick lit stories or something that’s more entertaining rather than informative. When you’re ready to do layout, visit the bookstore and look at books similar to yours. The big houses have done a lot of research to figure out what works best for each genre. Take advantage of their expertise.

Uniformity

Have a format for your book and stick to it. If you began with page numbers placed in the upper-right hand corner and spelling out chapter numbers rather than simply using Arabic numerals, make sure you stick to it to the end.

To best ensure the uniformity of your layout, consider establishing rules beforehand. Determine, for instance, when it would be appropriate for you to underline certain words or place them in bold or italics. When outlining ideas, would you start with uppercase letters, proceeding to Roman numerals and lowercase letters rather than stick to bullets? I usually make a list of these decisions that I can refer back to as I go.

Margins

Margins simply make your book layout look better. They also make your content easier to read. You could slightly widen inner margins, also known as the gutter, to save on print costs, but be careful not to go too deep into the crease. White space is friendly to the eye.

Spacing

Spaces can conjure a lot of meanings so be careful on how you use spaces between paragraphs and sections in your book.

Photos

If you’ve included photos and other illustrations in your book, consider how you can insert them in your layout and align them with your text. How will you include captions and labels? What’s the appropriate size and should there be a limit to the number of photos you include in each page?

Consider these tips and you’re sure to design a smart layout for your book in no time.

Happy writing!

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