For the main text in the book, use a standard Serif font such as Palatino, Garamond, Baskerville, Century Schoolbook or Times New Roman. Studies show that these fonts are easier to read and they are also a standard in the publishing industry.
Fancier fonts may be used for titles or headings to add decorative appeal.
Minimize the use of multiple font styles throughout the book. Too many styles can make a book look chaotic.
The book should open with a simple title page (title and author’s name). Testimonials may also be used as an opening page, followed by a title page.
A copyright page should be inserted on the back side of the title page.
The table of contents should be finalized once the book pages are proofed and approved. Page numbers will need to be verified.
The publishing industry standard shows that page numbers for a book should be on the outside left on left side pages and the outside right on right side pages. It is also acceptable to center numbers on the page (which can make it easier to ensure that everything is aligned properly).
The standard for top of page is book title on the top of all left pages and chapter title on the top of right pages.
Review the files standard for the printer you choose to understand margins and bleeds for book projects.
Tip: Plan items to insert into blank pages. When chapters begin on the right, you will likely end up with several blank pages throughout the book. Take advantage of this real estate by adding in a quick tip, inspiring quote, facts, images or other interesting content. Provide your typesetter with your blank page fillers.
If you like this blog post, you’ll love this book: The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan by Nonfiction Authors Association CEO Stephanie Chandler!
