Successful Self-Publishing: How to format an ebook file
Once your manuscript is edited and proofed, you’ll need to turn it into a formatted ebook file to load onto the publishing platforms. This is your finalized manuscript in ePUB format.
You can learn how to do it yourself, as I do, or you can outsource and pay a professional to format your book.
Why learn to do it yourself?
One reason I like to keep formatting in my control is because we often change our ebooks over time.
If I find a typo or want to change a link, it’s easy to fix. If I put out a new book in a series, I can update the back matter of the previous books. If I change my cover, I can just update the file and re-publish.
When you control the formatting, you can make changes easily, quickly, and for free.
If you outsource, you’ll need to pay for updates, and it won’t be as fast.
Do-it-yourself formatting: Vellum and Atticus
The two main software options most indie authors use these days are Vellum and Atticus, which both enable you to easily make beautiful books.
Vellum is Mac-only, and Atticus is browser-based, making it platform-agnostic, so you can use it anywhere. Atticus stores your projects in the cloud for easy collaboration, which is great if you move between devices or co-write with others.
I’m on Mac, so I use Vellum, but I recommend both.
You can find Vellum at:
www.TheCreativePenn.com/vellum
My tutorial on how to use it at:
www.TheCreativePenn.com/vellum-tutorial
You can find Atticus at:
www.TheCreativePenn.com/atticus
Help and outsourcing
If you want help with formatting, Draft2Digital can help you create an ebook from just a Word document.
If you want to outsource formatting altogether, then you can find a vetted freelancer at Reedsy, or at the Partner Member list at the Alliance of Independent Authors.
When hiring a formatter, ask about turnaround time, update fees, and what file formats they provide.
Check out my list at:
www.TheCreativePenn.com/formatting
Scanning print books back into digital format
If you have books in print from previous publishing deals, and you have the rights back but no longer have your original digital files, you can get them scanned from print back into MS Word, then produce an ebook from that.
Search ‘destructive book scanning’ for options. You will need to send a copy of the print book and the service will send back a file of the manuscript. You can then edit and produce a new edition.
Obviously you should only do this for your own books and only publish ebooks if you own the rights to do so. Check your original contract with your publisher or agent for specifics.
You might also be able to self-publish in specific territories
Many authors who had original deals over fifteen years ago may own their ebook rights, so it’s worth checking your contracts to see if you can publish digital versions, even if a traditional publisher owns your print rights.
Images in ebooks
If you have a lot of images in your book or a lot of complicated tables, then you may have some challenges with ebook formatting.
You will also have a bigger file size.
Amazon includes a delivery cost in their pricing setup, which will be higher if you have a bigger file, and images increase the file size. If your delivery cost is too high, it will eat into your royalties, so it’s important to consider the size of your file and whether you really need those images.
If you write children’s books, produce digital comics, or want to make image heavy or fixed layout ebooks, consider Amazon Kindle Create, which is specifically for illustrated books.
If you’re writing non-fiction with images, consider whether you really need them. Are they critical to the reader’s experience? Could you link to a download page on your website instead?
You could also consider using images in your print book but not in the ebook or (obviously) the audiobook versions.
When using images, you should also ensure you have the correct licensing and permissions in place. Even your own images can be subject to image permissions if they are taken on private property or meet other criteria, so make sure you check before publishing.
Accessibility
While tools like Vellum and Atticus already incorporate best practices for accessibility, it’s important to make sure your ebook can be read by all. For example, if you’re writing a fantasy book and include a map, use an alt-text description with an explanation of what’s in the image.
Don’t hard code fonts, as readers may change to a font like OpenDyslexic that is easier to read.
Avoid color-only cues in diagrams, for example, ‘items in red are the most important.’
For more tips on accessibility, check out Content for Everyone: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content by Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini.
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Ebook formatting might seem daunting and ‘too technical’ at first, but like many aspects of being an indie author, it gets easier with practice, and the tools really are easy to use. Give it a go, and you might even enjoy it!
Resources:
• Vellum (Mac-only) — www.TheCreativePenn.com/vellum
• My tutorial on how to use Vellum — www.TheCreativePenn.com/vellum-tutorial
• Atticus — www.TheCreativePenn.com/atticus
• List of formatting resources — www.TheCreativePenn.com/formatting
• Amazon Kindle Create — www.amazon.com/Kindle-Create/b?ie=UTF8&node=18292298011
• Reedsy for freelancers — www.TheCreativePenn.com/reedsy
• Alliance of Independent Authors Partner Member list — selfpublishingadvice.org/alli-self-publishing-services-directory
• Content for Everyone: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content — Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini
