Professional Book Formatting Services
MyNovel provides professional book formatting services for independent authors in South Africa and worldwide. We prepare manuscripts for paperback, print-ready PDF and eBook publication, including books intended for Amazon KDP.
Why Professional Book Formatting Matters
Good formatting makes a book easier to read and gives the finished publication a professional appearance. Even a well-written and carefully edited manuscript can look amateurish if page layout, spacing, headings and typography are inconsistent.
Professional formatting ensures that the interior of your book is prepared correctly for its intended print size or digital format.
What MyNovel Book Formatting Can Include
Depending on the type of book and publishing platform, our formatting services may include:
- Page size and trim-size setup
- Margins and gutter settings
- Paragraph styles and indentation
- Line spacing
- Chapter headings and section headings
- Page numbering
- Running headers where appropriate
- Title pages and copyright pages
- Table of contents formatting
- Front matter and back matter
- Image placement where applicable
- Print-ready PDF preparation
- eBook and ePub preparation
Paperback and Print Book Formatting
Printed books need to be formatted according to the physical size of the finished publication. The page dimensions, margins and gutter must allow for binding while still providing a comfortable reading experience.
MyNovel can prepare manuscripts for common book sizes such as A5, B5 and other suitable trim sizes depending on the type and length of the book.
The final print file can be supplied as a print-ready PDF suitable for submission to your chosen printer or publishing platform.
Formatting for Amazon KDP
Amazon KDP requires interior and cover files to meet specific technical specifications.
MyNovel can prepare books for Amazon paperback publication by setting the correct page size, margins, bleed requirements and other layout specifications.
We can also assist with preparing the book cover dimensions to suit the final page count and selected trim size.
eBook and ePub Formatting
eBooks require a different approach from printed books because the text needs to adapt to different screen sizes and reader settings.
MyNovel can prepare manuscripts for eBook publication in formats such as ePub, with attention to headings, chapter navigation, paragraph styling and general readability.
Formatting for Fiction and Novels
Novel formatting should support the reading experience without distracting from the story.
Typical fiction formatting may include:
- Consistent chapter openings
- Appropriate paragraph indentation
- Scene-break styling
- Page numbering
- Running headers where suitable
- Correct treatment of blank pages and chapter starts
Formatting for Non-Fiction
Non-fiction books can require more complex formatting, especially where the manuscript contains headings, subheadings, tables, images, lists, references or appendices.
We aim to create a clear visual hierarchy so readers can move easily through the material and understand how sections relate to one another.
When Should Book Formatting Be Done?
Formatting should normally take place after the main writing, editing and proofreading work has been completed.
Major changes made after formatting can affect page numbers, chapter positions, tables of contents and cover dimensions, so it is best to work from a manuscript that is as close to final as possible.
A final proofread after formatting may also be advisable, particularly for printed books.
Learn more about MyNovel Book Proofreading Services
English and Afrikaans Books
MyNovel formats books written in English and Afrikaans.
Formatting is based on the structure and publishing requirements of the book, while preserving the author's intended presentation and language.
Who Can Use MyNovel Book Formatting Services?
Our book formatting services are suitable for:
- Independent and self-published authors
- Novelists
- Short-story writers
- Memoir and autobiography authors
- Biographers
- History and non-fiction writers
- Authors preparing books for local printers
- Authors preparing paperbacks for Amazon KDP
- Authors preparing eBooks and ePub editions
- English and Afrikaans manuscripts
How the Book Formatting Quote Works
Formatting costs depend on the manuscript length, book size, complexity and the number of elements such as images, tables, headings and special layouts.
MyNovel reviews the manuscript before providing a personalised quotation so that we can determine the amount of formatting work required.
Upload your manuscript in Microsoft Word format when requesting a quote.
Request a Book Formatting Quote
Book Formatting for South African and International Authors
MyNovel is based in South Africa and assists both local and international independent authors with professional book formatting.
Whether you are preparing a paperback for a local printer, uploading to Amazon KDP or creating an eBook edition, professional formatting helps ensure that your book is technically correct and professionally presented.