Publishing Learning Center
Finalize Your Manuscript
Creating a properly formatted word processing document — one that can be successfully uploaded into PDF format — helps your final printed book meet book buyers' expectations. Because nimble word processing skills will definitely help, seek out a word processing professional if you get stuck. In the meantime, here's an article that should help with the details: "Yes, You Can Use Microsoft Word to Set Type That Looks Professional."
The page size, and page length-formatted Word templates we've made available for your download and use are highly recommended. They will help with margin formatting issues, especially making the inside "gutter" margin wide enough to read the full pages of perfect-bound books.
Sections of a book
Books are complicated and have many parts with different purposes. The following outlines the most common sections of books found in bookstores, typical content, pagination, and header/footer conventions.
Of course, if your book is a dissertation, training manual, or family history, for example, a publication you do not intend to be sold in bookstores (or even in yourCafePress.com store), feel free to organize your manuscript to your own tastes and needs!
In traditional book publishing, the parts (or sections) of a book, its layout, and reading order follow relatively strict conventions. Space and budgetary considerations may lead to some variations, however.
The first section readers see upon opening a book is called the front matter. This contains important information such as the book's ISBN, cataloguing-in-publication (CIP) data, and statements of copyright ownership.
Convention also dictates that a book has two pages, the left and the right. Obvious, yes, but this is important because certain pieces of information should be displayed on either the right (recto) or the left (verso) page.
The first page the reader usually sees upon opening a book will be the right-hand half-title page. It usually displays only the book's title, not the author name, subtitle, or other parts of a full title page (see below). The inside of the front cover is left blank.
Publishers also typically leave the reverse of the half-title page (the following left-hand page) blank. However, a number of items could appear on this page: a list of the author's previous works or other titles if the book is part of a series. If none of those exist, this is where a dedication could be placed.
The title page always appears on the right and contains:
Full title, including the subtitle if one exists;
Name of the author or names of authors if the book is collaboration;
Names of contributors, such as editors, illustrators, and translators; and
Name of the publisher and the publisher's logo.
Some publishers choose to place the table of contents on the R page opposite the copyright page (also called imprint page), while other publishers instead place the dedication here. It is more important to remember that convention states that half title, title, foreword, contents, and preface should be R pages, and should appear in the order given.
Pages following the preface might include an introduction, list of illustrations, list of acknowledgements, and a dedication if this hasn't been shown on the half-title L page. The various "List of�" sections might instead be placed in the book's back matter. Other sections of a book that appear in the back are index and "about the author" statement.
Following "pagination standard convention" often results in blank pages appearing in the front matter. Where blank pages are found, they are included in the pagination flow, but neither the number nor the header/footer should be displayed on the page.
Covers & spine
| COVERS/SPINE LOCATION | PAGE NAME | SAMPLE CONTENT |
| Front of book | Front Cover | Graphic, book title, subtitle (if any), author name(s) |
| Inside front cover | Usually blank; optional to include ISBN or UPC (Universal Product Code) numbers and bar codes | |
| Vertical spine | Spine | Title, Author(s), Publisher logo (if available) |
| Inside back cover | BLANK | |
| Back of book | Back Cover |
|
Front matter
| FRONT MATTER LOCATION | PAGE NAME | SAMPLE CONTENT |
| 1st R page after inside front cover | OPTIONAL Promo Page OR blank | IF use as Promo, include testimonials, reviews, or endorsements for the book; may also list author's other books Otherwise, leave BLANK |
| 1st L page | BLANK | |
| 2nd R page | Half Title Page | Contains only the title of the book, not author name(s) or subtitle (if any) |
| L page facing full title page | BLANK | |
| R page | Full Title Page | Display full title, subtitle (if any), & name of the author(s), editor or compiler of collection, photos, etc. (if any) |
| L page | Copyright Page
Reverse of the Title Page contains the copyright notice, printing history, the Library of Congress Catalog number, ISBN, publisher name/address, & any additional copyright information. NOTE: Most CafePress.com books will contain only the copyright notice & possibly the ISBN. |
Notice of Copyright consists of these parts:
Copyright � 200X by [Author(s) Name] All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Published 200X Printed by CafePress.com in the United States of America ISBN X-XXX-XXXXX-X [Date of copyright = when work reduced to tangible form] [Published & printed dates may be the same] NOTE: When text & photographs (or other content) have different copyright owners, list them individually: Text copyright � 200X by [Author(s) Name] Photographs copyright � 200X by [Photographer(s) Name] |
| R page | Dedication Page | Short statement thanking an individual or group of individuals for their help or support |
| L page | BLANK | |
| R page | Acknowledgements | List of everyone who helped the author produce the book OPTIONAL, otherwise SKIP AHEAD TO TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| L page | NOT NEEDED IF SKIP ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Otherwise BLANK |
|
| R page | Table of Contents (TOC) | Lists the book's contents, arranged by chapter. Can also break down by chapter section, subsection as displayed below:
Number & Name of the chapter Optional: Subhead Name of a section within chapter Number & Name of the chapter Optional: Subhead Name of a section within chapter & so on� |
| L page | TOC continued if needed Otherwise BLANK |
If TOC spans more than one additional page, continue to end on either L or R page.
If end on L, start Chapter 1 on next R page. If end on R page, insert BLANK L page, then start Chapter 1 on next R page |
| R page
IF INCLUDED, CONTINUE WITH L/R PAGINATION UNTIL FIRST OPEN R PAGE, THEN START CHAPTER 1 IF NOT INCLUDED, GO AHEAD & START BODY OF THE BOOK WITH CHAPTER 1 |
ALL ARE OPTIONAL
Foreword Preface Introduction List of Abbreviations List of Illustrations Disclaimers |
ALL ARE OPTIONAL:
Foreword: Testimonial or introduction by someone other than the author Preface: Explanation of the origins & history of the book written by the book's author(s) Introduction: Short summary or explanation of the book List of Abbreviations: List of the abbreviations contained in the book List of Illustrations: List of all illustrations, figures or diagrams, with page numbers of where they're found in the book Disclaimers: Short conditional statement about the use of the book. Included to provide a small amount of legal protection to the author |
Body text
| BODY MATTER LOCATION | PAGE NAME | SAMPLE CONTENT |
| R page | Chapter One
Can be spelled out OR displayed in numerals |
Name of the chapter & body text of chapter. May be divided into subsections that display subheads.
Succeeding L & R pages display continuous content of Chapter 1 until end |
| L or R page | Succeeding Chapters | Convention dictates that each new Chapter STARTS on an R page, even if that means the preceding L page is BLANK.
However, it is perfectly acceptable to continue L/R pagination throughout the remaining body text of your book without forcing an R page start for each new chapter. The primary reason for not forcing R page starts for each new chapter is to save paper. |
Back matter
| BACK MATTER LOCATION | PAGE NAME | SAMPLE CONTENT |
| R page IF INCLUDED, & CHAPTERS WERE NOT FORCED INTO R PAGE STARTS, CONTINUE WITH L/R PAGINATION UNTIL END IF CHAPTERS FORCE R PAGE STARTS, USE SAME PAGINATION FOR ALL SECTIONS OF BACK MATTER |
ALL ARE OPTIONAL
End Notes Appendix Glossary Bibliography Works Cited Index Author Bio Order Blank |
ALL ARE OPTIONAL:
End Notes: Additional information about a statement made in the text & usually referenced by a number Appendix: Collection of important information & other resources Glossary: List of terms found in the book & their definitions Bibliography: List of books, articles & other resources the author used in writing the book Works Cited: List of books, articles & other resources the author cited in the text of the book Index: List of key words & associated page numbers designed to help the reader find important information inside the book. The Index should not list chapters, but rather terms & concepts found within chapters. Indexing is a combination of skill & intuition. Usually the last section in a book. Author(s) Bio: Short author biography (possibly including photo) is usually included in all books other than a mass-market paperback Do not include in back matter if also displayed on back cover. Order Form: Blank, left-hand page at the end of the book that can be used to order additional copies |
